Alcohol

Summary

Alcohol (CHEMBL545) is an approved small-molecule antiseptic drug (ATC D08AX08) targeting KCNJ3, KCNJ6, and KCNJ5; indicated across 43 conditions including burn and hypertensive disorder.

At a glance

• Status: Approved (max clinical phase 4)
• Modality: Small molecule
• ATC class: D08AX08 (+2 more)
• Targets: 4 (KCNJ3, KCNJ6, KCNJ5…)
• Indications: 43 conditions
• Clinical trials: 288
• Chemistry: 46.07 Da · C2H6O

Identifiers

Drug identity and classification

Field	Value
ChEMBL ID	CHEMBL545
Name	Alcohol
Type	Small molecule
Max phase	4
FDA approved	yes
PubChem CID	702
ChEBI	CHEBI:16236
ATC	D08AX08, V03AB16, V03AZ01
Molecular formula	C2H6O
Molecular weight	46.07
InChIKey	LFQSCWFLJHTTHZ-UHFFFAOYSA-N

SMILES: CCO

IUPAC name: ethanol

ChEBI definition: A primary alcohol that is ethane in which one of the hydrogens is substituted by a hydroxy group.

Pharmacological roles (ChEBI): antiseptic drug, neurotoxin, central nervous system depressant, teratogenic agent, NMDA receptor antagonist, protein kinase C agonist, disinfectant.

Other ChEBI roles (chemical / environmental): polar solvent, human metabolite, Saccharomyces cerevisiae metabolite, Escherichia coli metabolite, mouse metabolite.

Also known as: Ablysinol, Alcohol, Alcohol 190 proof, Alcohol 95%, Alcohol anhydrous, Alcohol component of avagard, Alcohol component of hbn-1 ethanol, Alcohol denat., Alcohol denatured, Alcohol determination–alcohol, absolute, dehydrated

Patent coverage: 2,083,980 distinct patent families (4,620,746 SureChEMBL compound mentions), from 1 matched compound structure(s). Mentions count patents naming the compound (not distinct inventions), so promiscuous / reference molecules inflate the mention figure — families are the dedup metric.

Targets

Targets

Primary targets (GtoPdb curated mechanism): the Cancer dependency column is the DepMap CRISPR fitness signal (% of screened cell lines dependent on the target).

Gene	Target	Action	pAffinity	Cancer dependency	UniProt
	5-HT3A	Positive
	Glycine Receptor (All subtypes)	Potentiation
KCNJ3	Kir3.1	Agonist		0.2%	P48549
KCNJ6	Kir3.2	Agonist		0.1%	P48051
KCNJ5	Kir3.4			0%	P48544
TRPV6	TRPV6	Activation	0.82	0.3%	Q9H1D0

Broader ChEMBL bioactivity targets: 2 (assay-derived). Sample: Thyrotropin receptor, Aldehyde dehydrogenase 1A1.

Bioactivity

ChEMBL activities: 2 potent at pChembl ≥ 5 of 3 total. Top 100 by potency (10 = 0.1 nM, 6 = 1 µM):

Target	pChembl	Type	Value	Unit	Activity ID
TSHR	7.5	Potency	31.6	nM	CHEMBL_ACT_3921025
TSHR	7.5	Potency	31.6	nM	CHEMBL_ACT_4618234

Target pathways

Aggregated over 4 target gene(s): KCNJ3, KCNJ6, KCNJ5, TRPV6.

Top Reactome pathways

12 total, by targets touching each:

Pathway	Targets	Genes
Neurotransmitter receptors and postsynaptic signal transmission	3	KCNJ3, KCNJ5, KCNJ6
Transmission across Chemical Synapses	3	KCNJ3, KCNJ5, KCNJ6
Neuronal System	3	KCNJ3, KCNJ5, KCNJ6
Activation of G protein gated Potassium channels	3	KCNJ3, KCNJ5, KCNJ6
G protein gated Potassium channels	3	KCNJ3, KCNJ5, KCNJ6
Inwardly rectifying K+ channels	3	KCNJ3, KCNJ5, KCNJ6
Potassium Channels	3	KCNJ3, KCNJ5, KCNJ6
GABA receptor activation	3	KCNJ3, KCNJ5, KCNJ6
GABA B receptor activation	3	KCNJ3, KCNJ5, KCNJ6
Activation of GABAB receptors	3	KCNJ3, KCNJ5, KCNJ6
Inhibition of voltage gated Ca2+ channels via Gbeta/gamma subunits	3	KCNJ3, KCNJ5, KCNJ6
TRP channels	1	TRPV6

