Mefenamic Acid

Summary

Mefenamic Acid (CHEMBL686) is an approved small-molecule analgesic (ATC M01AG01) targeting PTGS1, PTGS2, and KCNMA1; indicated across 5 conditions including rheumatic disorder and diabetes mellitus.

At a glance

• Status: Approved (max clinical phase 4)
• Modality: Small molecule
• ATC class: M01AG01
• Targets: 5 (PTGS1, PTGS2, KCNMA1…)
• Indications: 5 conditions
• Clinical trials: 12
• Chemistry: 241.28 Da · C15H15NO2

Identifiers

Drug identity and classification

Field	Value
ChEMBL ID	CHEMBL686
Name	Mefenamic Acid
Type	Small molecule
Max phase	4
FDA approved	yes
PubChem CID	4044
ChEBI	CHEBI:6717
ATC	M01AG01
Molecular formula	C15H15NO2
Molecular weight	241.28
InChIKey	HYYBABOKPJLUIN-UHFFFAOYSA-N

SMILES: CC1=C(C(=CC=C1)NC2=CC=CC=C2C(=O)O)C

IUPAC name: 2-(2,3-dimethylanilino)benzoic acid

ChEBI definition: An aminobenzoic acid that is anthranilic acid in which one of the hydrogens attached to the nitrogen is replaced by a 2,3-dimethylphenyl group. Although classed as a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug, its anti-inflammatory properties are considered to be minor. It is used to relieve mild to moderate pain, including headaches, dental pain, osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis.

Pharmacological roles (ChEBI): analgesic, antirheumatic drug, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug, antipyretic, EC 1.14.99.1 (prostaglandin-endoperoxide synthase) inhibitor.

Other ChEBI roles (chemical / environmental): environmental contaminant, xenobiotic.

Also known as: Acide mefenamique, Acido mefenamico, CI-473, CN-35355, Contraflam, Dysman-250, Dysman-500, Gardan, INF-3355, J2.344B, M01AG01, Mefenamate

Patent coverage: 16,860 distinct patent families (61,835 SureChEMBL compound mentions), from 4 matched compound structure(s). One matched structure accounts for 56,563 (91%) of the total. 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
PTGS1	COX-1	Inhibition	4.6	0%	P23219
PTGS2	COX-2	Inhibition	5.54	0%	P35354
KCNMA1	KCa1.1		4	0.1%	Q12791
TRPM3	TRPM3			0.1%	Q9HCF6
KCNQ1	Kv7.1			0.2%	P51787

Broader ChEMBL bioactivity targets: 24 (assay-derived). Sample: Tyrosyl-DNA phosphodiesterase 1, Nuclear receptor ROR-gamma, Prelamin-A/C, Aldo-keto reductase family 1 member B1, Dihydrofolate reductase, Menin/Histone-lysine N-methyltransferase MLL, Muscarinic acetylcholine receptor M1, Prostaglandin G/H synthase 1, Prostaglandin G/H synthase 2, Myeloperoxidase.

Bioactivity

ChEMBL activities: 28 potent at pChembl ≥ 5 of 43 total. Top 30 by potency (10 = 0.1 nM, 6 = 1 µM):

