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Misoprostol (given vaginally)
Misoprostol is a prostaglandin E1 analogue that binds to prostaglandin receptors to increase uterine contractions and promote cervical ripening and dilation.
Misoprostol is a prostaglandin E1 analogue that binds to prostaglandin receptors to increase uterine contractions and promote cervical ripening and dilation. Used for Cervical ripening and labor induction, Medical abortion (in combination with mifepristone), Prevention of postpartum hemorrhage.
At a glance
| Generic name | Misoprostol (given vaginally) |
|---|---|
| Also known as | serial number 022-00, Cytotec, Arthrotec |
| Sponsor | Hawler Medical University |
| Drug class | Prostaglandin analogue |
| Target | Prostaglandin E1 receptor (EP receptor) |
| Modality | Small molecule |
| Therapeutic area | Obstetrics/Gynecology |
| Phase | FDA-approved |
Mechanism of action
Misoprostol acts as a synthetic prostaglandin that stimulates uterine smooth muscle contraction and softens the cervix by increasing local prostaglandin receptor signaling. When administered vaginally, it achieves high local concentrations that promote labor induction and cervical preparation. This mechanism makes it effective for medical abortion and labor induction in obstetric settings.
Approved indications
- Cervical ripening and labor induction
- Medical abortion (in combination with mifepristone)
Common side effects
- Uterine contractions/cramping
- Vaginal bleeding
- Diarrhea
- Nausea
- Fever
- Vomiting
Key clinical trials
- A Real-World Study Comparing the Efficacy of Different Treatment Regimens for Early Missed Abortion (NA)
- Letrozole Plus Misoprostol Versus Misoprostol Alone for Treating Women With Missed Miscarriage (PHASE4)
- Comparison Between Letrozole and Mifepristone in Medical Termination of First Trimester Miscarriages (PHASE3)
- A Comparison of Oral Misoprostol and Vaginal Misoprostol for Cervical Ripening and Induction of Labor (PHASE4)
- Comparative Safety and Efficacy of Vaginal Misoprostol Versus Lidocaine-prilocaine Cream in Levonorgestrel IUD Insertion (PHASE3)
- Vaginal Misoprostol With Intracervical Foley Catheter in Induction of Labor (PHASE4)
- Letrozole Pretreatment With Misoprostol Induction of Abortion in First Trimester Missed Abortion (PHASE4)
- Randomized Study of Letrozole and Trilostane for Medical Abortion (PHASE2)
Primary sources
Every claim on this page is sourced from regulatory or scientific primary sources. See our editorial policy for full methodology.
| Source | Used for |
|---|---|
| ClinicalTrials.gov | Trial enrolment, design, endpoints, results |
Competitive intelligence
For the full competitive landscape — auto-detected comparators, recent regulatory actions across the set, upcoming PDUFA, patent timeline, sponsor landscape:
- Misoprostol (given vaginally) CI brief — competitive landscape report
- Misoprostol (given vaginally) updates RSS · CI watch RSS
- Hawler Medical University portfolio CI