Dominant GO biological processes

GO term	Targets
monoatomic ion transport	4
monoatomic ion transmembrane transport	4
potassium ion transport	3
regulation of monoatomic ion transmembrane transport	3
potassium ion import across plasma membrane	3
potassium ion transmembrane transport	2
regulation of heart rate by cardiac conduction	2
membrane repolarization during atrial cardiac muscle cell action potential	2
ventricular cardiac muscle cell membrane repolarization	2
monoatomic cation transmembrane transport	2
membrane repolarization during ventricular cardiac muscle cell action potential	2
response to electrical stimulus	1
regulation of presynaptic membrane potential	1
calcium ion transport	1
regulation of calcium ion-dependent exocytosis	1

Indications & clinical

Indications

1 approved indication. FDA phase 4, plus an anticancer drug’s labelled cancer uses (which ChEMBL often logs at phase 3).

Indication	Phase	MONDO	EFO
burn	4	MONDO:0043519	EFO:0009516

28 diseases in clinical trials (phase 1–3, investigational — not approved indications). Highest ChEMBL trial phase per disease; a non-cancer approved use is occasionally logged at phase 3 here.

Disease (in trials)	Phase	MONDO	EFO
hypertensive disorder	3	MONDO:0005044	EFO:0000537
bacterial infectious disease with sepsis	3	MONDO:0005229	EFO:0003033
prediabetes syndrome	3	MONDO:0006920	EFO:1001121
neutropenia	3	MONDO:0001475	MONDO:0001475
alcohol abuse	3	MONDO:0002046	MONDO:0002046
severe acute respiratory syndrome	3	MONDO:0005091	MONDO:0100096
cirrhosis of liver	2	MONDO:0005155	EFO:0001422
obesity disorder	2	MONDO:0011122	EFO:0001073
constipation disorder	2	MONDO:0002203	HP:0002019
acne	2	MONDO:0011438	EFO:0003894
atrial fibrillation	2	MONDO:0004981	EFO:0000275
chronic kidney disease	2	MONDO:0005300	EFO:0003884
ventricular tachycardia	2	MONDO:0005477	EFO:0005306
herpes labialis	2	MONDO:0043653	EFO:1001347
central nervous system neoplasm	2	MONDO:0006130	EFO:1000158
essential hypertension	2	MONDO:0001134	MONDO:0001134
alopecia	2	MONDO:0004907	MONDO:0004907
type 2 diabetes mellitus	2	MONDO:0005148	MONDO:0005148
bipolar disorder	2	MONDO:0004985	MONDO:0004985
neuroblastoma	1	MONDO:0005072	EFO:0000621
erectile dysfunction	1	MONDO:0005362	EFO:0004234
benign prostatic hyperplasia	1	MONDO:0010811	EFO:0000284
cannabis dependence	1	MONDO:0005689	EFO:0007191
major depressive disorder	1	MONDO:0002009	MONDO:0002009
substance-related disorder	1	MONDO:0002494	MONDO:0004938
alcohol-related disorders	1	MONDO:0021698	MONDO:0021698
cystic, mucinous, and serous neoplasm	1	MONDO:0006720	EFO:1000889
hereditary breast ovarian cancer syndrome	1	MONDO:0003582	Orphanet:145

12 further indication records had no mapped disease name (EFO/MeSH-only) or were duplicates, and are omitted.

Clinical trials

Total trials: 288.

