CACNA1H calcium voltage-gated channel subunit alpha1 H
ENSG00000196557 · protein coding · Open Targets profile
Voltage-sensitive calcium channel that gives rise to T-type calcium currents. T-type calcium channels belong to the 'low-voltage activated (LVA)' group. A particularity of this type of channel is an opening at quite negative potentials, and a voltage-dependent inactivation (PubMed:27149520, PubMed:9670923, PubMed:9930755). T-type channels serve pacemaking functions in both central neurons and cardiac nodal cells and support calcium signaling in secretory cells and vascular smooth muscle (Probable). They may also be involved in the modulation of firing patterns of neurons (PubMed:15048902). In the adrenal zona glomerulosa, participates in the signaling pathway leading to aldosterone production in response to either AGT/angiotensin II, or hyperkalemia (PubMed:25907736, PubMed:27729216). {ECO:0000269|PubMed:24277868, ECO:0000269|PubMed:25907736, ECO:0000269|PubMed:27149520, ECO:0000269|PubMed:27729216, ECO:0000269|PubMed:9670923, ECO:0000269|PubMed:9930755, ECO:0000305, ECO:0000305|PubMed:15048902}.
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 Withdrawn means the drug was pulled from the market or from development.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, Druggable Family
- Antibody
- UniProt loc high conf, GO CC high conf, UniProt SigP or TMHMM
- PROTAC
- Database Ubiquitination, Half-life Data, Small Molecule Binder
gnomAD loss of function constraint: o/e 0.7741900086402893 (upper bound 0.886929988861084). 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 168 registry trials, updated in the last three years, of the most advanced drugs against CACNA1H (trimethadione, paramethadione, phloroglucinol, methsuximide, phensuximide, bepridil, gabapentin, ethosuximide, gabapentin enacarbil, imagabalin, ABT-639, atagabalin), ranked by Phase 2+ trials. Live from ClinicalTrials.gov.
- Francisco UndaConfederación Gallega de Discapacidad · 3 of 3 trials Phase 2+
- Toufic R JildehResident · 2 of 3 trials Phase 2+
- Caroline TILIKETEHospices Civils de Lyon · 2 of 2 trials Phase 2+
- Ahmed M HusseinHelwan University · 1 of 1 trials Phase 2+
- Ahmed M MohamedAin Shames University · 1 of 1 trials Phase 2+
- Alain ESCHALIERUniversity Hospital, Clermont-Ferrand · 1 of 1 trials Phase 2+
- Amir KachooeiRothman Orthopedics at AdventHealth · 1 of 1 trials Phase 2+
- Andrew BisharaUCSF Department of Anesthesia · 1 of 1 trials Phase 2+
- Anurag SinghRoswell Park Cancer Institute · 1 of 1 trials Phase 2+
- Barbara JachniewiczNurse Practitioner, Department of Surgery · 1 of 1 trials Phase 2+
- Brian CallaghanUniversity of Michigan · 1 of 1 trials Phase 2+
- Chi VietLoma Linda University · 1 of 1 trials Phase 2+
- Daniel HarafUniversity of Chicago · 1 of 1 trials Phase 2+
- Douglass S HaleIndiana University · 1 of 1 trials Phase 2+
- Eric H KossoffJohns Hopkins University · 1 of 1 trials Phase 2+
Registry trials of trimethadione, paramethadione, phloroglucinol, methsuximide, phensuximide, bepridil, gabapentin, ethosuximide, gabapentin enacarbil, imagabalin, ABT-639, atagabalin 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; 159 of 160 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.
88 trials of drugs against CACNA1H were stopped early; 7 give no reason
Terminated, withdrawn and suspended interventional trials of trimethadione, paramethadione, phloroglucinol, methsuximide, phensuximide, bepridil, gabapentin, ethosuximide, gabapentin enacarbil, imagabalin, ABT-639, atagabalin, 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 88.
- withdrawn · 2026-10-08 · Boston Children's Hospital · Gabapentin“Study was withdrawn for feasibility-related concerns.”
- withdrawn · 2026-09-24 · George Washington University · matched by the registry's drug synonyms“The PI is no longer with the institution, and there is no interest to continue this study by other faculty members.”
