ADRB2 adrenoceptor beta 2
ENSG00000169252 · protein coding · Open Targets profile
G protein-coupled receptor for catecholamines that couples to both G(s) and G(i) proteins, activating bifurcated signaling pathways (PubMed:2831218, PubMed:7915137). ADRB2 binds epinephrine (Epi) with an approximately 30-fold greater affinity than norepinephrine (NE) (PubMed:2831218, PubMed:33093660, PubMed:7915137). In the heart, Epi- and NE-activated ADRB2 induces rapid and slow cardiomyocyte contraction rate, respectively (By similarity). Both NE and Epi promote coupling to G(s)/PKA pathway to regulate myocyte contraction rate (By similarity). Epi also promotes ADRB2 coupling to G(i) proteins to exert cardioprotective effects especially in the conditions of hypoxia and oxidative stress through the G(i)/PI3K/Akt signaling pathway (By similarity). ADRB2-G(s) signaling delivers proapoptotic signals in cardiomyocytes although G(i)-mediated survival effect appears to predominate (By similarity). ADRB2 also transduces signals independently of PKA to regulate cellular pH by modulating Na(+)/H(+) exchanger SLC9A3 function (PubMed:9560162). {ECO:0000250|UniProtKB:P18762, ECO:0000269|PubMed:2831218, ECO:0000269|PubMed:33093660, ECO:0000269|PubMed:7915137, ECO:0000269|PubMed:9560162}.
Each band is a group of drugs. It runs from the kind of drug on the left to the furthest stage that drug has reached in any disease on the right. Thicker bands mean more drugs.
Approved bands are highlighted. Withdrawn means the drug was pulled from the market or from development. A combined phase counts as the later one (Phase 1/2 is shown as Phase 2). Hover a band for the drug names. Source: Open Targets Platform, fetched live.
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
- Approved Drug, Structure with Ligand, High-Quality Ligand, High-Quality Pocket, Druggable Family
- Antibody
- UniProt loc high conf, GO CC high conf, UniProt SigP or TMHMM, Human Protein Atlas loc
- PROTAC
- UniProt Ubiquitination, Small Molecule Binder
gnomAD loss of function constraint: o/e 0.5899199843406677 (upper bound 0.9083600044250488). 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 147 registry trials, updated in the last three years, of the most advanced drugs against ADRB2 (terbutaline, metipranolol, ephedrine, levobunolol, penbutolol, pindolol, pirbuterol, dobutamine, reproterol, mephentermine, carteolol, tulobuterol), ranked by Phase 2+ trials. Live from ClinicalTrials.gov.
- Parag GoyalWeill Medical College of Cornell University · 3 of 3 trials Phase 2+
- Dong-Xin WangPeking University First Hospital · 1 of 2 trials Phase 2+
- Amalia PinguelloFederal University of São Paulo · 1 of 1 trials Phase 2+
- Arif ZulqarnainDepartment of Pediatrics, Nishtar Hospital, Multan, Pakistan · 1 of 1 trials Phase 2+
- Ban L SngKK Women's and Children's Hospital · 1 of 1 trials Phase 2+
- Ban Leong SngKK Women's and Children's Hospital · 1 of 1 trials Phase 2+
- Charlotte BAUDUniversity Hospital, Clermont-Ferrand · 1 of 1 trials Phase 2+
- Christiaan L. MeuweseErasmus Medical Center · 1 of 1 trials Phase 2+
- Cristiano SconzaHumanitas Clinical and Research Center · 1 of 1 trials Phase 2+
- Duc Minh HoangVinmec Research Institute of Stem Cell and Gene Technology · 1 of 1 trials Phase 2+
- Emmanuel FUTIERUniversity Hospital, Clermont-Ferrand · 1 of 1 trials Phase 2+
- Eun-Hee KimSeoul National University Hospital · 1 of 1 trials Phase 2+
- Flavia MachadoFederal University of São Paulo · 1 of 1 trials Phase 2+
- Glenio B. MizubutiQueen's University - Anesthesiology · 1 of 1 trials Phase 2+
- Gord Dr.Queen's University, Kingston Health Sciences Center · 1 of 1 trials Phase 2+
Registry trials of terbutaline, metipranolol, ephedrine, levobunolol, penbutolol, pindolol, pirbuterol, dobutamine, reproterol, mephentermine, carteolol, tulobuterol 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; 135 of 139 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. 8 trials list no sites and are left out. Source: ClinicalTrials.gov, fetched live.
47 trials of drugs against ADRB2 were stopped early; 6 give no reason
Terminated, withdrawn and suspended interventional trials of terbutaline, metipranolol, ephedrine, levobunolol, penbutolol, pindolol, pirbuterol, dobutamine, reproterol, mephentermine, carteolol, tulobuterol, 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 25 most recent of 47.
- terminated · 2026-10-28 · Algemeen Ziekenhuis Maria Middelares · matched by the registry's drug synonyms“The planned interim analysis revealed greater variability than expected, requiring a larger sample size. Given the limited eligible population, recruitment was deemed infeasible within a reasonable timeframe, leading to study termination.”