Phase distribution

Phase	Trials
Not specified	144
PHASE1	61
PHASE2	21
PHASE3	18
EARLY_PHASE1	18
PHASE4	12
PHASE1/PHASE2	8
PHASE2/PHASE3	6

Top trials by phase / activity

NCT	Phase	Status	Title
NCT00256451	PHASE4	COMPLETED	Endophenotype for Alcohol Misuse in Healthy Minority Populations
NCT00578279	PHASE4	COMPLETED	Endoscopic Ultrasound-guided Celiac Plexus Neurolysis (EUS-CPN)With Alcohol in Unresectable Pancreatic Cancer: a Pilot Study
NCT00666796	PHASE4	COMPLETED	A Study to Assess the Pharmacodynamic Interaction Between Gabapentin and Ethanol in Healthy Subjects
NCT01501162	PHASE4	COMPLETED	Effect of Probiotics on Gut-Liver Axis of Alcoholic Liver Disease
NCT02258412	PHASE4	COMPLETED	Evaluation of Two Hand Hygiene Products in ICUs
NCT02488889	PHASE4	WITHDRAWN	Effects of Varenicline in Heavy Drinking Smokers
NCT02495883	PHASE4	COMPLETED	Functional Imaging of Tremor Circuits and Mechanisms of Treatment Response
NCT02516150	PHASE4	COMPLETED	Effect of Ethanol Intoxication on the Anti-Hypoglycemic Action of Glucagon
NCT02881060	PHASE4	COMPLETED	The Late Effects of Ethanol Intake on the Glucose Response to Subcutaneous Glucagon in Type 1 Diabetes
NCT03018236	PHASE4	UNKNOWN	Effect of N-acetylcysteine on Alcohol and Cocaine Use Disorders: A Double-Blind Randomized Controlled Trial.
NCT04801082	PHASE4	UNKNOWN	Endoscopic Ultrasound Guided Coeliac Plexus Neurolysis for Cancer Pain
NCT05798936	PHASE4	UNKNOWN	Comparative Study of Polidocanol and Absolute Alcohol for Percutaneous us Guided Treatment of Benign Thyroid Cyst
NCT02910414	PHASE3	ACTIVE_NOT_RECRUITING	TARGET BP I Clinical Trial
NCT03083184	PHASE3	RECRUITING	Evaluation of the Efficacy of an inTerdialytic Ethanol 40% v/v - enoxapaRin 1000 U/mL Lock solutioN to Prevent Tunnelled Catheter Infections in Chronic Hemodialysis Patients
NCT04616781	PHASE2/PHASE3	RECRUITING	Ketone Ester Intervention in Alcohol Use Disorder
NCT05551754	PHASE2/PHASE3	ACTIVE_NOT_RECRUITING	Acute Effects of Ketone Supplement on Responses to Alcohol Challenge in Healthy Volunteers
NCT06065657	PHASE2/PHASE3	ACTIVE_NOT_RECRUITING	Effect of Nutritional Ketosis on Alcohol Metabolism
NCT06815237	PHASE2/PHASE3	RECRUITING	Effects of Ketone Supplement and Alcohol on Brain Metabolism
NCT06821295	PHASE2/PHASE3	RECRUITING	Efficacy of a Smartphone-Based JITAI to Reduce Drinking Among Adults Experiencing Homelessness
NCT00000495	PHASE3	COMPLETED	Prevention of Hypertension: A Randomized Trial
NCT00000498	PHASE3	COMPLETED	Control of Hypertension by Non-Pharmacologic Means
NCT00000616	PHASE3	COMPLETED	PREMIER: Lifestyle Interventions for Blood Pressure Control
NCT00550108	PHASE3	TERMINATED	Management of Incidentally Discovered Pancreatic Cysts
NCT00559819	PHASE3	COMPLETED	Validation of Driving Simulator to Blood Alcohol Concentration Standards for Impaired Driving
NCT00784433	PHASE3	COMPLETED	The CArdiovasCulAr Diabetes & Ethanol (CASCADE) Trial
NCT00806611	PHASE3	COMPLETED	Intraoperative Celiac Plexus Neurolysis for Patients With Operable Pancreatic and Periampullary Cancer
NCT00875069	PHASE3	COMPLETED	Efficacy and Safety of Ethanol Lock Solution in Prevention of Catheter Related Bloodstream Infection for Patients Suffering Acute Renal Failure, and Hospitalized in Intensive Care Unit. A Multi-Center, Randomized, Versus Placebo, Double Blinded Clinical Trial
NCT01205074	PHASE2/PHASE3	UNKNOWN	¹³C-Methacetin Breath Test (MBT) Methodology Study
NCT01472965	PHASE3	COMPLETED	Ethanol Lock Therapy for Treatment and Secondary Prophylaxis of Central Line-Associated Bloodstream Infection
NCT01898221	PHASE3	COMPLETED	Vein of Marshall Ethanol Infusion for Persistent Atrial Fibrillation
NCT02414581	PHASE3	COMPLETED	Mouthwash With Chlorhexidine 0.12%/Ethyl Alcohol 7% Compared to Ethyl Alcohol 7%
NCT03085004	PHASE3	TERMINATED	CHARM II: Chemotherapy for Ablation and Resolution of Mucinous Pancreatic Cysts