Target	pChembl	Type	Value	Unit	Activity ID
NAPRT	10.3	Ki	0.05	nM	CHEMBL_ACT_19323254
TDP1	7.95	Potency	11.2	nM	CHEMBL_ACT_3928025
PTGS1	7.94	AC50	11.5	nM	CHEMBL_ACT_25205171
PTGS1	7.46	AC50	34.3	nM	CHEMBL_ACT_25206104
PTGS1	6.94	IC50	116	nM	CHEMBL_ACT_7747149
AKR1C2	6.66	Ki	220	nM	CHEMBL_ACT_12106896
Q63921	6.58	AC50	260	nM	CHEMBL_ACT_25174166
AKR1C3	6.52	Ki	300	nM	CHEMBL_ACT_12106880
AKR1C3	6.25	IC50	560	nM	CHEMBL_ACT_12667377
PTGS2	6.22	IC50	602	nM	CHEMBL_ACT_7747151
AKR1C1	6.09	Ki	810	nM	CHEMBL_ACT_12106907
MPO	6.01	IC50	980	nM	CHEMBL_ACT_18064406
AKR1B10	5.8	IC50	1600	nM	CHEMBL_ACT_15210816
AKR1B10	5.8	IC50	1600	nM	CHEMBL_ACT_29120256
MPO	5.66	IC50	2210	nM	CHEMBL_ACT_18064457
PTGS2	5.54	IC50	2900	nM	CHEMBL_ACT_12667371
AKR1C1	5.41	IC50	3910	nM	CHEMBL_ACT_12667383
CYP1A2	5.3	AC50	5012	nM	CHEMBL_ACT_6024931
P04058	5.21	IC50	6120	nM	CHEMBL_ACT_14530724
AKR1C2	5.16	IC50	6970	nM	CHEMBL_ACT_12667380
CYP2C9	5.1	Potency	7943	nM	CHEMBL_ACT_5073421
CYP2C9	5.1	AC50	7943	nM	CHEMBL_ACT_5998138
HIF1A	5	Potency	10000	nM	CHEMBL_ACT_4125744
HIF1A	5	Potency	10000	nM	CHEMBL_ACT_4132822
HIF1A	5	Potency	10000	nM	CHEMBL_ACT_4519591
HIF1A	5	Potency	10000	nM	CHEMBL_ACT_4519953
CYP3A4	5	Potency	10000	nM	CHEMBL_ACT_4973798
CYP3A4	5	Potency	10000	nM	CHEMBL_ACT_5042824

Target pathways

Aggregated over 5 target gene(s): PTGS1, PTGS2, KCNMA1, TRPM3, KCNQ1.

Top Reactome pathways

27 total, by targets touching each:

Pathway	Targets	Genes
Neuronal System	2	KCNMA1, KCNQ1
Potassium Channels	2	KCNMA1, KCNQ1
Synthesis of Prostaglandins (PG) and Thromboxanes (TX)	2	PTGS1, PTGS2
Hemostasis	1	KCNMA1
Ca2+ activated K+ channels	1	KCNMA1
Voltage gated Potassium channels	1	KCNQ1
COX reactions	1	PTGS1
Synthesis of 15-eicosatetraenoic acid derivatives	1	PTGS2
TRP channels	1	TRPM3
Nitric oxide stimulates guanylate cyclase	1	KCNMA1
Muscle contraction	1	KCNQ1
Platelet homeostasis	1	KCNMA1
cGMP effects	1	KCNMA1
Phase 3 - rapid repolarisation	1	KCNQ1
Cardiac conduction	1	KCNQ1
Phase 2 - plateau phase	1	KCNQ1
Interleukin-10 signaling	1	PTGS2
Interleukin-4 and Interleukin-13 signaling	1	PTGS2
Biosynthesis of DHA-derived SPMs	1	PTGS2
Biosynthesis of EPA-derived SPMs	1	PTGS2
Biosynthesis of DPAn-3 SPMs	1	PTGS2
Biosynthesis of electrophilic ω-3 PUFA oxo-derivatives	1	PTGS2
Sensory processing of sound	1	KCNMA1
Sensory processing of sound by inner hair cells of the cochlea	1	KCNMA1
Sensory processing of sound by outer hair cells of the cochlea	1	KCNMA1
Acetylcholine inhibits contraction of outer hair cells	1	KCNMA1
Sensory Perception	1	KCNMA1

Dominant GO biological processes

GO term	Targets
regulation of blood pressure	3
monoatomic ion transport	3
monoatomic ion transmembrane transport	3
transmembrane transport	3
prostaglandin biosynthetic process	2
response to oxidative stress	2
cyclooxygenase pathway	2
regulation of cell population proliferation	2
long-chain fatty acid biosynthetic process	2
lipid metabolic process	2
fatty acid metabolic process	2
fatty acid biosynthetic process	2
prostaglandin metabolic process	2
prostanoid biosynthetic process	2
cellular oxidant detoxification	2

Indications & clinical

Indications

5 indications (2 at ChEMBL trial phase 4). Phase below is the highest clinical-trial phase recorded for this drug against each disease — not the molecule’s overall approval status (that is in the Summary).

