Drug Database
KE

ketoprofen (KefenTech / ketoprofen, Jeil / Kefen patch)

✓ Approved

Jeil Pharmaceutical · PTGS1 · Small Molecule

What is ketoprofen?

ketoprofen is a small molecule developed by Jeil Pharmaceutical. It is approved for therapeutic indications via transdermal.

Drug Profile

Brand NamesKefenTech, ketoprofen, Jeil, Kefen patch
CompanyJeil Pharmaceutical
Drug ClassSmall Molecule
Molecular TargetPTGS1, PTGS2
RouteTransdermal
StatusApproved
Sources: ClinicalTrials.gov, Jeil Pharmaceutical

Mechanism of Action

Molecular Targets

ketoprofen acts on 2 molecular targets:

PTGS1prostaglandin-endoperoxide synthase 1 (COX3, PCOX1)
PTGS2prostaglandin-endoperoxide synthase 2 (GRIPGHS, hCox-2)
Want deeper analysis?Noah AI can explain complex mechanisms and compare to similar drugs.

Therapeutic Indications

ketoprofen is developed for 3 unique indications across 1 therapeutic area.

Therapeutic AreaConditionPhase
Musculoskeletal and connective tissue disordersBursitis✓ Approved
Musculoskeletal and connective tissue disordersOsteoarthritis✓ Approved
Musculoskeletal and connective tissue disordersTendonitis✓ Approved

Related Research Articles

PubMedPharmaceutical research2026-07-18

Mechanistic Insights into Membrane- and Release-Controlled Drug Permeation from Ketoprofen-Lidocaine Eutectic Fluids.

Sugino Masahiro M, Igarashi Yui Y, Shiina Suzuka S, Nakadate Shou S et al.

Eutectic fluids (EFs) are liquid pharmaceutical systems formed through intermolecular interactions between their components. This study aims to clarify the mechanistic basis of membrane- and release-controlled drug permeation from the ketoprofen-lidocaine (KP-LD) EFs by characterizing their physicochemical properties and molecular interactions. Two types of liquid EFs were prepared by mixing and heating KP with LD. The prepared EFs were characterized using thermodynamic, rheological, and NMR-based analyses to obtain parameters related to phase behavior, viscosity, molecular dynamics, and molecular diffusion. Silicone membrane permeation behavior was evaluated to elucidate how these physicochemical properties influence membrane‑controlled and release‑controlled drug permeation. Differential scanning calorimetry indicated the absence of detectable crystallinity, and the mixtures appeared to form a homogeneous liquid phase. Rheological analysis revealed a Newtonian flow behavior, and the viscosity of EFA (KP:LD = 1:1) was markedly lower than that of EFB (KP:LD = 2:1). Permeation studies showed KP permeation was membrane-controlled, whereas LD permeation was release-controlled within the EFs, allowing for the calculation of its diffusion coefficient. Analyses of 1H-1H NOESY and DOSY suggested close spatial proximity and weak intermolecular interactions, indicating cooperative molecular dynamics between KP and LD. EFs examined in this study can accommodate a high drug content and function as reservoirs of active pharmaceutical ingredients. In particular, EFA exhibited unique physicochemical and permeation properties that are not observed in aqueous solutions or conventional formulations, suggesting its potential as a novel EF system for transdermal drug delivery.

PMID 42469514
Read full article →
PubMedThe journal of physical chemistry. B2026-07-18

Breaking Permeation Barriers of Charged Molecules with Excess Permeation Enhancers.

Bernaldez Mabel M, Kang Christopher C, Stamatis Stephen D SD, Rose John P JP et al.

