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nifedipine (Darbelan 10)

✓ Approved

Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd. · CACNA1C · Small Molecule

What is nifedipine?

nifedipine is a small molecule developed by Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd.. It is approved for therapeutic indications via oral (po).

Drug Profile

Brand NamesDarbelan 10
CompanyTeva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd.
Drug ClassSmall Molecule
Molecular TargetCACNA1C
RouteOral (PO)
StatusApproved
Sources: ClinicalTrials.gov, Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd.

Mechanism of Action

Molecular Targets

nifedipine acts on 1 molecular target:

CACNA1Ccalcium voltage-gated channel subunit alpha1 C (CACNL1A1, CACNA1C-IT2)
Want deeper analysis?Noah AI can explain complex mechanisms and compare to similar drugs.

Therapeutic Indications

nifedipine is developed for 2 unique indications across 2 therapeutic areas.

Therapeutic AreaConditionPhase
Cardiac disordersAngina pectoris✓ Approved
Vascular disordersHypertension✓ Approved

Related Research Articles

PubMedInternational journal of reproductive biomedicine2026-10-13

Comparison of indomethacin and nifedipine regarding ductus arteriosus Doppler findings after laser therapy for monochorionic diamniotic twin-to-twin transfusion syndrome: A retrospective cohort study.

Mokhtari Sareh S, Eslamian Laleh L, Marsoosi Vajiheh V, Golbabaei Alireza A et al.

Indomethacin is administered to reduce preterm labor after fetoscopic laser photocoagulation (FLP) of placental anastomoses. To compare ductus arteriosus (DA) Doppler findings in monochorionic diamniotic twin pregnancies complicated by twin-to-twin transfusion syndrome following FLP between cases treated with indomethacin and those treated with nifedipine. In this retrospective cohort study, data of 86 pregnant women aged 17-41 yr who underwent FLP in Shariati hospital, Tehran, Iran from October 2024-November 2025 were extracted from medical records and then followed up. In the study, based on pulse rate, the cases were placed in one of 2 groups: nifedipine (pulse rate < 100) and indomethacin (pulse rate > 100) for 48 hr. In cases receiving indomethacin, 6 cases developed DA constriction. A comprehensive fetal echocardiography was performed to assess the status of the DA before and after FLP. Peak systolic velocity was higher in both donor (145.7 ± 32.2, p = 0.012) and recipient twins (147.2 ± 23.6, p = 0.010) in the constricted group compared with the non-constricted groups. In recipient twins, end-diastolic velocity mean was also significantly increased (32.0 in the constricted, 19.9 in the indomethacin, and 18.7 in the nifedipine group, p = 0.012), while pulsatility index mean was significantly lower in the constricted group (1.8, 2.6, 2.5, respectively, p = 0.010). DA constriction is associated with significant changes in blood flow indices, a higher incidence of right ventricular dysfunction, and a greater prevalence of valvular regurgitation. In this study, fetal DA constriction resolved during the short-term follow-up period.

PMID 42865976
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PubMedBritish journal of pharmacology2026-10-13

High-resolution pressure myography reveals pressure-dependent local contractile and geometric dynamics in the renal pelvis and ureter.

Chu Zhugang Z, Zhai Qidi Q, Lu Liming L, Gollasch Maik M et al.

Coordinated peristalsis between the renal pelvis and ureter is critical for effective urine transport. However, intraluminal pressure impact on upper urinary tract (UUT) contractility and pharmacologic responsiveness remains poorly understood due to absence of suitable investigative methods. This study introduces the first application of high-resolution pressure myography to UUT, establishing a novel ex vivo platform enabling simultaneous, intraluminal pressure-controlled local measurement of renal pelvic contraction frequency and amplitude and ureteral inner diameter, outer diameter, and wall thickness. To define contribution of specific Ca2+ signaling pathways, we pharmacologically examined Cav1.2 L-type, Cav3.x T-type, and ryanodine receptor channels, as well as sarco/endoplasmic reticulum Ca2+-ATPase (SERCA) and neuronal involvement. Elevating intraluminal pressure from 4 to 20 mmHg increased renal pelvic contraction frequency, while amplitude markedly decreased. Ureteral wall thinning was the main structural adaptation. Nifedipine reduced renal pelvic contraction amplitude and frequency and suppressed ureter peak contraction, all with reduced efficacy under high-pressure conditions. Ni2+ affected renal pelvic contractility only at high concentrations and had no effect on ureteral dynamics. Ryanodine did not alter measured parameters, and Na+ and N-type Ca2+ channels were not involved. High-resolution pressure myography reveals pressure-dependent local contractile and geometric responses in UUT, including altered contraction dynamics, ureteral geometric remodeling, and specific Ca2+ channel contributions. Cav1.2 channels modulate both amplitude and frequency, with wall thinning as principal acute structural adaptation. Reduced drug efficacy at high pressure highlights necessity to investigate possible pressure-adapted therapies in obstructive uropathy.

