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Praxilene (naftidrofuryl oxalate)
Praxilene (generic name: naftidrofuryl oxalate) is a 5-HT2 receptor antagonist, Peripheral vasodilator drug developed by Merck Serono (originally Lipha). It is currently FDA-approved for Cerebrovascular disease, Chronic Occlusive Peripheral Arterial Disease. Also known as: naftidrofuryl, Praxilene, naftidrofuryl hydrogen oxalate, LS-121.
A 5-HT2 receptor antagonist that improves peripheral blood flow and cellular metabolism by blocking serotonin-mediated vasoconstriction and enhancing aerobic metabolism in ischaemic tissues.
Praxilene is a small molecule with the synonyms DROSUNAL, DUBIMAX, GEVATRAN, NAFTIDROFURILO, NAFTIDROFURYL, and NAFTIDROFURYL.
At a glance
| Generic name | naftidrofuryl oxalate |
|---|---|
| Also known as | naftidrofuryl, Praxilene, naftidrofuryl hydrogen oxalate, LS-121 |
| Sponsor | Merck Serono (originally Lipha) |
| Drug class | 5-HT2 receptor antagonist, Peripheral vasodilator |
| Target | 5-hydroxytryptamine receptor 2A |
| Therapeutic area | Metabolic |
| Phase | FDA-approved |
Mechanism of action
Naftidrofuryl oxalate acts primarily as a selective 5-HT2 (serotonin type 2) receptor antagonist. By blocking 5-HT2 receptors on vascular smooth muscle, it prevents serotonin-mediated vasoconstriction and platelet aggregation, thereby improving blood flow in peripheral arteries. Additionally, it enhances cellular metabolism in ischaemic tissues by promoting aerobic glycolysis and reducing lactate accumulation. This dual mechanism — vasodilation plus metabolic improvement — makes it useful in peripheral arterial disease, particularly intermittent claudication. It is one of the few oral vasodilators recommended by NICE for peripheral vascular disease.
Approved indications
- Cerebrovascular disease
- Chronic Occlusive Peripheral Arterial Disease
Common side effects
Competitive intelligence
For the full competitive landscape — auto-detected comparators, recent regulatory actions across the set, upcoming PDUFA, patent timeline, sponsor landscape:
- Praxilene CI brief — competitive landscape report
- Praxilene updates RSS · CI watch RSS
- Merck Serono (originally Lipha) portfolio CI
Frequently asked questions about Praxilene
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Related
- Drug class: All 5-HT2 receptor antagonist, Peripheral vasodilator drugs
- Target: All drugs targeting 5-hydroxytryptamine receptor 2A
- Manufacturer: Merck Serono (originally Lipha) — full pipeline
- Therapeutic area: All drugs in Metabolic
- Indication: Drugs for Cerebrovascular disease
- Indication: Drugs for Chronic Occlusive Peripheral Arterial Disease
- Also known as: naftidrofuryl, Praxilene, naftidrofuryl hydrogen oxalate, LS-121
Primary sources · FDA · ClinicalTrials.gov · EMA · SEC EDGAR · ChEMBL · Wikidata · full sourcing