Permeation enhancers (PEs) are a class of amphiphilic molecules that promote the passive permeation of drug molecules through cellular membranes. There is currently a lack of understanding of the mechanism of action for permeation enhancers. Two PEs are studied in this manuscript, sodium caprate (C10) and salcaprozate sodium (SNAC), which are commonly used in coformulations and clinical trials. All-atom molecular dynamics simulations are carried out to probe their interactions with a membrane made of POPC. The permeation of water and three charged small molecule drugs (ketoprofen, propranolol, and salicylic acid) through a PE-embedded POPC membrane is studied. The results show that 1) the lipid bilayers can be saturated with PEs up to 250 mol % without losing structural integrity, 2) PEs embedded in the membrane facilitate the insertion of water into the tail groups in the center of the membrane, and 3) charged molecules, which are known to have a prohibitively high free energy barrier of permeation, have a significantly decreased free energy barrier of permeation in the presence of high concentration of PEs. Hydrogen bond contacts made between PEs and water molecules with the charged molecules when they are in the center of the membrane are primarily responsible for the decrease in the free energy barrier. This study provides insight about the permeation of larger molecules, which may have multiple charged states, namely peptides.

PMID 42468514
Read full article →
PubMedCrystal growth & design2026-07-13

Norfloxacin-NSAID Pharmaceutical Salts: Structure-Property Relationships for Enhanced Solubility and Stability.

Belmont-Sánchez Jeannette Carolina JC, Alarcón-Payer Carolina C, Frontera Antonio A, Acebedo-Martínez Francisco Javier FJ et al.

The use of antibiotics is usually associated with mucosal damage and antimicrobial resistance due to inefficient dosing. This issue is particularly relevant for norfloxacin (NOR), whose amphoteric nature leads to strongly pH-dependent solubility and low oral bioavailability. To overcome these limitations, this work presents three novel drug-drug pharmaceutical salts of NOR with the anti-inflammatory drugs ketoprofen (KET), dexketoprofen (DKT), and niflumic acid (NIF). Salts were synthesized by mechanochemical and slurry strategies and fully characterized using thermal, spectroscopic, and X-ray diffraction techniques. The crystal structure, along with DFT and QTAIM computational analyses, showed that salts are governed by tetrameric assembly formation. However, while NOR-KET and NOR-DKT are stabilized by robust charge-assisted hydrogen bonds, NOR-NIF packing arrangement is dominated by weaker hydrogen bonds together with π-π and CF3···π interactions. These supramolecular differences were directly reflected in the pharmaceutical performance. The salts suppressed the rapid hydration of NOR under aqueous environments and showed improved stability at physiological pH. Moreover, NOR-KET and NOR-DKT significantly enhanced the solubility of both NOR and the corresponding NSAIDs in PBS at pH 6.8, while all salts provided a more controlled NOR dissolution profile under acidic conditions. These findings demonstrate that salt formation is an effective strategy to overcome the solubility and stability limitations in NOR and NSAIDs, offering a framework for improving the performance not only of NOR but also of other APIs facing similar challenges.

PMID 42441081
Read full article →
PubMedPreventive veterinary medicine2026-07-12

Use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs for Finnish sows.

Hokkanen Ann-Helena AH, Swan Kirsi K, Ahlqvist Kristina K, Hedlund Milla M et al.

Farrowing, diseases, and injuries all cause acute nociceptive pain to sows. Pain can strain the body, cause negative emotions and poor welfare, slow healing, and hinder piglet health and growth. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are efficient and practical in alleviating nociceptive pain in sows, although more research about the efficiency, safety, and use in practice is needed. Thus, this observational, retrospective, cross-sectional, register-based study aimed to describe veterinary instructions for NSAID use in Finnish sow herds and to compare them with recorded use during January-December 2022. We also explored, using logistic regression, whether herd type or size was associated with NSAID use. A total of 70% of the 50 study herds had written veterinary instructions for NSAID use for sows. Although widespread, NSAID use was highly variable. Most herds administered pain alleviation to sows frequently, while five herds reported no NSAID use. Most often, ketoprofen or meloxicam was used to treat sows having anorexia without other symptoms, farrowing-related disorders and diseases, reproduction problems, or musculoskeletal diseases. Caretakers also administered NSAIDs for indications not instructed by the herd health veterinarian and used treatment durations longer than instructed. The median number (interquartile range, IQR) of total NSAID (ketoprofen plus meloxicam) treatment courses per sow was 0.35 (1.52), and the median number of NSAID doses used per 100 sows per day (NSAID_DDD_100) was 0.22 (IQR 0.58) in the study herds. Neither herd type nor herd size was associated with NSAID use.