PMID 42865197
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PubMedPLoS medicine2026-10-12

Comparative effectiveness of amlodipine versus nifedipine prescribed at discharge in patients with ischemic stroke or transient ischemic attack: A nationwide 5-year follow-up registry study.

Li Xinya X, Xia Xue X, Gao Meng M, Xu Qin Q et al.

Amlodipine and nifedipine are the most commonly prescribed calcium channel blockers (CCB) for patients suffering from ischemic stroke or transient ischemic attack (TIA). Nevertheless, there is a scarcity of direct comparative evidence on their effectiveness. This study aimed to compare the effectiveness of amlodipine and nifedipine in patients with ischemic stroke or TIA. This observational study was based on the Third China National Stroke Registry, which recruited consecutive adult patients with ischemic stroke or TIA from 2015 to 2018. In this study, ischemic stroke or TIA patients were prescribed either amlodipine or nifedipine at discharge. The primary outcome was the distribution of modified Rankin Scale (mRS) score, which assesses functional outcomes in patients with stroke, at 5 years. The intergroup differences were examined using ordinal logistic regression, yielding odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI). Patient age, gender, body mass index, systolic blood pressure at admission, and onset date were adjusted. To improve baseline characteristic balance, inverse probability of treatment weighting (IPTW) was implemented. A total of 2,859 eligible patients were included, and there were 1847 patients in the amlodipine group and 1,058 patients in the nifedipine group after IPTW. The amlodipine group demonstrated significantly lower 5-year mRS scores in comparison to the nifedipine group, with an OR of 0.76 (95% CI [0.65, 0.89]; p < 0.001). A total of 956 (51.76%) amlodipine users and 632 (59.74%) nifedipine users achieved a mRS score > 0 at 5 years, with an OR of 0.71 (95% CI [0.61, 0.83]; p < 0.001). The sensitivity analyses yielded consistent results. The main limitations include the inherent observational design, the exclusive reliance on registry data, and relatively high loss-to-follow-up rate at 5 years. This study revealed that amlodipine, compared to nifedipine, may be associated with improved functional recovery in ischemic stroke or TIA patients. Randomized controlled trials are warranted to confirm these findings and refine CCB therapy.

PMID 42862855
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PubMedCirculation. Arrhythmia and electrophysiology2026-10-12

Multichannel Dysfunction Associated With a Dominant-Negative KCNH2 Missense Variant, p.G604S, Results in Action Potential Duration Prolongation and Early Afterdepolarizations in a Patient-Specific, Reengineered Cardiomyocyte Model of Type 2 Long-QT Syndrome.

Huynh Trung T, Ye Dan D, Zhou Wei W, Tester David J DJ et al.

Type 2 long-QT syndrome results from KCNH2-encoded Kv11.1 loss-of-function, but whether secondary inward-current dysfunction amplifies dysfunction remains unclear. We characterized sodium (SCN5A, INa) and L-type calcium channel (CACNA1C, ICa) function in KCNH2-G604S and variant-corrected isogenic control induced pluripotent stem cell-derived cardiomyocytes (iPSC-CMs). Whole-cell patch-clamp measured action potential duration at 90% repolarization (APD90), and potassium (IKr), sodium (INa), and calcium (ICa, L) currents. Fluo-4 imaging quantified calcium transients. A modified Kernik-Clancy iPSC-CM model incorporated experimentally measured persistent INa,L and ICa,L fractions and simulated isolated and combined current defects. KCNH2-G604S caused severe IKr loss-of-function (72.5% reduction). APD90 was prolonged in G604S-iPSC-CMs (765±58 ms) compared with isogenic controls (368±37 ms; P<0.005), with early afterdepolarizations in 50% of G604S cells. Nifedipine, verapamil, and mexiletine successfully shortened APD90 and abolished early afterdepolarizations. Compared with isogenic control, INa,L (0.60±0.1% versus 0.26±0.06%; P<0.01), persistent ICa,L (2.88±0.55% versus 1.26±0.35%; P<0.05), and calcium transient decay times (P<0.0001) were greater in G604S iPSC-CMs. Increased persistent ICa,L was phenocopied by E-4031 in isogenic controls and reduced by nifedipine in G604S iPSC-CMs. In silico modeling revealed that the IKr defect alone prolonged APD90 to only 620 ms. The addition of the observed INa,L defect had a small additive effect (+20 ms); however, incorporating persistent ICa,L synergistically extended APD90 to 758 ms, replicating the experimental phenotype. Flux dynamics analysis indicated that this persistent Ca2+ entry suppresses the forward-mode sodium-calcium exchanger, forcing a compensatory reliance on sarcoplasmic-endoplasmic reticulum Ca-ATPase that primes for calcium instability. The KCNH2-G604S variant drives a severe multihit phenotype via primary IKr loss-of-function and secondary state-dependent gain-of-function in persistent ICa,L. These comprehensive validations demonstrate that the remodeled persistent ICa,L acts as the essential amplifier driving extreme action potential duration prolongation and Ca2+ mishandling.

PMID 42861500
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PubMedPregnancy (Hoboken, N.J.)2026-10-11

Standardized postpartum blood pressure protocol and lower rates of hypertension at 6 weeks postpartum.

