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Drug

Heroin

In clinical development
ClassMu opioid receptor agonistEmerging researchLate-stage development
Also known as Diacetylmorphine, Diamorphine, O,O'-Diacetylmorphine, heroin (Schedule I substance)+2 more

Diacetylmorphine, Diamorphine, O,O'-Diacetylmorphine, heroin (Schedule I substance), 3,6-Diacetylmorphine, 7,8-Dihydro-4,5-alpha-epoxy-17-methylmorphinan-3,6-alpha-diol diacetate.

RxNorm3304ChEMBLCHEMBL459324UNII70D95007SX
1
Research papers
Mu-type opioid receptor
Primary target
Latest activity
beta

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

Supervised and unsupervised learning reveal heroin-induced impairments in astrocyte structural plasticity.

Research2025-04-30Science advances

Reinforcing Effects of Intravenous Buprenorphine Versus Buprenorphine/Naloxone in Buprenorphine-maintained Intravenous Drug Users (P05207)

Clinical trial2016-12-05Results posted · ClinicalTrials.gov

Pain Relief After Colorectal Surgery: Single-shot Spinal Combined With Painbuster® vs Painbuster® Alone. A Pilot Randomised Controlled Trial

Clinical trial2016-02-01Completed · ClinicalTrials.gov

An Open-label Pilot Comparison Between Alfentanil and Diamorphine for Palliative Care Patients Who Require Subcutaneous Opioids

Clinical trial2014-11-01Completed · ClinicalTrials.gov

The Effects of Diacetylmorphine (Heroin) on Human Brain Functions and Stress Response

Clinical trial2012-02-01Completed · ClinicalTrials.gov

Phase III Study of Maintenance Treatment for Opiate Dependence With Heroin (Diamorphine) Compared to Methadone

Clinical trial2007-12-01Completed · ClinicalTrials.gov

Profile

Identifiers & mechanism

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

Canonical name
Heroin
Aliases & brands
DiacetylmorphineDiamorphineO,O'-Diacetylmorphineheroin (Schedule I substance)3,6-Diacetylmorphine7,8-Dihydro-4,5-alpha-epoxy-17-methylmorphinan-3,6-alpha-diol diacetate
RxNorm CUI
3304
ChEMBL ID
CHEMBL459324
UNII
70D95007SX
Primary mechanism
Mu opioid receptor agonist

Pharmacology & targets

1 target

Known molecular targets and mechanisms supported by curated pharmacology databases.

Mu-type opioid receptor
OPRM1 · P35372
AGONISTMu opioid receptor agonist

Clinical trials

5 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
5
registered trials across all phases
LATEST COMPLETION 2016
4
Late-stage (III+)
5
Completed
PHASE DISTRIBUTIONn = 5
Phase 11Phase 32Phase N / A2

Late-stage studies

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

Reinforcing Effects of Intravenous Buprenorphine Versus Buprenorphine/Naloxone in Buprenorphine-maintained Intravenous Drug Users (P05207)

CompletedPH IIINew York State Psychiatric Instituten=192008

Phase III Study of Maintenance Treatment for Opiate Dependence With Heroin (Diamorphine) Compared to Methadone

CompletedPH IIIKey trialUniversitätsklinikum Hamburg-Eppendorfn=1,0152007

Recent completions

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

Pain Relief After Colorectal Surgery: Single-shot Spinal Combined With Painbuster® vs Painbuster® Alone. A Pilot Randomised Controlled Trial

CompletedN/AYork Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trustn=792016

An Open-label Pilot Comparison Between Alfentanil and Diamorphine for Palliative Care Patients Who Require Subcutaneous Opioids

CompletedN/AGloucestershire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trustn=182014

The Effects of Diacetylmorphine (Heroin) on Human Brain Functions and Stress Response

CompletedPH IUniversity Hospital, Basel, Switzerlandn=602012

Reinforcing Effects of Intravenous Buprenorphine Versus Buprenorphine/Naloxone in Buprenorphine-maintained Intravenous Drug Users (P05207)

CompletedPH IIINew York State Psychiatric Instituten=192008

Phase III Study of Maintenance Treatment for Opiate Dependence With Heroin (Diamorphine) Compared to Methadone

CompletedPH IIIKey trialUniversitätsklinikum Hamburg-Eppendorfn=1,0152007

Research activity

1 papers

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

Major research themes5
Astrocytes1Heroin1Neuronal Plasticity1Supervised Machine Learning1Unsupervised Machine Learning1
Journals, researchers & institutions
Top journals
  • Science advances1
Leading researchers
  • Koorndyk N1
  • Kruyer A1
  • Labate D1
  • Marini M1
  • Mohan A1
  • Niu Y1
  • Zhao H1
Leading institutions
free-text, unnormalised
  • Center for Addiction Research1
  • University of Cincinnati1
  • University of Houston1
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