Indication	Trial phase	MONDO	EFO
rheumatic disorder	4	MONDO:0005554	EFO:0005755
diabetes mellitus	1	MONDO:0005015	EFO:0000400

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

Clinical trials

Total trials: 12.

Phase distribution

Phase	Trials
PHASE1	5
PHASE4	2
PHASE2/PHASE3	2
PHASE2	2
Not specified	1

Top trials by phase / activity

NCT	Phase	Status	Title
NCT01295294	PHASE4	COMPLETED	Management of Initial Bleeding/Spotting Associated With the Levonorgestrel-releasing Intrauterine System (MIRENA)
NCT07466342	PHASE4	COMPLETED	Vitamin E Plus Mefenamic Acid Versus Mefenamic Acid Alone for Treating Primary Dysmenorrhea in Women
NCT01942122	PHASE2/PHASE3	COMPLETED	DLBS1442 for The Treatment of Pain in Patients Suspected Endometriosis
NCT03323671	PHASE2/PHASE3	COMPLETED	Preemptive Analgesia for Primary Dysmenorrhoea
NCT02183025	PHASE2	COMPLETED	Efficacy and Safety Study of Meloxicam Versus Mefenamic Acid in Patients With Dysmenorrhea
NCT02417337	PHASE2	COMPLETED	Efficacy of Different Drugs to Control Post Root Canal Treatment Pain
NCT03070678	PHASE1	COMPLETED	Interaction Study to Evaluate the Effects of Mefenamic Acid on the Pharmacokinetics and Pharmacodynamics of Sotagliflozin in Healthy Male and Female Subjects
NCT04902105	PHASE1	COMPLETED	Drug-Drug Interaction Study to Evaluate the Effect of Inhibition of UGTs on the PK of Ecopipam and Its Active Metabolite
NCT05064449	PHASE1	COMPLETED	A Study of Soticlestat With Itraconazole and Mefenamic Acid in Healthy Adults
NCT05181007	PHASE1	COMPLETED	Drug-drug Interaction Between Ciprofol and Mefanamic Acid or Valproate
NCT06277609	PHASE1	COMPLETED	A Trial Investigating Lu AF28996 in Healthy Adult Participants
NCT06369012	Not specified	COMPLETED	Management of Abnormal Uterine Bleeding

Clinical evidence (CIViC)

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

Pharmacology

Pharmacogenomics

No CPIC/DPWG dosing guideline or drug-level clinical/variant annotations in PharmGKB for this molecule.

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.

442 molecules share ≥1 primary target. Top 60 by shared-target count:

