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carbetocin (Lonactene / Duratocin / Pabal)

✓ Approved

Ferring · OXTR · Small Molecule

What is carbetocin?

carbetocin is a small molecule developed by Ferring. It is approved for therapeutic indications via injectable (others) or intravenous (iv).

Drug Profile

Brand NamesLonactene, Duratocin, Pabal
CompanyFerring
Drug ClassSmall Molecule
Molecular TargetOXTR
RouteInjectable (Others), Intravenous (IV)
StatusApproved
Sources: ClinicalTrials.gov, Ferring

Mechanism of Action

Molecular Targets

carbetocin acts on 1 molecular target:

OXTRoxytocin receptor (OTR, OT-R)
Want deeper analysis?Noah AI can explain complex mechanisms and compare to similar drugs.

Therapeutic Indications

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

Therapeutic AreaConditionPhase
Pregnancy, puerperium and perinatal conditionsPostpartum haemorrhage✓ Approved

Related Research Articles

PubMedMedicina (Kaunas, Lithuania)2026-10-27

Prophylactic Carbetocin Versus Oxytocin and Blood Loss After Vaginal Delivery: Agent Selection and Confounding by Indication in a Retrospective Cohort Study.

Tsui Wing Lam WL, Ding Dah-Ching DC

Background and Objectives: Carbetocin is increasingly used for postpartum hemorrhage (PPH) prophylaxis, but its selection in routine practice may bias comparisons with oxytocin. This observational study examined the association between the agent received and blood loss after vaginal delivery. Materials and Methods: This retrospective cohort included 559 women delivering vaginally in 2022-2023 who received carbetocin 100 μg intravenously (n = 474) or oxytocin 10 IU by infusion (n = 85). Gravimetric blood loss was analyzed using linear (primary), robust and median (co-primary) regression, and propensity score methods. Results: Carbetocin recipients more often underwent induction (63.3% vs. 43.5%), vacuum extraction (26.8% vs. 15.3%), and epidural analgesia (76.2% vs. 29.4%). Blood loss was higher with carbetocin before adjustment (223.7 vs. 180.0 mL, p = 0.003) but not after adjustment (β 12.72 mL, 95% CI -50.19 to 75.64, p = 0.691; robust p = 0.479; median p = 0.354). Propensity score results conflicted: inverse probability weighting showed higher blood loss with carbetocin (47.84 mL, p = 0.002), whereas matching and trimmed weighting did not. PPH occurred in 2.7% vs. 0% (p = 0.234). Conclusions: Carbetocin was preferentially used in higher-risk labors, indicating confounding by indication. Adjusted blood loss did not differ significantly, although a modest increase could not be excluded. The study was severely underpowered for PPH.

PMID 42942498
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PubMedBMC pregnancy and childbirth2026-10-22

Carbetocin and peri-operative hemoglobin change at cesarean delivery in a setting of self-paid use: an 8-year retrospective cohort study.

Chen Shu-Ying SY, Chang Ming-Han MH, Lai Kuan-Ju KJ, Hou Jung-Hsiu JH et al.

Postpartum hemorrhage (PPH) is a leading cause of maternal morbidity, most often from uterine atony. Carbetocin, a long-acting heat-stable oxytocin analogue, reduces blood loss at cesarean delivery in randomized trials, but real-world data are sparse from settings where carbetocin is self-paid and not yet routine, such as Taiwan. We examined the association between carbetocin and peri-operative hemoglobin change at cesarean delivery in a setting of rising, patient-funded use. Single-center retrospective cohort of deliveries between 2017 and 2025. Carbetocin (100 µg intravenously) was self-paid and chosen by the patient; comparators received the institutional standard (oxytocin alone at cesarean). The primary outcome was the peri-operative hemoglobin change (post- minus pre-delivery, g/dL) at cesarean delivery. Multivariable linear regression adjusted for age, BMI, parity, birth weight, and high-risk status, with calendar year added to address the secular trend in uptake; propensity-score inverse-probability weighting was a sensitivity analysis (complete-case). Because the recorded vaginal blood-loss field showed treatment-linked recording heterogeneity, only the binary PPH endpoint is reported for vaginal delivery. Of 6,266 deliveries with documented carbetocin status, 2,112 were cesarean. Among cesarean deliveries with paired peri-operative hemoglobin (carbetocin n = 734; no carbetocin n = 484; complete-case analytic n = 1,061), the median hemoglobin change was - 0.60 g/dL with carbetocin versus - 1.30 g/dL without; pre-delivery hemoglobin was identical between arms. The adjusted mean difference was + 0.79 g/dL (95% CI 0.65 to 0.94), consistent in low-risk (+ 0.84) and high-risk (+ 0.76) strata and under propensity weighting. A severe hemoglobin decline (≥ 2 g/dL) occurred in 11% versus 25% (supportive, sensitive to missing data). For vaginal delivery, PPH (≥ 500 mL) occurred in 3.2% versus 4.2% (year-adjusted odds ratio 0.68, 95% CI 0.46 to 1.01; not significant). In this non-randomized, self-paid cohort, carbetocin was associated with a smaller peri-operative hemoglobin decline at cesarean delivery, directionally consistent with randomized evidence; the magnitude was larger than pooled trial estimates and is likely inflated by selection. Carbetocin was not associated with a lower incidence of PPH. Findings are associations and require cautious interpretation. Not applicable; this is a retrospective observational study and was not registered as a clinical trial.