NCT03131843	PHASE3	UNKNOWN	Effectiveness of Alcohol Swabs for Preventing Infections During Vaccination
NCT04859738	PHASE3	COMPLETED	The Effect of Lidocaine and Benzocaine on Pain and Injection Satisfaction in Peripheral Intravenous Catheter Application
NCT05268419	PHASE3	COMPLETED	Efficacy and Safety of Ethanol Inhalation on COVID-19 Treatment (a Clinical Trial Study)
NCT06143059	PHASE3	SUSPENDED	The Effects of Sex Hormones and Alcohol on Sleep
NCT05389930	PHASE2	RECRUITING	Cannabis’ Impact on Alcohol Consumption
NCT05511246	PHASE2	RECRUITING	Venous Ethanol for Ventricular Tachycardia
NCT06118580	PHASE2	RECRUITING	Neural Correlates During Alcohol Intoxication
NCT06494891	PHASE2	RECRUITING	Motivation for IV Alcohol Self-Administration in Humans
NCT06524609	PHASE1/PHASE2	RECRUITING	EGCG for the Prevention and Treatment of TIPN
NCT00000522	PHASE2	COMPLETED	Treatment of Mild Hypertension Study (TOMHS)
NCT00001925	PHASE2	COMPLETED	Effect of Alcohol on Tremors
NCT00037141	PHASE1/PHASE2	COMPLETED	Safety/Tolerability Study of Alcohol Injection for Treatment of BPH (Enlarged Prostate)
NCT00183170	PHASE2	COMPLETED	Residual Effects of Intoxication on Student Performance
NCT00289965	PHASE2	COMPLETED	Substance Use Risk Education (SURE) Project
NCT00295334	PHASE2	COMPLETED	Moderate Alcohol Intake Among Patients With Type 2 Diabetes
NCT00462462	PHASE2	COMPLETED	Systemic and Local Diffusion of Ethanol After Administration of Ethanol 96% Formulated in a Gel and Ethanol 98% Solution by the Percutaneous Route, in Patients With Congenital Venous Malformations:Pharmacokinetic, Pharmacodynamic and Clinical Study.
NCT00563342	PHASE2	TERMINATED	Catheters Dysfunction Rate After Instillation of Ethanol 60% Lock Solution in Tunneled Silicone Catheter of Chronic Hemodialysis Patients
NCT00661141	PHASE2	COMPLETED	Phase IIa Study of Fomepizole for Acetaldehyde Toxicity After Ethanol Exposure in Subjects With Altered Ethanol Metabolism
NCT00806260	PHASE2	COMPLETED	A Study to Evaluate How VI-0521 Affect Psychomotor Performance in Healthy Overweight and Obese Subjects.
NCT00907114	PHASE2	COMPLETED	Topic Ketorolac Added to Panphotocoagulation in Proliferative Diabetic Retinopathy
NCT01101412	PHASE1/PHASE2	WITHDRAWN	Antimicrobial Solution or Saline Solution in Maintaining Catheter Patency and Preventing Catheter-Related Blood Infections in Patients With Malignancies
NCT01475331	PHASE2	COMPLETED	The CHARM Trial: Chemotherapy for Ablation and Resolution of Mucinous Pancreatic Cysts
NCT01567215	PHASE2	COMPLETED	Treatment of Granuloma Umbilical in Newborn Babies
NCT01779024	PHASE2	COMPLETED	Ghrelin for Alcohol Use in Non-Treatment-Seeking Heavy Drinkers
NCT01985321	PHASE2	COMPLETED	Safety and Efficacy of Merlin (Ethanol and Glycolic Acid Mixture) for the Treatment of Cold Sores
NCT02046200	PHASE1/PHASE2	COMPLETED	Development of Ivermectin for Alcohol Use Disorders
NCT02227329	PHASE1/PHASE2	TERMINATED	Prophylactic Ethanol Lock Therapy (ELT) in Patients on Home Parenteral Nutrition
NCT02263196	PHASE1/PHASE2	UNKNOWN	The Efficacy of Alcohol After Betadine and Combination of Alcohol and Betadine on Inflammation Vascular Access
NCT02649231	PHASE2	COMPLETED	Ketamine for Reduction of Alcoholic Relapse
NCT03192306	PHASE2	COMPLETED	Safety and Efficacy of Merlin (Ethanol and Glycolic Acid Mixture) for Episodic Treatment of Cold Sores
NCT03503773	PHASE2	COMPLETED	The TARGET BP OFF-MED Trial
NCT05273658	PHASE1/PHASE2	WITHDRAWN	Effects of Cannabis/Alcohol on Driving Performance and Field Sobriety Tests
NCT05670184	PHASE1/PHASE2	UNKNOWN	The Effect of LSD on Neural Synchrony, Prosocial Behavior, and Relationship Quality
NCT02404688	PHASE1	ACTIVE_NOT_RECRUITING	Ethanol and Cannabinoid Effects on Simulated Driving and Related Cognition
NCT02709954	PHASE1	ACTIVE_NOT_RECRUITING	Ethanol and Cannabinoid Effects on Simulated Driving and Related Cognition: Sub-Study I
