Drug

Acetylcysteine

In clinical development

Emerging researchLate-stage developmentCooling momentum

Also known as (2R)-2-acetylamino-3-sulfanylpropanoic acid, (R)-2-acetylamino-3-mercaptopropanoic acid, (R)-mercapturic acid, Acetadote+18 more

(2R)-2-acetylamino-3-sulfanylpropanoic acid, (R)-2-acetylamino-3-mercaptopropanoic acid, (R)-mercapturic acid, Acetadote, Acetilcisteina, Acys-5, Cetylev, L-acetylcysteine, Mercapturic acid, Mucomyst-10, Mucomyst-20, N Acetyl L Cysteine, N acetyl cysteine, N-AC, N-Acetyl Cysteine, N-acetyl-L-(+)-cysteine, N-acetyl-L-cysteine, N-acetylcysteine, NAC, NAC - N-acetyl cysteine, ACETYL CYSTEINE, Acetylcysteinum.

RxNorm197 ChEMBLCHEMBL600 ATCR05CB01 ATCS01XA08 ATCV03AB23UNIIWYQ7N0BPYC

Research papers

Active clinical trials

Latest activity

beta

Recent clinical, regulatory, research and industry developments relating to this drug.

A Pilot Study Investigating the Efficacy of Minocycline and N-Acetyl Cysteine for Bipolar Depression

Clinical trial2026-08-01Suspended · ClinicalTrials.gov

The Role of N-Acetylcysteine Inhalation in Critically Ill Mechanically Ventilated Patients

Clinical trial2026-07-10Results expected Q1 2028 · ClinicalTrials.gov

Utility of the Use of N-acetylcysteine Associated With Conventional Treatment in Patients With Severe Acute Alcoholic Hepatitis (Maddrey> 32)

Clinical trial2026-07-01Primary completion · ClinicalTrials.gov

A Prospective, Open-label Phase 0 Single-center Study to Assess the Effect of Acetadote on Metabolism in Newly Diagnosed Glioblastoma

Clinical trial2026-06-23Results expected Q3 2027 · ClinicalTrials.gov

NAC Attack, A Phase III, Multicenter, Randomized, Parallel, Double Masked, Placebo-Controlled Study Evaluating the Efficacy and Safety of Oral N-Acetylcysteine in Patients With Retinitis Pigmentosa

Clinical trial2026-06-15Results expected Q2 2029 · ClinicalTrials.gov

Antioxidant Therapy With N-acetylcysteine for Motor Behavior and/or Learning in Children With Neurofibromatosis Type 1

Clinical trial2026-06-05Results posted · ClinicalTrials.gov

Evaluation of N-acetylcysteine as an Intracanal and Adjunctive Systemic Medication in Root Canal Treatment of Necrotic Mature Teeth With Apical Periodontitis: a Randomized Controlled Clinical Trial

Clinical trial2026-06-01Primary completion · ClinicalTrials.gov

Microbiological Characteristics of Biofilm on Double J Ureteral Stents After Lithotripsy: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Clinical trial2026-06-01Primary completion · ClinicalTrials.gov

The antioxidant N-acetyl cysteine inhibits cytokine and prostaglandin release in human fetal membranes stimulated ex vivo with lipoteichoic acid or live group B streptococcus.

Research2024-01-01American journal of reproductive immunology (New York, N.Y. : 1989)

Hypertrophy Regression With N-Acetylcysteine in Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy (HALT-HCM): A Randomized, Placebo-Controlled, Double-Blind Pilot Study.

Research2018-03-14Circulation research

A Double-Blind, Randomized, Controlled Pilot Trial of N-Acetylcysteine in Veterans With Posttraumatic Stress Disorder and Substance Use Disorders.

Research2016-11-01The Journal of clinical psychiatry

The antioxidant N-Acetylcysteine does not improve glucose tolerance or β-cell function in type 2 diabetes.

Research2016-02-05Journal of diabetes and its complications

Profile

Identifiers & mechanism

Canonical identifiers, marketed brand names and mechanism, resolved across RxNorm, ChEMBL and ATC.

Canonical name

Acetylcysteine

Aliases & brands

(2R)-2-acetylamino-3-sulfanylpropanoic acid(R)-2-acetylamino-3-mercaptopropanoic acid(R)-mercapturic acidAcetadoteAcetilcisteinaAcys-5CetylevL-acetylcysteineMercapturic acidMucomyst-10Mucomyst-20N Acetyl L CysteineN acetyl cysteineN-ACN-Acetyl CysteineN-acetyl-L-(+)-cysteineN-acetyl-L-cysteineN-acetylcysteineNACNAC - N-acetyl cysteineACETYL CYSTEINEAcetylcysteinum

RxNorm CUI

197

ChEMBL ID

CHEMBL600

ATC codes

R05CB01S01XA08V03AB23

UNII

WYQ7N0BPYC

Clinical trials

196 trials

The current development programme across all trial phases — status mix, phase distribution and the late-stage studies shaping the evidence base.