PMID 42907989
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PubMedAnimals : an open access journal from MDPI2026-10-16

Uncorking Quantitative and Qualitative Seminal Traits in French-Alpine Bucks via Carbetocin Stimulation to Enhance Goat Production in Semi-Arid Environments.

Vargas-García Denia L DL, Navarrete-Molina Cayetano C, Meza-Herrera César A CA, Santiago-Miramontes Ángeles De Á et al.

Optimizing semen collection is critical for maximizing genetic advancement and reproductive efficiency in livestock. While exogenous hormones can enhance ejaculate quantity and quality, short windows of biological activity often limit their efficacy. This study was conducted in northern-arid Mexico (25° N, 103 W) to evaluate the comparative effects of oxytocin (OXYT) and carbetocin (CARB) administration on semen quality in French-Alpine bucks. Males (n = 12) were allocated into three groups and received intravenous treatments 10 min prior to artificial vagina collection: (1) OXYT (10 UI oxytocin buck-1), (2) CARB (0.2 mg 100 kg-1 LW-1), and (3) CONT (1 mL saline buck-1). The same bucks received all three treatments separately. CARB outperformed both groups (p ≤ 0.05), improving all evaluated parameters (p ≤ 0.05): ejaculated volume (i.e., increased by 103%), sperm concentration, mass and progressive motility, total sperm count, viability, normal morphology, plasma membrane functionality, acrosome integrity, and chromatin dispersion. Crucially, CARB doubled (p ≤ 0.05) the available projected or theoretical number of doses for intravaginal artificial insemination (POTNDIAI), followed by the OXYT and CONT groups, with 11.14 POTNDIAI each. Therefore, CARB emerges as a highly effective, accessible pharmacological strategy for semen collection protocols, substantially enhancing sperm yield and structural quality in breeding bucks. Ultimately, by bridging advanced reproductive physiology with practical smallholder farming, this methodological optimization provides a viable strategy to enhance reproductive efficiency and long-term sustainability in small ruminant production systems within arid environments.

PMID 42883126
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PubMedAnnals of African medicine2026-10-12

Oxytocin versus Carbetocin: Preventing Postpartum Hemorrhage in Elective C-section.

Singh Megha M, Alam Sauda S, Rao Sumesh T ST, Megha T T

Postpartum hemorrhage (PPH) remains a leading cause of maternal morbidity and mortality worldwide, particularly following cesarean delivery (CD). Uterotonics are routinely administered to prevent uterine atony and reduce PPH risk. This study aimed to compare the efficacy and safety of intramuscular carbetocin versus intravenous oxytocin in preventing PPH during elective CD under spinal anesthesia. This comparative observational study was conducted at a tertiary care hospital in India. Sixty pregnant women undergoing elective CD under spinal anesthesia were divided into two groups: Group C received intramuscular carbetocin 100 μg, and Group O received intravenous oxytocin infusion 20 IU. Primary outcome was changes in hemodynamic parameters, including heart rate, blood pressure (BP), and mean arterial pressure (MAP); secondary outcomes included uterine tone scores, need for additional uterotonics, and requirement for vasoactive agents. Hemodynamic parameters, including MAP and diastolic BP remained more stable in the carbetocin group. Carbetocin demonstrated better uterine tone at 2, 5, and 10 min postdelivery (P < 0.001). The need for additional uterotonics was significantly lower in the carbetocin group (10% vs. 40%, P = 0.007), and only 3.3% required vasoactive agents compared to 53.3% in the oxytocin group (P < 0.001). Carbetocin was associated with improved uterine tone, reduced need for additional uterotonics, and better cardiovascular stability compared to oxytocin. These findings suggest that intramuscular carbetocin may be a more effective and safer alternative to intravenous oxytocin for PPH prevention in elective CD.