NCT02710097	PHASE1	ACTIVE_NOT_RECRUITING	Ethanol and Cannabinoid Effects on Simulated Driving and Related Cognition: Sub-Study II
NCT02710331	PHASE1	ACTIVE_NOT_RECRUITING	Ethanol and Cannabinoid Effects on Simulated Driving and Related Cognition: Substudy III
NCT03294460	PHASE1	RECRUITING	Nicotinic Receptor Genetic Variation and Alcohol Reward
NCT03827460	PHASE1	RECRUITING	Sex Differences in the Response to Abstinence From Alcohol.
NCT06293040	PHASE1	RECRUITING	Vaporized Cannabis Administration and Co-Administration of Alcohol on Impairment
NCT06703437	PHASE1	ACTIVE_NOT_RECRUITING	Long Acting Neuraxial Peri-prostatic Block in Cancer
NCT06712602	PHASE1	RECRUITING	PT150 Drug for Use in Alcohol Use Disorder
NCT06719908	PHASE1	NOT_YET_RECRUITING	A Phase I Study of the Interaction of Alcohol With Oral AFA-281 in Healthy Volunteers
NCT06798038	PHASE1	NOT_YET_RECRUITING	Comparison of the Efficacy of Chemical Genicular Nerve Neurolysis Using Alcohol or Phenol Versus Radiofrequency Ablation Under Ultrasound Guidance for Pain Management in Patients With Knee Osteoarthritis
NCT06819189	PHASE1	RECRUITING	Role of Metal Ion Transporter ZIP8 in Alcohol-Related Behaviors
NCT07027839	PHASE1	RECRUITING	Acute Effects of Alcohol on PET Imaging of Phosphodiesterase-4B (PDE4B)
NCT00247182	PHASE1	COMPLETED	Stepped Care for Mandated College Students
NCT00437606	PHASE1	TERMINATED	A Study of the Pharmacokinetics/Pharmacodynamics of GK Activator (2) in Type 2 Diabetes Patients With Hepatic Impairment.
NCT00471679	PHASE1	COMPLETED	Ethanol-Lock Treatment in Preventing Central Venous Catheter Infections in Patients With High-Risk Neuroblastoma
NCT00713492	PHASE1	COMPLETED	Computer-Assisted Self-Administration of Ethanol
NCT00879047	PHASE1	COMPLETED	Interaction of Alcohol and Highly Active Antiretroviral Therapy (HAART) in HIV/AIDS and HIV/AIDS With Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) Co-Infection
NCT00887367	PHASE1	COMPLETED	EtOH Interaction Study
NCT01054859	PHASE1	COMPLETED	A Phase I Crossover Study of the Hemodynamic Interactions of Avanafil & Alcohol in Healthy Male Subjects.
NCT01241032	PHASE1	COMPLETED	Phase I Study to Investigate the Alcohol Interaction of DA8159
NCT01289561	PHASE1	COMPLETED	Combined Effects of Alcohol and Caffeine
NCT01375556	PHASE1	TERMINATED	Genetics of the Acute Response to Alcohol in Social Drinkers
NCT01525706	PHASE1	TERMINATED	Endoscopic Ultrasound (EUS) Guided Ethanol With Paclitaxel Ablation for Pancreatic Mucinous Cystic Neoplasm
NCT01531920	PHASE1	COMPLETED	A Study in Healthy Subjects to Determine the Effects When Alcohol is Administered With Perampanel
NCT01543529	PHASE1	COMPLETED	A Pharmacodynamic and Pharmacokinetic Study of RO4917838 in Healthy Volunteers
NCT01578057	PHASE1	COMPLETED	Evaluation of the Pharmacodynamic and Pharmacokinetic Interactions of Tasimelteon and Ethanol
NCT01590277	PHASE1	COMPLETED	Ability of Partial Inverse Agonist, Iomazenil, to Block Ethanol Effects in Humans
NCT01708369	PHASE1	COMPLETED	Alcohol Inhibits Drug Metabolism by Carboxylesterases
NCT01710670	PHASE1	COMPLETED	A Study to Investigate the Drug-Drug Interactions of Brivaracetam and Ethanol in Healthy Male Subjects
NCT01788670	PHASE1	COMPLETED	Relevance of the Ethanol Dose in the Generation of Endogenous Hydroxytyrosol
NCT01790672	PHASE1	COMPLETED	Contribution of Wine Components on Hydroxytyrosol Body Concentrations and Biological Effects
NCT01865708	PHASE1	COMPLETED	Pilot Study of the Safety of a Daily Ethanol Lock for Urinary Catheters in Critically Ill Children
NCT02158039	PHASE1	COMPLETED	Endoscopic Ultrasound-guided Ethanol Injection of Pancreatic Cystic Neoplasms
NCT02278302	PHASE1	COMPLETED	Study to Compare the Effect of a Combination of Dipyridamole With Sustained Release and Acetyl Salicylic Acid (Aggrenox®) on the Performance Relevant to Safety and on the General Condition of Healthy Volunteers