- terminated · 2026-09-09 · CAMC Health System · matched by the registry's drug synonyms“Lack of research personnel”
- terminated · 2026-06-03 · University Hospital, Grenoble · matched by the registry's drug synonyms“According interim analysis results”
- withdrawn · 2026-01-22 · Kanecia Obie Zimmerman · Terbutaline“The TBS02 study was paused indefinitely. No subjects were enrolled or treated, and the study may resume if circumstances change.”
- terminated · 2025-12-11 · Hopital Charles Nicolle · Ephedrine (6 mg boluses)“the investigators collected the necessary sample size for the internal validity of the study”
- withdrawn · 2025-11-18 · Universitair Ziekenhuis Brussel · matched by the registry's drug synonyms“COVID-19 + not enough resources available”
- suspended · 2025-06-12 · University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill · matched by the registry's drug synonyms“MASKON has been suspended while the study activities are transferred from the EPA Human Studies Facility in Chapel Hill to the EPA Office of Research and Development headquarters at Research Triangle Park.”
- terminated · 2024-12-16 · UMC Utrecht · matched by the registry's drug synonyms“It was decided to conclude recruitment due to declining eligibility/recruitment rates and an unrealistically long time span to reach full recruitment.”
- terminated · 2024-10-23 · Niguarda Hospital · matched by the registry's drug synonyms“Because the Data Safety Monitoring Board after the interim analisys concluded that the experimental treatment is not proviiding any minimal full benefit compared to the contrtol. They then reccomended to stop the trial due to futility”
- withdrawn · 2024-09-23 · University of Nebraska · matched by the registry's drug synonymsNo reason given
- withdrawn · 2023-12-13 · Yale University · matched by the registry's drug synonyms“Study was never started.”
- terminated · 2023-07-27 · Centre Hospitalier Intercommunal Creteil · nebulisation of terbutaline“Not enough recruitment in th trial”
- suspended · 2023-04-20 · University of Pecs · matched by the registry's drug synonyms“The human resources required to start enrollment were not available anymore.”
- withdrawn · 2023-03-02 · Corewell Health East · matched by the registry's drug synonyms“Essential staff for study execution left the institution and no suitable replacement could be found.”
- withdrawn · 2023-03-01 · Vibeke Backer · matched by the registry's drug synonyms“Insuffient drug supply. Professor Ronald Dahl lefter his position as proffssor in Århus, and all his research were closed.”
- withdrawn · 2023-02-22 · Arkansas Children's Hospital Research Institute · matched by the registry's drug synonyms“PI could not get support for project. PI left UAMS”
- withdrawn · 2022-10-31 · Azidus Brasil · Loratadine + Pseudoephedrine sulfateNo reason given
- suspended · 2022-07-22 · Beijing Chao Yang Hospital · matched by the registry's drug synonyms“There are difficulties in recruiting patients”
- terminated · 2022-07-05 · University Hospitals Cleveland Medical Center · matched by the registry's drug synonyms“Funding”
- withdrawn · 2022-05-24 · YingHsuanTai · matched by the registry's drug synonyms“COVID outbreak in the community”
- withdrawn · 2021-10-28 · National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) · Pseudoephedrine hydrochlorideNo reason given
- terminated · 2021-05-05 · Vanderbilt University · Pseudoephedrine + 480 ml water, Pseudoephedrine + 50 ml water“funding terminated”
- terminated · 2021-03-22 · Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust · Dobutamine Hydrochloride“Unable to recruit in time before end of PhD studentship”
- terminated · 2020-10-14 · Duke University · Ephedrine“Significant challenges recruiting a difficult patient population with most surgeries occurring out of hours”
- terminated · 2020-10-09 · Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai · Terbutaline“Interim analysis to assess concern for spinal anesthesia and increased cesarean delivery rate.”
Paediatric incentives and obligations for ADRB2's drugs
For terbutaline, metipranolol, ephedrine, levobunolol, penbutolol, pindolol, pirbuterol, dobutamine, reproterol, mephentermine, carteolol, tulobuterol: 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 · ADRB2 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: yes · EMEA-001262-PIP01-12-M03 (Dobutamine, Treatment of neonatal circulatory failure): PM: decision on the application for modification of an agreed PIP, 3 Jul 2017; EMEA-000763-PIP01-09 (tulobuterol, Asthma;Episodic wheeze): W: decision granting a waiver in all age groups for all conditions or indications, 6 Jul 2010Rule: 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 terbutaline, metipranolol, ephedrine, levobunolol, penbutolol, pindolol, pirbuterol, dobutamine, reproterol, mephentermine, carteolol, tulobuterolRule: 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 terbutaline, metipranolol, ephedrine, levobunolol, penbutolol, pindolol, pirbuterol, dobutamine, reproterol, mephentermine, carteolol, tulobuterolRule: 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 terbutaline, metipranolol, ephedrine, levobunolol, penbutolol, pindolol, pirbuterol, dobutamine, reproterol, mephentermine, carteolol, tulobuterolRule: 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 · 72 interventional studies of terbutaline, metipranolol, ephedrine, levobunolol, penbutolol, pindolol, pirbuterol, dobutamine, reproterol, mephentermine, carteolol, tulobuterol include patients under 18; 7 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 96 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.