Development programme

CLINICALTRIALS.GOV · LIVE REGISTRY

196

registered trials across all phases

LATEST COMPLETION 2026

Active studies

Recruiting

Late-stage (III+)

116

Completed

Discontinued

PHASE DISTRIBUTIONn = 196

Early Phase 113Phase 119Phase 1 / 217Phase 254Phase 2 / 310Phase 322Phase 436Phase N / A25

Late-stage studies

Phase III+ trials still open or recently active — where late-stage evidence is being generated.

The Role of N-Acetylcysteine Inhalation in Critically Ill Mechanically Ventilated Patients

RecruitingPH IVCairo Universityn=802028

Prevention of Cartilage Cell Death Following a Pilon Fracture With Intra-articular Injection of N-Acetylcysteine (Pilon NAC)

RecruitingPH IVUniversity of Missouri-Columbian=302026

The Use of N-acetylcysteine Supplementation in Addition to Night Splinting for Treatment of Mild to Moderate Carpal Tunnel Syndrome: A Randomized, Double-blind, Placebo-controlled Trial

RecruitingPH IVEmily Kraussn=2402026

A Pilot Study Investigating the Efficacy of Minocycline and N-Acetyl Cysteine for Bipolar Depression

SuspendedPH IVMassachusetts General Hospitaln=402026

Microbiological Characteristics of Biofilm on Double J Ureteral Stents After Lithotripsy: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Not yet recruitingPH IVMenoufia Universityn=1002026

Recent completions

Trials that read out recently, adding to the completed evidence base.

Glutamatergic Mechanisms in Opioid and Cocaine Co-Use

CompletedPH IWilliam Stoopsn=122026

Prospective Treatment Efficacy in IPF Using Genotype for Nac Selection (PRECISIONS) Trial

CompletedPH IIIFernando J Martinezn=2022026

Role of Oxidative Stress and Inflammation in Type 1 Gaucher Disease (GD1): Potential Use of Antioxidant/Anti-inflammatory Medications

CompletedPH IIUniversity of Minnesotan=332025

Comparative Clinical Study to Evaluate the Possible Efficacy and Safety of Oral N-Acetyl Cysteine Versus Rectal Diclofenac in the Prevention of Post Endoscopic Retrograde Cholangiopancreatography Pancreatitis

CompletedPH I/IITanta Universityn=462025

Efficacy of Intravenous N-Acetylcysteine in Preventing Linezolid-Induced Thrombocytopenia in Critically Ill Patients: A Double-Blind Randomized Placebo-Controlled Trial

CompletedPH IVHelwan Universityn=2502025

Chlorhexidin Versus N-Asetil Sistein Irrigation in Mandibular Molar Teeth with Chronic Apical Periodontitis on Postoperative Pain and Periapical Tissue Healing: a Randomized Controlled Trial

CompletedN/ACukurova Universityn=782025

Research activity

8 papers

Key research shaping understanding of this drug, combining the latest publications with the most influential evidence.

Publications over time

20122024

Most influential

A randomized controlled pilot trial of oral N-acetylcysteine in children with autism.

Biological psychiatry · 2012 · 187 cites

N-Acetylcysteine boosts brain and blood glutathione in Gaucher and Parkinson diseases.

Clinical neuropharmacology · 2013 · 165 cites

A Double-Blind, Randomized, Controlled Pilot Trial of N-Acetylcysteine in Veterans With Posttraumatic Stress Disorder and Substance Use Disorders.

The Journal of clinical psychiatry · 2016 · 71 cites

Hypertrophy Regression With N-Acetylcysteine in Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy (HALT-HCM): A Randomized, Placebo-Controlled, Double-Blind Pilot Study.

Circulation research · 2018 · 46 cites

Antenatal pharmacokinetics and placental transfer of N-acetylcysteine in chorioamnionitis for fetal neuroprotection.

The Journal of pediatrics · 2014 · 41 cites

The antioxidant N-Acetylcysteine does not improve glucose tolerance or β-cell function in type 2 diabetes.

Journal of diabetes and its complications · 2016 · 25 cites

Related drugs

1 matches

Drugs sharing diseases, protein targets and literature with this one. Ranked by graph evidence (shared targets + diseases weighted above co-mentions).

Dinoprostone

Studied across 2 of the same disease areas as Acetylcysteine in the shared literature.

2 shared diseases1 shared paper

References & data sources

RxNorm (U.S. National Library of Medicine) — drug identity
ChEMBL (EMBL-EBI) & UniProt — pharmacology and targets
Europe PMC — research literature
ClinicalTrials.gov — clinical trials