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nitroglycerin (nitroglycerin, Alza / Nitroderm / Nitroderm TTS)

✓ Approved

Johnson & Johnson Services, Inc. · Small Molecule · Small Molecule

What is nitroglycerin?

nitroglycerin is a small molecule developed by Johnson & Johnson Services, Inc.. It is approved for therapeutic indications via topical or transdermal.

Drug Profile

Brand Namesnitroglycerin, Alza, Nitroderm, Nitroderm TTS
CompanyJohnson & Johnson Services, Inc.
Drug ClassSmall Molecule
RouteTopical, Transdermal
StatusApproved
Sources: ClinicalTrials.gov, Johnson & Johnson Services, Inc.

Therapeutic Indications

nitroglycerin is developed for 1 unique indication across 1 therapeutic area.

Therapeutic AreaConditionPhase
Cardiac disordersAngina pectoris✓ Approved

Related Research Articles

PubMedHeart rhythm O22026-08-29

Efficacy and safety of pulsed field ablation for cavotricuspid isthmus-dependent atrial flutter: A meta-analysis based on real-world evidence.

Liu Lei L, Chen Aiyue A, Liu Linqi L, Maimaitijiang Pakezhati P et al.

Pulsed field ablation (PFA) is effective for atrial fibrillation, but its real-world performance for cavotricuspid isthmus (CTI)-dependent atrial flutter remains inadequately defined. The purpose of this study was to systematically evaluate the efficacy and safety of PFA for CTI ablation using real-world evidence. A total of 9 observational studies (656 patients) published up to January 2026 were analyzed using a random-effects model. Pooled analysis revealed a short-term bidirectional CTI block rate of 99.4% and a short-to-midterm recurrence rate of 2.14%. Mean CTI ablation time was highly efficient (8.86 minutes). Incidences of catastrophic complications and permanent atrioventricular block were 0%. The overall incidence of intraprocedural right coronary artery spasm was 2.0%. Prophylactic high-dose intravenous nitroglycerin (>1 mg) significantly reduced coronary spasm incidence compared with low-dose (≤1 mg) regimens (1% vs 8%; P = .0016). Sensitivity analyses confirmed spasm risk was independent of PFA catheter configuration (P = .9549). PFA is a rapid, safe, and highly effective modality for CTI ablation. The risk of transient coronary spasm may be mitigated with prophylactic high-dose nitroglycerin. These hypothesis-generating findings warrant further validation.

PMID 42666861
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PubMedBioMed research international2026-08-28

Comparative Efficacy and Safety of Botulinum Toxin and Nitroglycerin in the Treatment of Chronic Anal Fissures: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Clinical Trials.

Reihani Hamid H, Daneshmandi Ali A, Hassani Amir Hossein AH, Hashemi Maryam M

Chronic anal fissures (CAF) are a common anorectal condition that significantly impacts patients' quality of life. Treatment options include pharmacological therapies, such as botulinum toxin (BT) and topical nitroglycerin (TNG). Despite their widespread use, the relative efficacy and safety of BT and TNG remain controversial. This systematic review and meta-analysis is aimed at comparing the effectiveness, recurrence rates, and adverse effects of BT and TNG in the treatment of CAF. A comprehensive search was conducted across multiple databases, including PubMed, Scopus, and Cochrane. Studies were included if they compared BT with TNG in the treatment of CAF. Ten clinical trials, comprising 698 patients, were included. Data were extracted and analyzed using STATA, and risk ratios were calculated for healing rates, recurrence rates, and side effects. The analysis showed that BT resulted in significantly higher healing rates compared with TNG (risk ratio: 1.18, 95% CI: 1.02-1.36, p = 0.029). However, there was no significant difference in recurrence rates between the two treatments (p = 0.146). BT was associated with a significantly lower incidence of side effects, including headaches, compared with TNG (p < 0.001). BT is more effective than TNG in the healing of CAF, with a superior safety profile. These findings suggest that BT may be the preferable treatment option for CAF.