Molecule	Source	Status	Shared targets
CANNABIDIOL	ChEMBL + PubChem	Phase 4 (approved)	KCNMA1, PTGS2
ETRAVIRINE	ChEMBL + PubChem	Phase 4 (approved)	KCNQ1, PTGS1
SILODOSIN	ChEMBL + PubChem	Phase 4 (approved)	KCNQ1, PTGS1
TOLTERODINE	ChEMBL + PubChem	Phase 4 (approved)	KCNQ1, PTGS1
3,3’,4’,5-TETRACHLOROSALICYLANILIDE	ChEMBL	Phase 4 (approved)	PTGS1, PTGS2
ACEMETACIN	ChEMBL	Phase 4 (approved)	PTGS1, PTGS2
ASPIRIN	ChEMBL	Phase 4 (approved)	PTGS1, PTGS2
BROMFENAC	ChEMBL	Phase 4 (approved)	PTGS1, PTGS2
CAPSAICIN	ChEMBL	Phase 4 (approved)	PTGS1, PTGS2
CAPTOPRIL	ChEMBL	Phase 4 (approved)	PTGS1, PTGS2
CARPROFEN	ChEMBL	Phase 4 (approved)	PTGS1, PTGS2
CELECOXIB	ChEMBL	Phase 4 (approved)	PTGS1, PTGS2
CIANIDANOL	ChEMBL	Phase 4 (approved)	PTGS1, PTGS2
DEXIBUPROFEN	ChEMBL	Phase 4 (approved)	PTGS1, PTGS2
DEXKETOPROFEN	ChEMBL	Phase 4 (approved)	PTGS1, PTGS2
DICLOFENAC	ChEMBL	Phase 4 (approved)	PTGS1, PTGS2
DIETHYLSTILBESTROL	ChEMBL	Phase 4 (approved)	PTGS1, PTGS2
DOXORUBICIN	ChEMBL	Phase 4 (approved)	PTGS1, PTGS2
ESFLURBIPROFEN	ChEMBL	Phase 4 (approved)	PTGS1, PTGS2
ETODOLAC	ChEMBL	Phase 4 (approved)	PTGS1, PTGS2
ETORICOXIB	ChEMBL	Phase 4 (approved)	PTGS1, PTGS2
FLURBIPROFEN	ChEMBL	Phase 4 (approved)	PTGS1, PTGS2
GLAFENINE	ChEMBL	Phase 4 (approved)	PTGS1, PTGS2
HEXACHLOROPHENE	ChEMBL	Phase 4 (approved)	PTGS1, PTGS2
IBUPROFEN	ChEMBL	Phase 4 (approved)	PTGS1, PTGS2
INDOMETHACIN	ChEMBL	Phase 4 (approved)	PTGS1, PTGS2
KETOPROFEN	ChEMBL	Phase 4 (approved)	PTGS1, PTGS2
KETOROLAC	ChEMBL	Phase 4 (approved)	PTGS1, PTGS2
LEVODOPA	ChEMBL	Phase 4 (approved)	PTGS1, PTGS2
LOXOPROFEN	ChEMBL	Phase 4 (approved)	PTGS1, PTGS2
LUMIRACOXIB	ChEMBL	Phase 4 (approved)	PTGS1, PTGS2
MECLOFENAMIC ACID	ChEMBL	Phase 4 (approved)	PTGS1, PTGS2
MELOXICAM	ChEMBL	Phase 4 (approved)	PTGS1, PTGS2
MOFEZOLAC	ChEMBL	Phase 4 (approved)	PTGS1, PTGS2
MONOBENZONE	ChEMBL	Phase 4 (approved)	PTGS1, PTGS2
NAPROXEN	ChEMBL	Phase 4 (approved)	PTGS1, PTGS2
NIMESULIDE	ChEMBL	Phase 4 (approved)	PTGS1, PTGS2
OMADACYCLINE	ChEMBL	Phase 4 (approved)	PTGS1, PTGS2
OXAPROZIN	ChEMBL	Phase 4 (approved)	PTGS1, PTGS2
PIROXICAM	ChEMBL	Phase 4 (approved)	PTGS1, PTGS2
PRIMAQUINE	ChEMBL	Phase 4 (approved)	PTGS1, PTGS2
RANITIDINE	ChEMBL	Phase 4 (approved)	PTGS1, PTGS2
ROFECOXIB	ChEMBL	Phase 4 (approved)	PTGS1, PTGS2
SELINEXOR	ChEMBL	Phase 4 (approved)	PTGS1, PTGS2
SUPROFEN	ChEMBL	Phase 4 (approved)	PTGS1, PTGS2
TEGASEROD	ChEMBL	Phase 4 (approved)	PTGS1, PTGS2
TELOTRISTAT	ChEMBL	Phase 4 (approved)	PTGS1, PTGS2
TOLMETIN	ChEMBL	Phase 4 (approved)	PTGS1, PTGS2
TROGLITAZONE	ChEMBL	Phase 4 (approved)	PTGS1, PTGS2
VALDECOXIB	ChEMBL	Phase 4 (approved)	PTGS1, PTGS2
VORTIOXETINE	ChEMBL	Phase 4 (approved)	PTGS1, PTGS2
CURCUMIN	ChEMBL	Phase 3	PTGS1, PTGS2
RESVERATROL	ChEMBL	Phase 3	PTGS1, PTGS2
CIMICOXIB	ChEMBL	Phase 2	PTGS1, PTGS2
DERACOXIB	ChEMBL	Phase 2	PTGS1, PTGS2
ENOFELAST	ChEMBL	Phase 2	PTGS1, PTGS2
FIROCOXIB	ChEMBL	Phase 2	PTGS1, PTGS2
FLUFENAMIC ACID	ChEMBL	Phase 2	PTGS1, PTGS2
LICOFELONE	ChEMBL	Phase 2	PTGS1, PTGS2
MAVACOXIB	ChEMBL	Phase 2	PTGS1, PTGS2