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tamoxifen (tamoxifen, Douglas)

✓ Approved

Douglas Pharmaceuticals Limited · ESR1 · Small Molecule

What is tamoxifen?

tamoxifen is a small molecule developed by Douglas Pharmaceuticals Limited. It is approved for therapeutic indications via oral (po).

Drug Profile

Brand Namestamoxifen, Douglas
CompanyDouglas Pharmaceuticals Limited
Drug ClassSmall Molecule
Molecular TargetESR1
RouteOral (PO)
StatusApproved
Sources: ClinicalTrials.gov, Douglas Pharmaceuticals Limited

Mechanism of Action

Molecular Targets

tamoxifen acts on 1 molecular target:

ESR1estrogen receptor 1 (ER, ESR)
Want deeper analysis?Noah AI can explain complex mechanisms and compare to similar drugs.

Therapeutic Indications

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

Therapeutic AreaConditionPhase
Neoplasms benign, malignant and unspecified (incl cysts and polyps)Breast cancer✓ Approved

Related Research Articles

PubMedZhonghua nan ke xue = National journal of andrology2026-11-11

[Effect of zinc selenium L-carnitine compound nutrient combined with tamoxifen citrate on routine semen parameters and sperm DNA fragmentation index in male infertility patients].

Xie Yuanzhi Y, Xin Meijiao M, Shi Nanxiang N, Shi Yimin Y et al.

Objective To explore the effect of zinc selenium L-carnitine compound nutrient combined with tamoxifen citrate on routine semen parameters and sperm DNA fragmentation index of male infertility patients with abnormal sperm DNA fragmentation index. Methods A total of 903 male infertile patients with sperm DFI (>15%) were selected and randomly divided into control group (453 cases) and combination group (450 cases). The control group was treated with vitamin E soft capsule, and the combination group was treated with zinc selenium L-carnitine compound nutrient combined with tamoxifen citrate. The percentages of normal morphology sperm, sperm volume, sperm concentration, percentage of forward moving sperm（PR）, percentage of non-forward moving sperm（NP）, and DFI of patients in the two groups were collected before treatment and 1, 2 and 3 months after treatment. The effective rates of combined medication treatment for patients with abnormal DFI in different age groups were compared. Results After 1 month of treatment in the combination group, PR increased significantly and DFI decreased significantly (P<0.01). After 2 months of treatment, compared with before treatment, PR (P<0.01) and NP increased (P<0.05), DFI decreased (P<0.01). After 3 months of treatment, the semen volume increased compared with before treatment (P<0.05), and DFI decreased continuously (P<0.01). However, there was no significant difference in the percentage of normal morphological sperm and sperm concentration compared with before treatment (P>0.05). In the control group, PR increased significantly after 1 and 2 months of treatment compared with before treatment (P<0.01, P<0.05), and DFI decreased significantly (P<0.001, P<0.01). However, there was no statistically significant difference in the percentage of normal morphological sperm, semen volume, sperm concentration, and NP compared with before treatment. There was no significant difference in any parameters after 3 months of treatment compared with before treatment (P>0.05). Before treatment, the differences in various parameters between the two groups were not significant (P>0.05). After 1 and 2 months of treatment, compared with the control group, the DFI of the combination group showed a significant decrease (P<0.01, P<0.05), and the differences in other parameters were not significant (P>0.05). After 3 months of treatment, the differences in various parameters between the two groups were not significant (P>0.05). Among the patients in the combination group with DFI>25%, the treatment effectiveness rate of patients aged ≥35 years was higher than that of those aged <35 years old (P<0.01); while among the patients in the combination group with 15%0.05). Conclusion The zinc selenium L-carnitine compound nutrient combined with tamoxifen citrate can improve PR and sperm DNA integrity of male infertility patients. Meanwhile, patients with higher baseline DFI values combined with older age have better therapeutic effects.

PMID 43012228
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PubMedBreast cancer research and treatment2026-11-10

Chemoendocrine therapy versus tamoxifen with ovarian function suppression in women with node-positive breast cancer.

Hwang Yung-Huyn YH, Lee Sae Byul SB, Kim Jisun J, Chung Il Yong IY et al.

