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Drug

Curcumin

In clinical development
Emerging researchLate-stage developmentRising momentum

Also known as Diferuloylmethane.

RxNorm2955ChEMBLCHEMBL140UNIIIT942ZTH98
9
Research papers
11
Active clinical trials
Latest activity
beta

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

A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Trial of Curcumin to Prevent Progression of Biopsy Proven, Low-risk Localized Prostate Cancer Patients Undergoing Active Surveillance

Clinical trial2026-06-15Results expected Q4 2029 · ClinicalTrials.gov

Pilot Study to Assess the Contribution of UGT2B17 and Associated Genetic Polymorphisms on the Pharmacokinetics of Diclofenac Alone and Upon Co-administration With Curcumin

Clinical trial2026-06-04Results expected Q3 2026 · ClinicalTrials.gov

Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Trial of Meriva® (Curcuminoids) as a Candidate Chemoprevention Agent for Gastric Carcinogenesis

Clinical trial2026-04-21Results posted · ClinicalTrials.gov

Randomized Trial of Adjuvant Curcumin After Prostatectomy

Clinical trial2026-03-30Results expected Q2 2028 · ClinicalTrials.gov

Immunomodulatory Effect of Curcumin in Critically Ill Patients With Sepsis at the Antiguo Hospital Civil de Guadalajara "Fray Antonio Alcalde": A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Clinical Trial

Clinical trial2026-02-27Results expected Q1 2027 · ClinicalTrials.gov

A Randomized Controlled Trial of Oral Curcumin for the Treatment of Pain of CMC Arthritis

Clinical trial2026-02-01Primary completion · ClinicalTrials.gov

Feasibility, Safety, and Efficacy of Concomitant Curcumin in Patients Undergoing Palliative Radiotherapy for FIGO Stage IIIB-IVA Cervical Cancer: An Open-label Pilot Trial

Clinical trial2026-02-01Primary completion · ClinicalTrials.gov

The Effect of Adjuvant Curcumin Extract on Quality of Life and Interleukin-1 Beta (IL-1β) Levels in Patients With Schizophrenia Receiving Risperidone: A Randomized Clinical Trial

Clinical trial2026-01-31Completed · ClinicalTrials.gov

The role of ferroptosis in Alzheimer's disease: Mechanisms and therapeutic potential (Review).

Research2025-05-09Molecular medicine reports

Curcumin reverses cognitive deficits through promoting neurogenesis and synapse plasticity via the upregulation of PSD95 and BDNF in mice.

Research2025-01-07Scientific reports

Molecular Mechanisms of Curcumin in the Pathogenesis of Metabolic Dysfunction Associated Steatotic Liver Disease.

Research2023-12-09Nutrients

Anti-Inflammatory Effects of Curcumin in the Inflammatory Diseases: Status, Limitations and Countermeasures.

Research2021-11-02Drug design, development and therapy

Profile

Identifiers & mechanism

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

Canonical name
Curcumin
Aliases & brands
Diferuloylmethane
RxNorm CUI
2955
ChEMBL ID
CHEMBL140
UNII
IT942ZTH98

Clinical trials

97 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
97
registered trials across all phases
LATEST COMPLETION 2026
11
Active studies
10
Recruiting
36
Late-stage (III+)
46
Completed
40
Discontinued
PHASE DISTRIBUTIONn = 97
Early Phase 16Phase 113Phase 1 / 28Phase 234Phase 2 / 35Phase 312Phase 48Phase N / A11

Late-stage studies

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

Alveolar Ridge Augmentation With Curcumin Combined With Xenograft After Piezoelectric Alveolar Ridge Splitting Surgery (A Randomized Controlled Clinical Trial)

Unknown statusPH IVAin Shams Universityn=182025

Treatment of Unfavorable Bleeding Patterns in Contraceptive Implant Users: a Randomized Clinical Trial of Curcumin

CompletedPH IVOregon Health and Science Universityn=582023

Curcumin Therapy to Treat Vascular Dysfunction in Children and Young Adults With ADPKD