PMID 42860922
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PubMedCureus2026-10-02

Graded Epidural Anaesthesia for Caesarean Section in the Presence of an Untreated Spetzler-Martin Grade V Cerebral Arteriovenous Malformation With Radiological Progression Over Six Years: A Case Report.

Nongbet Dasara D, Syiemiong Newstar N, Rawat Neha N, Devi Thongam S TS et al.

Cerebral arteriovenous malformations (AVMs) are rare during pregnancy, when the haemodynamic and hormonal changes of gestation may increase the risk of rupture. Lesions that are large, located in eloquent regions, and drained by deep venous channels represent a surgically high-risk subtype, carry substantial surgical morbidity, and are frequently managed conservatively when unruptured. We describe a 33-year-old G3P1L1A1 parturient at 36 weeks and six days of gestation with an untreated right parieto-temporo-occipital AVM, who declined intervention across three encounters and underwent an elective lower-segment Caesarean section (LSCS) with bilateral tubal ligation. The anaesthetic approach chosen was a graded epidural technique: fractionated bupivacaine boluses with real-time haemodynamic monitoring between increments. This allowed the rate of sympathectomy to be controlled, avoiding the abrupt sympathectomy associated with a subarachnoid block. Carbetocin was used as the uterotonic agent. Levetiracetam was continued perioperatively. A healthy male infant was delivered, and the mother was discharged neurologically intact on day seven, with no AVM rupture, seizure, or new deficit.

PMID 42825236
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PubMedPakistan journal of medical sciences2026-10-01

Carbetocin versus oxytocin during elective cesarean delivery: A randomized double-blind trial.

Tureli Baran B, Kurt Nurettin N, Karaman Erbil E, Yuzkat Nureddin N

Postpartum hemorrhage (PPH) remains a leading cause of maternal morbidity following cesarean delivery. This study aimed to compare the effects of carbetocin and oxytocin on intraoperative blood loss during elective cesarean delivery, with secondary evaluation of uterine tone, additional uterotonic requirements, and intraoperative hemodynamic parameters. This prospective, randomized, double-blind study was conducted at Van Yuzuncu Yil University Dursun Odabaş Medical Center between 2023 and 2024 and included 100 patients undergoing elective cesarean delivery. Patients were randomly assigned to receive either oxytocin (Group O; 0.6 IU intravenous bolus followed by a 15 IU/h infusion) or carbetocin (Group C; 100 μg administered intravenously over 30-60 seconds). Patients with major obstetric complications, placental invasion disorders, hypertensive disorders of pregnancy, significant cardiovascular or respiratory disease, or hepatic or renal dysfunction were excluded. Intraoperative blood loss, uterine tone, additional uterotonic requirements, and hemodynamic parameters were compared. Baseline demographic characteristics were comparable between groups (p>0.05). Intraoperative blood loss was significantly lower in the carbetocin group than in the oxytocin group (p<0.001). The need for additional uterotonic agents was significantly lower in the carbetocin group both within the first 5 minutes (2% vs. 12%) and throughout surgery (10% vs. 26%) (p<0.05 for both). Uterine tone was significantly higher in the carbetocin group at 5 minutes (p=0.016), whereas higher scores were observed in the oxytocin group at 10 minutes (p=0.034). No clinically significant differences were observed in intraoperative hemodynamic parameters. Although carbetocin and oxytocin demonstrated comparable intraoperative hemodynamic profiles, carbetocin was associated with reduced intraoperative blood loss, improved early uterine tone, and a lower requirement for additional uterotonic agents. Its single-dose administration and favorable safety profile make it a practical and effective uterotonic option for elective cesarean delivery.

PMID 42819600
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