Recent trials show a survival benefit from adding chemotherapy to endocrine therapy in premenopausal women with hormone receptor-positive, HER2-negative node-positive breast cancer. However, whether chemotherapy remains necessary with ovarian function suppression (OFS) is unclear. We retrospectively reviewed patients aged ≤ 50 who underwent surgery (2010-2016) for estrogen receptor-positive, HER2-negative, pathologic T1-2N1 breast cancer. Patients were classified by adjuvant treatment received as chemoendocrine therapy (chemotherapy plus tamoxifen with or without OFS; n = 590) or tamoxifen plus OFS (n = 141). Recurrence-free survival (RFS) was compared after 1:1 nearest-neighbor propensity score matching (PSM) overall and separately within age groups. Compared with tamoxifen plus OFS, the chemoendocrine group had higher proportions of T2 tumors, greater nodal burden, grade 3 tumors, progesterone receptor-negative disease, and high Ki-67. After PSM, 7-year RFS was 93.6% (95% CI, 89.7-97.7) with chemoendocrine therapy and 90.9% (95% CI, 86.1-96.0) with tamoxifen plus OFS (HR, 1.58; 95% CI, 0.68-3.66; p = 0.28). No significant difference was detected among patients aged 40 years or older (HR, 1.36; 95% CI, 0.47-3.92; p = 0.57), whereas RFS was lower with tamoxifen plus OFS among those younger than 40 years (Firth HR, 13.81; 95% CI, 1.63-1801.17; p = 0.01). The treatment-by-age interaction was not significant (p = 0.63). Overall RFS did not differ significantly after PSM. Although the age-stratified findings remain exploratory, tamoxifen plus OFS may merit further evaluation as a chemotherapy-sparing option in selected patients.

PMID 43004037
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PubMedFitoterapia2026-11-10

Egonol restores tamoxifen sensitivity via the miR-3529-5p-CLOCK axis in triple-negative breast cancer cells.

Ogino Takashi T, Yoshida Yuya Y, Iwamoto Mayuka M, Mori Kenichiro K et al.

Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) lacks effective molecular targets and frequently develops therapeutic resistance, partly due to cancer stem-like cells (CSCs) characterized by high aldehyde dehydrogenase activity (ALDHhigh). We previously demonstrated that reduced expression of the circadian regulator CLOCK sustains stemness in murine TNBC-like cells. Here, we investigated the role of CLOCK in human TNBC cell line and explored natural compounds capable of restoring its expression. ALDHhigh populations isolated from MDA-MB-468 cells exhibited significantly decreased CLOCK expression mediated by 3' untranslated region (3' UTR)-dependent post-transcriptional repression. CLOCK overexpression restored estrogen receptor-α (ERα) expression and enhanced tamoxifen sensitivity, indicating that circadian regulation influences therapeutic responsiveness in TNBC. To identify CLOCK-stabilizing compounds, we performed high-throughput screening of 8008 medicinal plant extracts using a 3' UTR luciferase reporter system. S. obassia extract significantly increased CLOCK 3' UTR luciferase reporter activity without cytotoxicity. Bioactivity-guided fractionation identified egonol as the active component. Egonol suppressed miR-3529-5p expression, restored CLOCK and ERα levels, and enhanced tamoxifen-induced growth inhibition in ALDHhigh cells. These findings identify a previously unrecognized miR-3529-5p-CLOCK-ERα regulatory axis associated with therapeutic resistance in human TNBC cell line and suggest egonol as a potential circadian-modulating compound for restoring endocrine sensitivity.

PMID 43008951
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PubMedResearch in pharmaceutical sciences2026-11-10

Comparative efficacy and safety of systemic treatments for cutaneous leishmaniasis: a systematic review and network meta-analysis.

Fadaie Mahmood M, Biglari Sajjad S, Khalafiyan Anis A, Yazdi Maryam M et al.

Cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) is a globally prevalent parasitic disease with various clinical manifestations and therapeutic responses. Despite available systemic therapies, comparative evidence on efficacy and safety remains limited. This systematic review and network meta-analysis (NMA) evaluated systemic therapies for CL. We identified randomized controlled trials (RCTs) assessing systemic therapies through comprehensive searches of MEDLINE, Scopus, Web of Science, Embase, and Google Scholar. Monotherapy and combination regimens were evaluated for efficacy and adverse events. Study quality was assessed using the Cochrane risk of bias tool (RoB2). Heterogeneity was analyzed using Cochran's Q test and the I2 statistic (I2 = 68.8%). Pairwise relative risks (RR) with 95% confidence intervals (CI) were estimated for each treatment versus placebo/control. From 1569 records, 45 RCTs comprising 3331 participants were included in NMA. Meglumine antimoniate combined with allopurinol (RR = 5.61, 95% CI: [3.00-10.46]) and tamoxifen (RR = 5.50, 95% CI: [2.41-12.56]) ranked among the most effective. Subgroup analysis showed allopurinol was more effective in New World CL (NWCL, RR=5.09, 95% CI: [2.03-12.74]) than in Old World CL (OWCL). Meglumine antimoniate combinations showed enhanced efficacy, particularly with allopurinol or tamoxifen in NWCL and allopurinol or pentoxifylline in OWCL. Safety analysis was qualitative due to heterogeneity in adverse event reporting across trials. Systemic combination therapies, especially those including meglumine antimoniate, and monotherapies like allopurinol and miltefosine, were highly effective for CL. Further high-quality RCTs with standardized outcome assessments are needed to establish species-adapted, evidence-based clinical guidelines.

PMID 43005996
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PubMedUrologie (Heidelberg, Germany)2026-11-10

[Retroperitoneal fibrosis (Ormond's disease)].

Herout Roman R, Kleymann Alexander A

Inflammatory progressive retroperitoneal fibrosis (RPF) is characterized by proliferation of soft tissue within the retroperitoneal space. It surrounds the abdominal aorta, iliac vessels and ureters, frequently leading to hydronephrosis. Retroperitoneal fibrosis is classified into primary idiopathic, secondary and immunoglobulin G4 (IgG4)-associated forms. The diagnosis of idiopathic RPF requires exclusion of secondary etiologies and assessment of the lesions in the context of IgG4-associated diseases. The histological confirmation of a retroperitoneal lesion provides additional certainty. Systemic glucocorticoids constitute the gold standard of medical treatment. Furthermore, immunosuppressive agents or tamoxifen can be used. Treatment with the newly approved inebilizumab is a novel approach for the IgG4-associated form. Ureterolysis with intraperitonealization represents the surgical gold standard. Extensively scarred ureters can be reconstructed using e.g., ileal ureter substitution.

PMID 43007434
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PubMedHypertension (Dallas, Tex. : 1979)2026-11-10

zG CreERT2 Uncovers Migration and Sex-Dependent NPC1 in Aldosterone Synthesis.

Liu Qinglin Q, Zhu Shuangshuang S, Ma Linqiang L, Fu Junhao J et al.

The adrenal zona glomerulosa (zG) is the primary site of aldosterone synthesis. Inducible genetic tools are important for investigating zG cell function and fate in adult mice. This study aimed to generate and validate a tamoxifen-inducible, zG-specific aldosterone synthase-CreERT2 mouse model and investigate the zG-specific role of NPC1 (Niemann-Pick type C1) in aldosterone synthesis. Aldosterone synthase-CreERT2 mice were generated by clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats/clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeat-associated 9 knock-in of P2A (porcine teschovirus-1 2A peptide)-CreERT2 into the Cyp11b2 locus. Cre specificity and efficiency were validated by quantitative polymerase chain reaction, immunofluorescence, and lineage tracing. The model was then used to conditionally delete Npc1 in the zG. Cre expression and activity were confined to the zG. Heterozygous aldosterone synthase-CreERT2 mice showed normal adrenal morphology and hormone levels despite reduced Cyp11b2 expression. Homozygosity of the CreERT2 allele significantly reduced Cyp11b2 expression and aldosterone levels and increased renin in both sexes, indicating a gene-dosage effect. Lineage tracing confirmed the centripetal migration of zG cells to the zona fasciculata, which was faster in female mice. Strikingly, zG-specific Npc1 deletion reduced aldosterone in female mice under a normal-sodium diet, whereas increased renin and decreased aldosterone-to-renin ratio were observed in male mice under a high-sodium diet, indicating a sex-dependent effect. The aldosterone synthase-CreERT2 mouse provides a powerful and specific platform for spatiotemporally controlled dissection of zG biology, with the heterozygous line recommended for use to avoid Cre-associated dosage effects. Using this model, we identify a sex-dependent effect of zG-specific Npc1 deletion on aldosterone regulation, providing new insight into sex differences in adrenal physiology and aldosterone-related disorders.

PMID 43007063
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