CompletedPH IVUniversity of Colorado, Denvern=682021

Effect of Oral Supplementation With Curcumin on Insulin Sensitivity in Subjects With Prediabetes

Unknown statusPH IVHospital General de México Dr. Eduardo Liceagan=1422020

Curcumin as add-on to Antipsychotic Treatment in Chronic Schizophrenia Patients: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-controlled Study

CompletedPH IVBeersheva Mental Health Centern=382017

Recent completions

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

The Effect of Adjuvant Curcumin Extract on Quality of Life and Interleukin-1 Beta (IL-1β) Levels in Patients With Schizophrenia Receiving Risperidone: A Randomized Clinical Trial

CompletedN/ARinvil Renaldin=442026

An Open-Label, Randomized, Double Arm, Phase 2 Study to Evaluate the Safety and Efficacy of C and RQC for Preventing Progression in Age-Related Macular Degeneration

CompletedPH IIPaul A Knepper, MD PhDn=552024

Clinical Study Evaluating the Impact of Curcumin and Pentoxiphylline on Patients With Chronic Kidney Disease

CompletedN/AAlexandria Universityn=602024

The Effect of Curcumin on the Clinical Outcome of Pediatric Patients with Active Lupus Nephritis

CompletedPH IIAin Shams Universityn=722024

Photodynamic Therapy by Curcumin VS Photo-bio-modulation Therapy of Oral Mucositis in Pedology Patient Undergoing Anti-Cancer Non-invasive Treatment

CompletedPH IRiyadh Elm Universityn=902024

Safety and Efficacy of Curcumin in Children With Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia

CompletedPH IIAin Shams Universityn=302024

Research activity

9 papers

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

Publications over time
20012025
Most influential

The curry spice curcumin reduces oxidative damage and amyloid pathology in an Alzheimer transgenic mouse.

The Journal of neuroscience : the official journal of the Society for Neuroscience · 2001 · 927 cites

Curcumin and Cancer.

Nutrients · 2019 · 588 cites

Activators and Inhibitors of NRF2: A Review of Their Potential for Clinical Development.

Oxidative medicine and cellular longevity · 2019 · 443 cites

Anti-Inflammatory Effects of Curcumin in the Inflammatory Diseases: Status, Limitations and Countermeasures.

Drug design, development and therapy · 2021 · 409 cites

Quercetin, Epigallocatechin Gallate, Curcumin, and Resveratrol: From Dietary Sources to Human MicroRNA Modulation.

Molecules (Basel, Switzerland) · 2019 · 140 cites

Effects of curcumin on mitochondria in neurodegenerative diseases.

BioFactors (Oxford, England) · 2020 · 132 cites
Major research themes8
Curcumin2Alzheimer Disease1Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor1Cognitive Dysfunction1COVID-19 Drug Treatment1Disks Large Homolog 4 Protein1Fatty Liver1Ferroptosis1
Journals, researchers & institutions
Top journals
  • Nutrients2
  • BioFactors (Oxford, England)1
  • Drug design, development and therapy1
  • Molecular medicine reports1
  • Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)1
  • Oxidative medicine and cellular longevity1
Leading researchers
  • Ao M1
  • Bagheri H1
  • Barreto GE1
  • Beech W1
  • Bugianesi E1
  • Cannataro R1
  • Caroleo MC1
  • Chen Z1
Leading institutions
free-text, unnormalised
  • Arak University of Medical Sciences1
  • Biotechnology Research Center1
  • Blood Transfusion Research Center1
  • Halal Research Center of IRI1
  • Health Research Institute1
  • Hull York Medical School1

Related diseases

4 conditions

Regulator-approved indications and conditions co-mentioned with this drug across the research literature. Number shows shared papers.

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).

Quercetin

Studied across 4 of the same disease areas as Curcumin in the shared literature.

4 shared diseases1 shared paper
Catechin

Studied across the same disease area as Curcumin in the shared literature.

1 shared disease1 shared paper
Epigallocatechin gallate

Studied across the same disease area as Curcumin in the shared literature.

1 shared disease1 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