Clinical evidence (CIViC)

No CIViC predictive evidence (expected for non-precision-medicine drugs).

Pharmacology

Pharmacogenomics

No CPIC/DPWG dosing guideline, but PharmGKB curates 94 clinical and 322 variant annotation(s) for this drug (gene-keyed; see PharmGKB).

Related molecules

Related molecules

Molecules sharing ≥1 of this drug’s curated primary targets, merged from two biobtree sources and ranked by shared-target count, then clinical phase: ChEMBL clinical-stage candidates (development phase ≥2) and PubChem drug-class bioactivity (approved / known drugs acting on the target). Deduplicated by drug name; the drug’s own salt forms are excluded. Note: for a drug with few primary targets a shared-target match can reflect off-target / promiscuous binding rather than the same therapeutic mechanism — the phase ordering surfaces bona-fide therapeutics first.

11 molecules share ≥1 primary target. Top 11 by shared-target count:

Molecule	Source	Status	Shared targets
Propafenone	PubChem	Approved	KCNJ3, KCNJ5
ECONAZOLE	ChEMBL + PubChem	Phase 4 (approved)	TRPV6
TETRAHYDROCANNABIVARIN	ChEMBL	Phase 2	TRPV6
Alosetron	PubChem	Approved	KCNJ5
Boric Acid	PubChem	Approved	TRPV6
Capsaicin	PubChem	Approved	TRPV6
Diphenhydramine	PubChem	Approved	TRPV6
glyburide	PubChem	Approved	KCNJ5
Imipramine	PubChem	Approved	KCNJ5
Mefloquine	PubChem	Approved	KCNJ5
Sildenafil	PubChem	Approved	KCNJ5