Drug

Creatine

In clinical development

Emerging researchLate-stage developmentRising momentum

Also known as ((amino(Imino)methyl)(methyl)amino)acetic acid, (N-methylcarbamimidamido)acetic acid, (alpha-Methylguanido)acetic acid, Kreatin+7 more

((amino(Imino)methyl)(methyl)amino)acetic acid, (N-methylcarbamimidamido)acetic acid, (alpha-Methylguanido)acetic acid, Kreatin, Methylglycocyamine, N-(aminoiminomethyl)-N-methylglycine, N-amidinosarcosine, N-carbamimidoyl-N-methylglycine, N-methyl-N-guanylglycine, alpha-Methylguanidino acetic acid, Creatin.

RxNorm2907 ChEMBLCHEMBL283800UNIIMU72812GK0

Research papers

Active clinical trials

Latest activity

beta

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

Creatine doesn't just build muscle. It may also help fight cancer

Industry2026-07-08Science Daily

Scientists say creatine may help fight depression

Industry2026-06-30Science Daily

Phase III, Randomized, Double-blind, Placebo-controlled Study Investigating the Efficacy of Creatine Supplementation in Attenuating Chemotherapy-related Cognitive Decline in Patients With Early-stage Breast Cancer Undergoing Chemotherapy.

Clinical trial2026-01-28Results expected Q2 2028 · ClinicalTrials.gov

Placebo-Controlled Trial of Creatine Augmentation for Adolescent Females With Treatment-Resistant Major Depressive Disorder: a Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy Study

Clinical trial2024-07-03Results posted · ClinicalTrials.gov

Creatine supplementation enhances anti-tumor immunity by promoting adenosine triphosphate production in macrophages.

Research2023-08-18Frontiers in immunology

Important roles of dietary taurine, creatine, carnosine, anserine and 4-hydroxyproline in human nutrition and health.

Research2020-02-18Amino acids

Effects of Creatine Supplementation on Muscle Mass and Function Among Older Women Subjected to Resistance Training

Clinical trial2015-10-30Results posted · ClinicalTrials.gov

Phase 2 Selection Trial of High Dosage Creatine and Two Dosages of Tamoxifen in Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS)

Clinical trial2014-12-04Results posted · ClinicalTrials.gov

A Randomised, Double-blind, Study to Investigate the Effects of Creatine Supplementation on Muscle Energetics and Cognitive Function in Young Healthy Male Athletes and an Ageing Population Using Phosphorus-31 Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy (31P MRS) and Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI)

Clinical trial2014-06-24Completed · ClinicalTrials.gov

A Multicenter, Double-Blind, Parallel Group, Placebo Controlled Study of Creatine in Subjects With Treated Parkinson's Disease (PD) Long Term Study (LS-1)

Clinical trial2014-05-01Terminated · ClinicalTrials.gov

Creatine Augmentation in Female & Male Veterans With Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitor-Resistant Major Depressive Disorder

Clinical trial2014-04-01Withdrawn · ClinicalTrials.gov

Derivation and prospective validation of a simple index for prediction of cardiac risk of major noncardiac surgery.

Research1999-09-01Circulation

Profile

Identifiers & mechanism

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

Canonical name

Creatine

Aliases & brands

((amino(Imino)methyl)(methyl)amino)acetic acid(N-methylcarbamimidamido)acetic acid(alpha-Methylguanido)acetic acidKreatinMethylglycocyamineN-(aminoiminomethyl)-N-methylglycineN-amidinosarcosineN-carbamimidoyl-N-methylglycineN-methyl-N-guanylglycinealpha-Methylguanidino acetic acidCreatin

RxNorm CUI

2907

ChEMBL ID

CHEMBL283800

UNII

MU72812GK0

Clinical trials

13 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

registered trials across all phases

LATEST COMPLETION 2017

Active studies

Recruiting

Late-stage (III+)

Completed

Discontinued

PHASE DISTRIBUTIONn = 13

Phase 11Phase 1 / 21Phase 24Phase 34Phase 42Phase N / A1

Late-stage studies

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

Placebo-Controlled Trial of Creatine Augmentation for Adolescent Females With Treatment-Resistant Major Depressive Disorder: a Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy Study

CompletedPH IVPerry Renshawn=712017

Creatine Augmentation in Female & Male Veterans With Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitor-Resistant Major Depressive Disorder

WithdrawnPH IVUniversity of Utah2014

Not yet recruitingPH IIID'Or Institute for Research and Educationn=2272028

Effects of Creatine Supplementation on Muscle Mass and Function Among Older Women Subjected to Resistance Training

CompletedPH IIIUniversity of Chilen=502015

A Multicenter, Double-Blind, Parallel Group, Placebo Controlled Study of Creatine in Subjects With Treated Parkinson's Disease (PD) Long Term Study (LS-1)

TerminatedPH IIIKey trialUniversity of Rochestern=1,7412014

Recent completions

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

Placebo-Controlled Trial of Creatine Augmentation for Adolescent Females With Treatment-Resistant Major Depressive Disorder: a Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy Study

CompletedPH IVPerry Renshawn=712017

Effects of Creatine Supplementation on Muscle Mass and Function Among Older Women Subjected to Resistance Training

CompletedPH IIIUniversity of Chilen=502015

CompletedPH IGlaxoSmithKlinen=302014

Phase 2 Selection Trial of High Dosage Creatine and Two Dosages of Tamoxifen in Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS)

CompletedPH IINazem Atassin=602013

Efficacy of a Therapeutic Treatment Trial in Angelman Syndrome

CompletedN/AUniversity of California, San Diegon=902010

Phase II Combination Therapy Selection Trial in Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis

CompletedPH IIColumbia Universityn=862007

Research activity

3 papers

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

Publications over time

19992023

Most influential

Derivation and prospective validation of a simple index for prediction of cardiac risk of major noncardiac surgery.

Circulation · 1999 · 2,022 cites

Important roles of dietary taurine, creatine, carnosine, anserine and 4-hydroxyproline in human nutrition and health.

Amino acids · 2020 · 281 cites

Creatine supplementation enhances anti-tumor immunity by promoting adenosine triphosphate production in macrophages.

Frontiers in immunology · 2023 · 14 cites

Related drugs

3 matches

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

Insulin

Studied across 3 of the same disease areas as Creatine in the shared literature.

3 shared diseases1 shared paper

Hydroxyproline

Frequently co-studied with Creatine in the research literature.

1 shared paper

Taurine

Frequently co-studied with Creatine 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