PMID 42663187
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PubMedJournal of pain research2026-08-27

Electroacupuncture Improves Nitroglycerin-Induced Generalized Hypersensitivity Associated with a Migraine-Like State and Downregulates the CXCL13/CXCR5 Axis in the Trigeminal Ganglion.

Wang Fan F, Yuan Jun J

To investigate whether electroacupuncture (EA) alleviates generalized hypersensitivity associated with a nitroglycerin (NTG)-induced migraine-like state in rats and to identify EA-associated molecular changes in the trigeminal ganglion (TG), focusing on the CXCL13/CXCR5 axis. Male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly assigned to control, model, EA, and sham EA groups (n = 8/group). Except for the control group, rats received NTG (10 mg/kg, intraperitoneally) on days 1, 3, 5, 7, and 9. EA was applied daily at GB20 and GB34, while sham EA was applied at non-acupoints. Mechanical paw withdrawal threshold and thermal paw withdrawal latency were assessed at baseline and 2 h after each injection. Plasma calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) was measured by ELISA. TG RNA sequencing was performed in the control, model, and EA groups (n = 3/group), followed by GO/KEGG analysis, qPCR, and immunofluorescence validation. EA significantly increased mechanical paw withdrawal threshold and thermal paw withdrawal latency in NTG-treated rats. On day 9, both measures were higher in the EA group than in the model group (both adjusted P < 0.0001), whereas sham EA produced no significant improvement. Plasma CGRP was lower in the EA group than in the model group (adjusted P = 0.0155). Exploratory RNA sequencing identified inflammation-, immune-, and chemokine-related TG changes. qPCR showed lower Cxcl13 and Cxcr5 expression in the EA group than in the model group (adjusted P = 0.0242 and 0.0009, respectively). Immunofluorescence showed consistent reductions in CXCL13 and CXCR5 mean fluorescence intensity (adjusted P = 0.0115 and 0.0020, respectively). EA attenuated NTG-induced generalized hypersensitivity and reduced plasma CGRP levels, accompanied by decreased CXCL13/CXCR5 expression in the TG. Whether TG CXCL13/CXCR5 downregulation contributes causally to these effects remains to be determined.

PMID 42656790
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PubMedPharmaceuticals (Basel, Switzerland)2026-08-27

Comparison of Metformin Combinations with Other Repurposed Drugs in the Treatment of Hamster Fibrosarcoma: A Review.

Popović Dušica J DJ, Popović Kosta J KJ, Miljković Dejan D, Poša Mihalj M et al.

Background/Objectives: Metformin is a prominent candidate for cancer drug repurposing, backed by preclinical and epidemiological evidence showing reduced cancer incidence in diabetic patients. Its pleiotropic effects include AMPK activation, protein synthesis inhibition, and metabolic alterations. This review integrates global preclinical data via a comprehensive tabular overview alongside a cross-analysis of specific investigations of hamster fibrosarcoma. Since head-to-head comparisons of metformin-based combinations on hamster fibrosarcoma remain limited, this work performs an integrated cross-study evaluation to establish a clear comparative hierarchy of various repurposed adjuvants combined with metformin. Methods: A literature review and cross-study re-analysis of peer-reviewed preclinical studies were conducted, focusing on in vivo therapeutic outcomes within the BHK-21/C13-induced hamster fibrosarcoma model. Treatment regimens from distinct primary studies were evaluated side-by-side using tumor endpoint data expressed as a percentage of control mean (± SD). Only statistically significant pairwise differences (p < 0.05) determined the comparative hierarchy. Results: Integrated analysis identified disulfiram and diclofenac as the most promising adjuvants among compared metformin combinations, showing the highest statistical significance across all evaluated endpoints. The statistical ranking of the metformin-based combinations followed a descending order: disulfiram, diclofenac, nitroglycerin, itraconazole, and caffeine. Conclusions: By synthesizing previously fragmented primary data into a unified comparative framework, these findings provide a strong, consolidated preclinical rationale for metformin-based combination strategies. The established hierarchy of adjuvant potency resolves structural ambiguity and supports further translational and clinical investigation to evaluate their therapeutic potential in fibrosarcoma and other malignancies.