Fain Audra C AC, Mok Thalia T, Mei Jenny Y JY

Hypertensive disorders of pregnancy (HDP) increase the risk of chronic hypertension (HTN) and cardiovascular (CV) disease later in life. It is unknown how strict blood pressure (BP) monitoring postpartum (PP) may affect rates of HTN at 6 weeks PP. We evaluate the effect of a PP HTN standardized clinical assessment and management plan (SCAMP) on HTN at 6 weeks PP. This is a secondary analysis of a prospective cohort study of patients with PP HTN at a quaternary care center for 6 months after enacting an institution-wide SCAMP. The prospective group was compared with historical controls who delivered prior to initiation of the SCAMP. The SCAMP included (1) initiation or uptitration of medication for any BP ≥150/100 or any 2 BPs ≥140/90 within a 24-h period with a goal of BP <140/90 12 h prior to discharge and (2) enrollment in a remote BP monitoring system upon discharge. Inclusion criteria were an existing diagnosis of chronic HTN or HDP and a documented BP at a 6-week PP visit. The primary outcome was HTN, defined as systolic BP (SBP) ≥140 or diastolic BP (DBP) ≥90, at 6 weeks PP. Secondary outcomes included mean BP values as measured in the outpatient setting at 6 weeks PP and use of anti-HTNs at the time of the 6-week PP visit. For all analyses, p values were two-way, and the level of statistical significance was set at p < 0.05. Of 780 PP HTN patients in the prospective cohort study, 627 (80.4%) met inclusion criteria for the secondary analysis, 305 in the SCAMP cohort and 322 historical controls. The SCAMP cohort had lower rates of chronic HTN, more patients on anti-HTNs, and higher rate of nifedipine use. The primary outcome of HTN at 6 weeks PP was significantly lower in the SCAMP group (10.5% vs. 18.3%, p = 0.005). After adjusting for confounding variables, multivariable logistic regression showed that the SCAMP group had 38% reduced odds of HTN at 6 weeks PP compared to controls (adjusted odds ratio [aOR], 0.62; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.38-0.996; p = 0.048). Mean SBP at 6 weeks PP was significantly lower in the SCAMP group (120 ± 12 vs. 124 ± 14 mmHg, p < 0.001), as was mean DBP (76 ± 8 vs. 81 ± 8 mmHg, p < 0.001). A subanalysis only including patients with diagnosed HDP and excluding those with only chronic HTN demonstrated similar findings. Implementation of a SCAMP was associated with reduced rates of HTN at 6 weeks PP, with lower mean SBP and DBP. More data are needed to evaluate how these findings mitigate long-term HTN risk.

PMID 42856870
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PubMedPregnancy (Hoboken, N.J.)2026-10-07

Postpartum blood pressure trends and time in target range during remote blood pressure monitoring.

Shim Sarah S, Tessier Katelyn M KM, Wernimont Sarah A SA, Corlin Tiffany T et al.

Postpartum remote blood pressure monitoring (RBPM) programs have emerged as an important adjunct to the management of hypertensive disorders of pregnancy (HDP). These programs have demonstrated robust patient participation and satisfaction with reduced readmissions and severe maternal morbidity. Despite this, data describing blood pressure (BP) trends throughout program participation and across different antihypertensive regimens remain limited. We sought to evaluate BP trends and time in target range (TTR) during our 6-week RBPM program. This is a retrospective cohort study of postpartum individuals participating in an RBPM program from November 2023 through December 2024. This program utilizes a standardized nurse (RN)-driven protocol for antihypertensive medication initiation and titration to achieve a goal BP of <140/90 mmHg. Target range was defined as SBP (systolic BP) 100-139 mmHg and DBP (diastolic BP) 60-89 mmHg. The primary outcomes were BP trend and TTR throughout program participation stratified by antihypertensive medication at discharge. The cohort included 465 individuals. Mean BPs were <140/90 mmHg for all groups for each program week. Most participants were within the target range throughout with TTR between 80.3% and 90.4%. Of participants, 175 (81.4%) were prescribed nifedipine monotherapy and 40 (18.6%) labetalol monotherapy. Mean BP trends were within goal for both groups; however, those discharged with nifedipine spent more TTR (nifedipine 87.5% vs. labetalol 80.3%, p = 0.03). There were no significant differences in rates of severe hypertension or hypotension; however, those on nifedipine experienced fewer elevated BPs and fewer patients who were discharged on nifedipine required antihypertensives at 6 weeks postpartum (nifedipine 35.7% vs. labetalol 73.5%, p < 0.001; adjusted odds ratio [OR], 0.27; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.11-0.61). Postpartum RBPM is an important tool for postpartum care. Utilization of a standardized RN-driven protocol for antihypertensive medication initiation and titration can result in optimal BP management irrespective of medication regimen at discharge. These data suggest that nifedipine may be associated with more rapid and sustained achievement of target BPs throughout 6 weeks postpartum compared to labetalol.

PMID 42840939
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