APLNR apelin receptor
ENSG00000134817 · protein coding · Open Targets profile
G protein-coupled receptor for peptide hormones apelin (APLN) and apelin receptor early endogenous ligand (APELA/ELA), that plays a role in the regulation of normal cardiovascular function and fluid homeostasis (PubMed:11090199, PubMed:22810587, PubMed:25639753, PubMed:28137936, PubMed:35817871, PubMed:38428423). When acting as apelin receptor, activates both G(i) protein pathway that inhibits adenylate cyclase activity, and the beta-arrestin pathway that promotes internalization of the receptor (PubMed:11090199, PubMed:25639753, PubMed:28137936, PubMed:35817871, PubMed:38428423). APLNR/APJ also functions as mechanoreceptor that is activated by pathological stimuli in a G protein-independent fashion to induce beta-arrestin signaling, hence eliciting cardiac hypertrophy (PubMed:22810587, PubMed:38428423). However, the presence of apelin ligand blunts cardiac hypertrophic induction from APLNR/APJ on response to pathological stimuli (PubMed:22810587, PubMed:38428423). Plays a key role in early development such as gastrulation, blood vessels formation and heart morphogenesis by acting as a APELA receptor (By similarity). May promote angioblast migration toward the embryonic midline, i.e. the position of the future vessel formation, during vasculogenesis (By similarity). Promotes sinus venosus (SV)-derived endothelial cells migration into the developing heart to promote coronary blood vessel development (By similarity). Also plays a role in various processes in adults such as regulation of blood vessel formation, blood pressure, heart contractility and heart failure (PubMed:25639753, PubMed:28137936). {ECO:0000250|UniProtKB:Q7SZP9, ECO:0000250|UniProtKB:Q9WV08, ECO:0000269|PubMed:11090199, ECO:0000269|PubMed:22810587, ECO:0000269|PubMed:25639753, ECO:0000269|PubMed:28137936, ECO:0000269|PubMed:35817871, ECO:0000269|PubMed:38428423}.
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, Druggable Family
- Antibody
- UniProt loc high conf, GO CC high conf, UniProt SigP or TMHMM
- PROTAC
- Small Molecule Binder
- Other modalities
- Advanced Clinical
gnomAD loss of function constraint: o/e 0.5561400055885315 (upper bound 0.8841999769210815). 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 9 registry trials, updated in the last three years, of the most advanced drugs against APLNR (apelin), ranked by Phase 2+ trials. Live from ClinicalTrials.gov.
- Joseph CheriyanCambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust · 1 of 1 trials Phase 2+
- Julie MALLOIZEL-DELAUNAYHôpital Rangueil, CHU Toulouse · 1 of 1 trials Phase 2+
- Mirjam Christ-CrainUniversity Hospital Basel; Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism · 0 of 1 trials Phase 2+
- Patrick MartinBioAge Labs, Inc. · 0 of 1 trials Phase 2+
- Pierre GourdyUniversity Hospital, Toulouse · 0 of 1 trials Phase 2+
- Vincent MINVILLEUniversity Hospital, Toulouse · 0 of 1 trials Phase 2+
Registry trials of apelin 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; 9 of 9 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. Source: ClinicalTrials.gov, fetched live.
1 trials of drugs against APLNR were stopped early
Terminated, withdrawn and suspended interventional trials of apelin, 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 1 most recent of 1.
- withdrawn · 2012-08-23 · University of Aarhus · matched by the registry's drug synonyms“As a single center, it was not possible to recruit enough patients with pulmonary hypertension”
Paediatric incentives and obligations for APLNR's drugs
For apelin: 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 · APLNR 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 apelinRule: 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: no · No EU orphan designation names apelinRule: 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 data download (dated snapshot), 2026-11-11
- Authorised in the EU: no · EMA lists no centrally authorised medicine of apelinRule: 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 apelinRule: 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 · 2 interventional studies of apelin 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| APELIN | Unknown | phase 2 | type 2 diabetes mellitus, heart failure, pulmonary arterial hypertension, pulmonary hypertension, Hyponatremia | Open Targets · ChEMBL |