PLAU plasminogen activator, urokinase
ENSG00000122861 · protein coding · Open Targets profile
Serine protease that cleaves the inactive precursor plasminogen at a specific Arg-Val peptide bond, converting it into active plasmin (PubMed:1969415, PubMed:2521625, PubMed:4270330). Secreted as an inactive zymogen, it is recruited and activated at the cell surface through interaction with the urokinase plasminogen activator receptor (uPAR). Cell-surface activation enables localized, plasmin-dependent pericellular proteolysis, regulating extracellular matrix degradation in cell migration and tissue remodeling (PubMed:1829461, PubMed:2521625, PubMed:28849762). Also contributes to fibrinolysis and blood clot clearance by promoting plasmin generation (By similarity). {ECO:0000250|UniProtKB:P06869, ECO:0000269|PubMed:1829461, ECO:0000269|PubMed:1969415, ECO:0000269|PubMed:2521625, ECO:0000269|PubMed:28849762, ECO:0000269|PubMed:4270330}.
Each row is a cancer, strongest overall evidence first. The two dots show how strong the inherited (germline) and tumour-mutation (somatic) evidence is; the line between them is the gap.
Scores run from 0 (no evidence) to 1 (strongest). A missing dot at 0 means Open Targets holds no evidence of that kind. Source: Open Targets Platform, fetched live.
Tractability
- Small molecule
- Structure with Ligand, High-Quality Ligand, High-Quality Pocket, Druggable Family
- Antibody
- UniProt loc high conf, GO CC high conf, UniProt SigP or TMHMM
- PROTAC
- Database Ubiquitination, Small Molecule Binder
- Other modalities
- Approved Drug
gnomAD loss of function constraint: o/e 0.6544100046157837 (upper bound 0.879010021686554). Low values mean loss of function is poorly tolerated, a safety flag for inhibition.
Who runs trials of these drugs
Principal investigators and study chairs on 24 registry trials, updated in the last three years, of the most advanced drugs against PLAU (urokinase), ranked by Phase 2+ trials. Live from ClinicalTrials.gov.
- Bo SongThe First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University · 1 of 1 trials Phase 2+
- Xingen ZhuSecond Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University · 1 of 1 trials Phase 2+
- XunMing JICapital Medical University · 0 of 2 trials Phase 2+
- Zhongrong MiaoBeijing Tiantan Hospital, Capital Medical Univerity · 0 of 2 trials Phase 2+
- Daniela IancuCentre hospitalier de l'Université de Montréal (CHUM) · 0 of 1 trials Phase 2+
- Dapeng MoBeijing Tiantan Hospital · 0 of 1 trials Phase 2+
- F. A. KlokLeiden University Medical Center · 0 of 1 trials Phase 2+
- Feng GaoBeijing Tiantan Hospital, Capital Medical Univerity · 0 of 1 trials Phase 2+
- Kang DezhiThe first affilicated hospital of Fujian Medical univercity · 0 of 1 trials Phase 2+
- Miaojing WuSecond Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University · 0 of 1 trials Phase 2+
- Paul TempstMemorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center · 0 of 1 trials Phase 2+
- Shigang LvSecond Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University · 0 of 1 trials Phase 2+
- Weiming LiuBeijing Tiantan Hospital · 0 of 1 trials Phase 2+
- Zeguang RenMethodist Houston Sugar Land Hospital · 0 of 1 trials Phase 2+
Registry trials of urokinase updated in the last three years, counted by the country group of their listed sites. A trial with sites in several groups counts in each; 21 of 22 have all sites in one country.
Site counts are not patients per country, and trials registered only outside ClinicalTrials.gov are not covered. Where sites are is a fact about the record, not a judgement of its quality. Europe is the EU and EEA, the UK and Switzerland. 2 trials list no sites and are left out. Source: ClinicalTrials.gov, fetched live.
7 trials of drugs against PLAU were stopped early; 2 give no reason
Terminated, withdrawn and suspended interventional trials of urokinase, newest update first, live from ClinicalTrials.gov. Each reason is quoted exactly as the registry gives it; we do not sort reasons into safety, efficacy or business. Dates are the last registry update. Showing the 7 most recent of 7.