- terminated · 2026-04-01 · Jocelyn Fitzgerald · Amitriptyline/Gabapentin“unable to reach the recruitment numbers required to power our primary outcome”
- terminated · 2025-08-15 · Wake Forest University Health Sciences · Gabapentin“lack of continued funding support”
- terminated · 2025-07-31 · Washington University School of Medicine · matched by the registry's drug synonyms“Low accrual”
- terminated · 2025-06-11 · The University of Texas Health Science Center, Houston · Standard of Care (acetaminophen +naproxen +gabapentin + as needed oxycodone or Tramadol)“Study concluded because of drug shortage”
- withdrawn · 2025-06-03 · University of Miami · Gabapentin“Study drug was not compliant with research pharmacy”
- withdrawn · 2025-04-11 · Stanford University · Gabapentin“Not funded”
- terminated · 2024-11-12 · Case Comprehensive Cancer Center · Gabapentin, Placebo Gabapentin“Workforce shortage”
- withdrawn · 2024-09-19 · University Hospital, Ghent · Gabapentin“Lack of funding”
- withdrawn · 2024-07-31 · University of Chicago · Gabapentin“unable to accrue”
- terminated · 2024-03-21 · Indiana University · Gabapentin“Study terminated to to shortage if study supplies for epidurals and most enrolled has study deviations due to not receiving correct post study drug assignments.”
- terminated · 2024-01-31 · Vanderbilt University Medical Center · matched by the registry's drug synonyms“Limitations of the prospective study design revealed that a retrospective study design would be better suited.”
- terminated · 2023-12-28 · University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center · matched by the registry's drug synonyms“interim analysis completed”
- withdrawn · 2023-10-25 · Massachusetts General Hospital · matched by the registry's drug synonyms“No funding”
- terminated · 2023-10-05 · London Health Sciences Centre Research Institute OR Lawson Research Institute of St. Joseph's · matched by the registry's drug synonyms“Inability to recruit due to COVID situation and protocols”
- withdrawn · 2023-04-13 · M.D. Anderson Cancer Center · Gabapentin“0 patient accrual”
- withdrawn · 2023-01-26 · Massachusetts General Hospital · Gabapentin“Original PI left institution and the PI who took over was not able to initiate the study so it was never started.”
- withdrawn · 2022-11-17 · Vinmec Healthcare System · matched by the registry's drug synonyms“No enrollement and covid”
- withdrawn · 2022-09-21 · Johns Hopkins University · matched by the registry's drug synonyms“Currently does not have active IRB status.”
- withdrawn · 2022-09-06 · Wake Forest University Health Sciences · Gabapentin“PI left institution and study was not transferred to new PI”
- terminated · 2022-07-21 · Northwestern University · Gabapentin“Insufficient enrollment”
- terminated · 2022-07-12 · University of Alberta · Gabapentin“Recruitment suspended due to COVID-19 pandemic and will not resume.”
- withdrawn · 2022-07-06 · University of Massachusetts, Worcester · matched by the registry's drug synonyms“A new large meta-analysis was published. The results showed the likelihood that liposomal bupivacaine and nerve blocks no longer offer significant contribution. Decision was made to terminate the study.”
- withdrawn · 2022-06-27 · Assistance Publique Hopitaux De Marseille · matched by the registry's drug synonyms“concomitant decision of the sponsor and the PI, lack of patients”
Paediatric incentives and obligations for CACNA1H's drugs
For trimethadione, paramethadione, phloroglucinol, methsuximide, phensuximide, bepridil, gabapentin, ethosuximide, gabapentin enacarbil, imagabalin, ABT-639, atagabalin: 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 · CACNA1H 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-001310-PIP01-12-M03 (gabapentin, Treatment of chronic pain): PM: decision on the application for modification of an agreed PIP, 19 Jul 2018; EMEA-002994-PIP01-21 (gabapentin, Treatment of postherpetic neuralgia): W: decision granting a waiver in all age groups for all conditions or indications, 12 Aug 2021; EMEA-002263-PIP01-17 (trazodone (hydrochloride);gabapentin, Treatment of painful diabetic neuropathy): W: decision granting a waiver in all age groups for all conditions or indications, 16 Mar 2018; EMEA-001617-PIP01-14 (ethosuximide, Treatment of childhood absence epilepsy): P: decision agreeing on a investigation plan, with or without partial waiver(s) and or deferral(s), 21 Dec 2015Rule: 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 trimethadione, paramethadione, phloroglucinol, methsuximide, phensuximide, bepridil, gabapentin, ethosuximide, gabapentin enacarbil, imagabalin, abt-639, atagabalinRule: 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 trimethadione, paramethadione, phloroglucinol, methsuximide, phensuximide, bepridil, gabapentin, ethosuximide, gabapentin enacarbil, imagabalin, abt-639, atagabalinRule: 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 trimethadione, paramethadione, phloroglucinol, methsuximide, phensuximide, bepridil, gabapentin, ethosuximide, gabapentin enacarbil, imagabalin, abt-639, atagabalinRule: 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 · 71 interventional studies of trimethadione, paramethadione, phloroglucinol, methsuximide, phensuximide, bepridil, gabapentin, ethosuximide, gabapentin enacarbil, imagabalin, abt-639, atagabalin include patients under 18; 9 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 20 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.