PMID 42435675
Read full article →
PubMedJournal of veterinary pharmacology and therapeutics2026-07-11

The Impact of Ketoprofen on the Pharmacokinetics of Marbofloxacin at Variable Intravenous Doses in Sheep.

Uslu Muhittin M, Canbar Rahmi R, Corum Orhan O, Durna Corum Duygu D et al.

The objective of this study was to determine the effect of ketoprofen (3 mg/kg, IV) on the pharmacokinetics of marbofloxacin administered intravenously at 2 and 10 mg/kg in sheep, and to identify possible changes in key pharmacokinetic parameters when combined. Twelve healthy Merino sheep were enrolled in a two-stage crossover pharmacokinetic study. Each animal received intravenous marbofloxacin at 2 and 10 mg/kg, administered either alone or in combination with ketoprofen (3 mg/kg, IV). Blood samples were collected over 48 h, and plasma marbofloxacin levels were measured using HPLC-UV. Pharmacokinetic parameters were calculated by non-compartmental analysis. Compared to the 2 mg/kg dose, the AUC and t1/2ʎz increased and ClT decreased at the 10 mg/kg dose of marbofloxacin (p < 0.05). Combination administration with ketoprofen decreased ClT and Vdss values in both dose groups, and increased AUC and t1/2ʎz values (p < 0.05). Ketoprofen significantly alters marbofloxacin's pharmacokinetic parameters, increasing its systemic exposure. It is thought that the increased AUC, especially with high-dose or combined administration, may enhance antibacterial efficacy by raising the AUC/MIC ratio. Potential drug interactions should be considered in clinical practice.

PMID 42432991
Read full article →
PubMedEnvironmental health and preventive medicine2026-07-06

Occurrence of antibacterials, antivirals, and anti-inflammatory pharmaceuticals for COVID-19 treatment as emerging contaminants in the Chinese freshwater environment before, during and after the pandemic: the need for dynamic eco-pharmacovigilance.

Ma Sijia S, Chen Hongxia H, Wang Jun J

Global epidemic diseases such as COVID-19 have driven both the excessive use of pharmaceuticals and shifts in their usage spectrum. Consequently, the profile of pharmaceuticals in the environment (PiE) may undergo dynamic temporal changes, posing a significant challenge to eco-pharmacovigilance (EPV), a specialized branch of pharmacovigilance focused on detecting, evaluating, understanding, and preventing the adverse environmental effects of pharmaceuticals. Based on data extracted from 89 studies published between 2014 and 2025, this review conducts a focused comparison of the occurrence patterns of 43 selected typical anti-COVID-19 drugs (20 antibacterials, 11 antivirals, and 12 anti-inflammatory pharmaceuticals) as contaminants in distinct regions across China's seven major river basins before, during, and after the pandemic. The need of dynamic EPV was then analyzed. Before the COVID-19 outbreak, erythromycin, ampicillin, roxithromycin, and acetaminophen dominated the PiE profile in terms of reported maximum residual concentrations; during the pandemic lockdown, ciprofloxacin, ofloxacin, azithromycin, and ketoprofen were identified as the top-priority anti-COVID-19 PiE; after the pandemic, azithromycin, norfloxacin, ofloxacin, ciprofloxacin, and roxithromycin remained the dominant PiE. Residual levels of individual PiE at the same location varied noticeably across the three periods. Results revealed highly distinct regional and temporal variations in surface freshwater pollution by these COVID-19-associated PiE across the three periods, with no consistent regularity observed, thereby further highlighting the necessity of implementing EPV in a "dynamic" manner. Drawing on the framework of dynamic pharmacovigilance, the implementation of dynamic EPV can be promoted by establishing a dynamic watch-list mechanism, clarifying stakeholder roles, and advancing supportive policies and technological platforms, so as to enable adaptive interventions for the timely management of event-driven pharmaceutical pollution.

PMID 42402418
Read full article →

+4693 more articles available with a free account

Sign up free to view all articles →

Ask about ketoprofen