Prucalopride is a 5-HT4 receptor agonist indicated to treat adults with chronic idiopathic constipation. Prucalopride is a dihydrobenzofurancarboxamide derivative from the benzofurane family that selectively stimulates 5-HT4 receptors and thus, it presents enterokinetic properties.
- Mechanism
- Curator reviewed · 3 references
Prucalopride acts as a selective stimulator of the 5-HT4 receptors while having no interaction with hERG channel or 5-HT1 receptors which reduces significantly the cardiovascular risk found in other similar drugs.
5-HT4 receptors can be found throughout the gastrointestinal tract primarily in smooth muscle cells, enterochromaffin cells, and myenteric plexus. Its activation produces the release of acetylcholine which is the major excitatory neurotransmitter in the GI tract.
Hence, prucalopride stimulates motility by interacting specifically with 5-HT4 receptors in the GI tract which causes a release of acetylcholine and further contraction of the muscle layer of the colon and relaxation of the circular muscle layer leading to the propulsion of luminal content.
- Primary indication
- Prucalopride is indicated for the treatment of chronic idiopathic constipation (CIC) in adults.Curator reviewed · 3 structured indications
- Formula / weight
- C18H26ClN3O3 · 367.87 g/mol (avg)
- First approval
- Canada, 2019 · United States, 2018 · European Union, 2020
- Code names
- R-093877
- Brand names
Resolves to
ZPMNHBXQOOVQJL-UHFFFAOYSA-NSMILESCOCCCN1CCC(CC1)NC(=O)C1=C2OCCC2=C(N)C(Cl)=C1What you can answer from here — as of September 23, 2026
Which drugs share a target with Prucalopride, and which of those have an active Phase 3 trial?
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