- withdrawn · 2026-04-29 · Centre hospitalier de l'Université de Montréal (CHUM) · matched by the registry's drug synonyms“Change for a phase II design”
- terminated · 2024-09-04 · Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center · matched by the registry's drug synonyms“Protocol closed to accrual early due to PI retirement.”
- terminated · 2021-01-19 · TSI, LLC · matched by the registry's drug synonymsNo reason given
- terminated · 2017-02-14 · Jan Stam, MD, PhD · matched by the registry's drug synonymsNo reason given
- terminated · 2015-03-13 · medac GmbH · Urokinase“Insufficient recruitment of study patients”
- terminated · 2014-04-07 · GWT-TUD GmbH · urokinase“recruition number was not reached”
- terminated · 2009-08-04 · Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center · matched by the registry's drug synonyms“The FDA changed the labeling for this agent, and we felt we could not offer it to patients on a non-surgical study.”
Paediatric incentives and obligations for PLAU's drugs
For urokinase: what EMA and FDA publish about paediatric plans, orphan status and pediatric approvals, and how many registered studies take children. Each line is a yes, no or not published fact from the record linked under it; none of it is a forecast.
- FDA pediatric target list: no · PLAU is not on the listRule: Target is on FDA's Pediatric Molecular Target List (relevant targets). Source: FDA Pediatric Molecular Target List (Listed as February 2026 on the FDA Pediatric Oncology page; the file served is 9.7.22_the_relevant_molecular_target_list.xlsx, whose Summary of Changes sheet is headed 'SEPTEMBER 2022 UPDATE' (footnote date 2022-09-01)), 2026-11-11
- EU paediatric investigation plan: no · No EMA paediatric investigation plan decision names urokinaseRule: An EMA PIP decision (agreement, modification or waiver) lists the drug as its active substance, exact name. Source: EMA data download (dated snapshot), 2026-11-11
- EU orphan designation: yes · EU/3/24/2946 positive 25 Jul 2024: Treatment of thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpuraRule: An EU orphan designation lists the drug as its active substance (exact name) or belongs to a medicine that does; withdrawn and expired designations are listed with their status. Source: EMA EU/3/24/2946, 2026-11-11
- Authorised in the EU: no · EMA lists no centrally authorised medicine of urokinaseRule: An EMA medicine record lists the drug as its active substance or INN, exact name; national-only authorisations are not in this file. Source: EMA data download (dated snapshot), 2026-11-11
- FDA orphan designation: not published · FDA's orphan designation database turns away automated requests, so this app does not read it; search it by hand at the linkRule: Would be: an FDA orphan designation names the drug. Source: FDA orphan designations search
- FDA pediatric oncology approval: no · FDA's table lists no pediatric approval of urokinaseRule: FDA's Pediatric Oncology Drug Approvals table names the drug. Source: FDA Pediatric Oncology Drug Approvals (content current as of 2026-03-03), 2026-11-12
- Registered studies open to children: yes · 10 interventional studies of urokinase include patients under 18; 0 are recruiting, not yet recruiting or activeRule: The registry's age group includes Child (birth to 17 years), which also counts studies that set no minimum age. Source: ClinicalTrials.gov search, 2026-11-12
Rare pediatric disease voucher. FDA, content current as of 29 Apr 2026: “As of February 3, 2026, enactment of the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2026, the rare pediatric disease PRV program will sunset after September 30, 2029. FDA may not award any PRVs under this program after September 30, 2029.” Voucher sale prices are not shown here; they appear only as company-reported news. FDA: Rare Pediatric Disease Designation and Priority Review Voucher Programs
All 1 drugs and clinical candidates as a table
Each drug, stage and indication links to its Open Targets record, where the trials and approvals behind it are listed. Salt forms (for example a mesylate) are listed as Open Targets records them, as separate entries.
| Drug | Type | Highest stage | Indications | Source records |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| UROKINASE | Enzyme | phase 4 | myocardial infarction, Recurrent thrombophlebitis, diabetic foot, empyema, ischemic stroke, stroke disorder, congestive heart failure, pulmonary embolism, +3 more | Open Targets · ChEMBL |