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Drug

Chlorhexidine

Regulatory activity · MHRA
Emerging researchLate-stage developmentSteady momentum
Also known as Avagard, Bactoshield, Betasept, CHG Teat Dip+44 more

Avagard, Bactoshield, Betasept, CHG Teat Dip, Calgon Vesta, ChloraPrep, ChloraPrep One-Step, Chlorhexidine Gluconate, Chlorostat, Chlorostat 4, Cloresidina, Clorhexidina, Dyna-Hex, E-Z Scrub, Exidine, Hibiclens, Hibistat, Keto-C, Ketochlor, Mal-A-Ket, Mal-A-Ket Wipes, Malaseb, Maxiclens, MiconaHex+Triz, Nolvadent, Nolvasan, Nupro Chlorhexidine, Oro Clense, Otodine, Paroex, Peridex, PerioChip, Periogard, Perisol, Prevantics, Scrub Care Exidine, Scrub-Stat, Soluprep, Spectrum-4, Stomodine F, Suffusion, Supreme, Tru-Blu C-Hex 110, Tru-Blu Chlor Hex-Wash, Chlorhexidin, 1,1'-Hexamethylene bis(5-(p-chlorophenyl)biguanide), Chlorhexidinum, N,N'-Bis(4-chlorophenyl)-3,12-diimino-2,4,11,13-tetraazatetradecanediimidamide.

RxNorm2358ChEMBLCHEMBL790ATCD08AC02ATCD09AA12ATCS01AX09ATCB05CA02ATCD08AC52ATCA01AB03ATCR02AA05ATCS02AA09ATCS03AA04UNIIR4KO0DY52L
4
Research papers
12
Active clinical trials
1
Regulatory events
Latest activity
beta

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

Antiseptic Effects on the Dental Implant Internal Surface Microbiome

Clinical trial2026-07-22Status changed to Completed · ClinicalTrials.gov

A Phase 2, Open-Label, Randomized Trial Evaluating the Impact of Enhanced Versus Standard Dermatologic Management on Selected Dermatologic Adverse Events Among Patients With Locally Advanced or Metastatic EGFR-Mutated NSCLC Treated First-Line With Amivantamab + Lazertinib

Clinical trial2026-07-06Results expected Q2 2027 · ClinicalTrials.gov

A Phase II Single-arm Cohort Study Establishing the Effect of Antibiotic Treatment on Intratumoral Bacteria in Surgical Patients With Oral Cancer

Clinical trial2026-06-04Results expected Q4 2026 · ClinicalTrials.gov

Irrisept vs Traditional Antibiotic Irrigation for Virgin Penile Prosthesis Placement: A Prospective Non-inferiority Trial

Clinical trial2026-05-31Primary completion · ClinicalTrials.gov

Prospective Randomized Evaluation of Emerging Novel Treatments for Infection Prophylaxis in Total Joint Replacement (PREVENT-iT)

Clinical trial2026-05-22Results expected Q4 2028 · ClinicalTrials.gov

Effect of a Bioactive Mineral-Ionic Mouthrinse on Periodontal Soft Tissue Healing and Postoperative Pain After Tooth Extraction: A Double-Blind Randomized Clinical Trial

Clinical trial2026-05-10Completed · ClinicalTrials.gov

A Randomized Controlled Trial on the Effect of Different Types of Mouthwash on the Healing of Extraction Sockets

Clinical trial2026-05-07Results expected Q4 2026 · ClinicalTrials.gov

In-vitro polymicrobial oral biofilm model represents clinical microbial profile and disease progression during implant-related infections.

Research2023-11-01Journal of applied microbiology

Effect of Chlorhexidine Bathing Every Other Day on Prevention of Hospital-Acquired Infections in the Surgical ICU: A Single-Center, Randomized Controlled Trial.

Research2016-10-01Critical care medicine

Drug Safety Update: Chlorhexidine: reminder of potential for hypersensitivity

Regulatory2014-12-11MHRA

Guidelines for the prevention of intravascular catheter-related infections.

Research2011-04-01Clinical infectious diseases : an official publication of the Infectious Diseases Society of America

Chlorhexidine-Alcohol versus Povidone-Iodine for Surgical-Site Antisepsis.