PMID 42653751
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PubMedJournal of clinical medicine2026-08-27

Prognostic Prediction Using Baseline Heart Rate and Head-Up Tilt Test Mode in Pediatric Cardioinhibitory Vasovagal Syncope with Non-Pharmacological Therapy.

Wang Shuo S, Wang Yuwen Y, Li Fang F, Luo Xuemei X et al.

Objectives: Clinically feasible simple methods for prognostic assessment of cardioinhibitory vasovagal syncope (VVS) are rare. This study investigated the predictive utility of head-up tile test (HUTT) data among cardioinhibitory VVS children with non-pharmacological therapy. Methods: A retrospective analysis was conducted on the clinical data of 403 children with VVS who had cardioinhibitory responses induced by HUTT. The children were aged 4-18 years old, including 178 males and 225 females. After the non-pharmacological interventions and follow-up, they were divided into the good prognosis group (233 cases) and the poor prognosis group (170 cases). Results: (1) Comparison between groups: Compared with the good prognosis group, the baseline heart rate (HR0) in the poor prognosis group was lower, and the proportion of sublingual nitroglycerin-provoked HUTT (SNHUT) was higher (p < 0.05). (2) Univariate analysis: Univariate analysis showed that HR0 was a protective factor on the prognosis of VVS, while SNHUT was a risk factor for the prognosis of VVS. (3) Multivariate analysis: HR0 was an independent protective factor on the prognosis of VVS. That is, for every 1 bpm increase in HR0, the risk of poor prognosis of VVS decreased by 3%. SNHUT was an independent risk factor for the prognosis of VVS, and the risk of poor prognosis of VVS increased by 3.34 times compared with basic HUTT (BHUT). (4) Evaluation of diagnostic tests: The combination of HR0 and HUTT mode had a good prognostic prediction effect for VVS (AUC = 0.71, p < 0.001). Conclusions: The combination of HR0 and HUTT mode demonstrates robust prognostic predictive value for non-pharmacological interventions in pediatric patients with VVS exhibiting cardioinhibitory responses during HUTT.

PMID 42652573
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PubMedFrontiers in endocrinology2026-08-26

Changes in vascular structure and function in primary hyperparathyroidism: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Gheorghe-Milea Ana A, Georgescu Carmen Emanuela CE

Cardiovascular (CV) diseases, particularly ischemic heart disease and stroke, remain the leading cause of mortality worldwide and constitute a major global health challenge. Primary hyperparathyroidism (PHPT), a prevalent endocrine disorder, has recently emerged as a potential contributor to CV risk, although its impact on vascular structure and function has yet to be fully elucidated. This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to provide an in-depth characterization of vascular involvement by assessing markers of vascular remodeling and function in PHPT, including carotid intima-media thickness (IMT), carotid plaque prevalence, brachial artery flow-mediated dilation (FMD) and nitroglycerin-mediated dilation (NMD), as well as the effects of parathyroidectomy (PTX) on these parameters. A comprehensive literature search was conducted across four databases (PubMed, Embase, Web of Science and Scopus) until March 2026. Original studies written in English enrolling patients with PHPT and assessing the pre-specified vascular markers using ultrasound evaluation were included. Thirty-two studies were eligible for the qualitative synthesis, of which thirty were included in the meta-analysis. Compared with controls, PHPT patients exhibited significantly increased carotid IMT and markedly reduced FMD, indicating early structural arterial changes and endothelial dysfunction. No significant differences were observed in carotid plaque prevalence or in NMD, the latter suggesting preserved endothelium-independent vascular function. PTX was associated with a modest short-term reduction in carotid IMT at 6 months, while improvements in endothelial function were inconsistent and did not reach statistical significance. Overall, these findings support a model in which PHPT primarily affects vascular function through endothelial impairment, followed by mild structural remodeling, rather than advanced atherosclerotic plaque formation. These alterations may represent an early and potentially reversible stage of vascular disease. Although current guidelines do not include CV involvement as an indication for surgery, vascular markers may contribute to improved risk stratification and management decisions in PHPT. Further prospective studies employing standardized vascular assessment methodologies are needed to clarify the clinical significance of these findings.

PMID 42643311
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