Research2010-01-01The New England journal of medicine

Profile

Identifiers & mechanism

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

Canonical name
Chlorhexidine
Aliases & brands
AvagardBactoshieldBetaseptCHG Teat DipCalgon VestaChloraPrepChloraPrep One-StepChlorhexidine GluconateChlorostatChlorostat 4CloresidinaClorhexidinaDyna-HexE-Z ScrubExidineHibiclensHibistatKeto-CKetochlorMal-A-KetMal-A-Ket WipesMalasebMaxiclensMiconaHex+TrizNolvadentNolvasanNupro ChlorhexidineOro ClenseOtodineParoexPeridexPerioChipPeriogardPerisolPrevanticsScrub Care ExidineScrub-StatSoluprepSpectrum-4Stomodine FSuffusionSupremeTru-Blu C-Hex 110Tru-Blu Chlor Hex-WashChlorhexidin1,1'-Hexamethylene bis(5-(p-chlorophenyl)biguanide)ChlorhexidinumN,N'-Bis(4-chlorophenyl)-3,12-diimino-2,4,11,13-tetraazatetradecanediimidamide
RxNorm CUI
2358
ChEMBL ID
CHEMBL790
ATC codes
D08AC02D09AA12S01AX09B05CA02D08AC52A01AB03R02AA05S02AA09S03AA04
UNII
R4KO0DY52L
Regulatory jurisdictions
mhra

Regulatory timeline

1 event

The complete regulatory record, grouped by authority — approvals, safety advisories and label changes. Each authority shows its most recent events; expand one to read its full history.

Authorities
MHRA
Total events
1
mhraMedicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency· 1 event
2014-12-11Safety communicationSafety
Drug Safety Update: Chlorhexidine: reminder of potential for hypersensitivity
Evidence ↗

Contains public sector information from the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) licensed under the Open Government Licence (OGL v3).

Clinical trials

141 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
141
registered trials across all phases
LATEST COMPLETION 2026
12
Active studies
9
Recruiting
107
Late-stage (III+)
100
Completed
29
Discontinued
PHASE DISTRIBUTIONn = 141
Early Phase 13Phase 18Phase 1 / 21Phase 222Phase 2 / 36Phase 323Phase 433Phase N / A45

Late-stage studies

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

A Randomized Controlled Trial on the Effect of Different Types of Mouthwash on the Healing of Extraction Sockets

RecruitingPH IVUniversity of Jordann=1002026

Effect of Chlorhexidine Perineal Lavage Following Defecation in Post-Menopausal Women With Recurrent Urinary Tract Infection

Active, not recruitingPH IVOregon Health and Science Universityn=1362026

Effects of Irrisept Irrigation in Emergency General Surgery Cases on SSI Rates

Enrolling by invitationPH IVThe University of Texas Health Science Center at Tylern=4002026

Clinical Trial of a Disinfectant Intervention in Therapy Dogs to Combat Hospital-associated Pathogens and Promote Sustainability of Animal-Assisted Visitation Programs

CompletedPH IVJohns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Healthn=452026

Integrating Personal and Household Environmental Hygiene Measures to Prevent Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus Infection

CompletedPH IVWashington University School of Medicinen=8352024

Recent completions

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

Effect of a Bioactive Mineral-Ionic Mouthrinse on Periodontal Soft Tissue Healing and Postoperative Pain After Tooth Extraction: A Double-Blind Randomized Clinical Trial

CompletedN/ABiointelligent Technology Systems SLn=942026

Antiseptic Effects on the Dental Implant Internal Surface Microbiome

CompletedPH IMadigan Army Medical Centern=972026

Clinical Trial of a Disinfectant Intervention in Therapy Dogs to Combat Hospital-associated Pathogens and Promote Sustainability of Animal-Assisted Visitation Programs

CompletedPH IVJohns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Healthn=452026

STaph Aureus Resistance-Treat Early and Repeat (STAR-TER)

CompletedPH IIUniversity of North Carolina, Chapel Hilln=372026

Treatment of Peri-implantitis by Air-polishing Abrasives and Antiseptics Solutions

CompletedN/AResearch Centre for Medical Genetics, Russian Federationn=642025

Rose Bengal Electromagnetic Activation With Green Light for Infection Reduction

CompletedPH IIIUniversity of California, San Franciscon=3302025

Research activity

4 papers

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

Publications over time
20102023
Major research themes2
Communicable Diseases1Peri-Implantitis1
Journals, researchers & institutions
Top journals
  • Clinical infectious diseases : an official publication of the Infectious Diseases Society of America1
  • Critical care medicine1
  • Journal of applied microbiology1
  • The New England journal of medicine1
Leading researchers
  • Alexander M1
  • Alsharif A1
  • Ashton CM1
  • Awad SS1
  • Barão VAR1
  • Berger DH1
  • Bersamin JB1
  • Bertolini M1
Leading institutions
free-text, unnormalised
  • 1Department of Pharmacy Practice and Clinical Health Sciences1
  • Guarulhos University1
  • Harvard School of Dental Medicine1
  • Michael E. DeBakey Veterans Affairs Medical Center and Baylor College of Medicine1
  • National Institutes of Health1
  • Piracicaba Dental School1

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).

Povidone-iodine

Frequently co-studied with Chlorhexidine in the research literature.

1 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
  • Regulatory event sources are credited in the Regulatory Timeline above.