Drug

Nicotine

In clinical development

ClassNeuronal acetylcholine receptor; alpha4/beta2 agonistEmerging researchLate-stage developmentSteady momentum

Also known as (S)-(-)-nicotine, (S)-3-(1-methylpyrrolidin-2-yl)pyridine, (S)-3-(N-methylpyrrolidin-2-yl)pyridine, (S)-Nicotine+17 more

(S)-(-)-nicotine, (S)-3-(1-methylpyrrolidin-2-yl)pyridine, (S)-3-(N-methylpyrrolidin-2-yl)pyridine, (S)-Nicotine, 3-(2-(N-methylpyrrolidinyl))pyridine, 3-(N-methylpyrollidino)pyridine, Commit, Habitrol, L(-)-nicotine, Nicduic, Nicoderm C-Q, Nicorelief, Nicorette, Nicotine Polacrilex, Nicotrol, Nikotin, Nikotyna, ProStep, Thrive, (-)-nicotine, Nicotina.

RxNorm7407 ChEMBLCHEMBL3 ATCN07BA01UNII6M3C89ZY6R

Research papers

Active clinical trials

Protein targets

Latest activity

beta

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

FDA authorized Zyn nicotine pouches without knowing what they were made of, says former agency scientist

Regulatory2026-07-14Regulatory news · STAT News

Comparative Evaluation of Nicotine Analogs

Clinical trial2026-06-26Results expected Q4 2026 · ClinicalTrials.gov

Acute Effects of Sequential Nicotine Vaping on the Pharmacokinetic and Pharmacodynamic Properties of Vaped THC: A Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled, Randomized Within-Subject Crossover Study

Clinical trial2026-06-22Results expected Q1 2028 · ClinicalTrials.gov

Should nicotine be regulated like a narcotic? A Pacific nation makes the case

Industry2026-06-17Nature News

Effects of Menthol in E-cigarettes on Smoking Behaviors

Clinical trial2026-06-16Results posted · ClinicalTrials.gov

Addictive Threshold of Nicotine

Clinical trial2026-06-11Results expected Q3 2027 · ClinicalTrials.gov

Comparative Pharmacokinetics and Pharmacodynamics of Synthetic Nicotine

Clinical trial2026-05-14Results expected Q2 2027 · ClinicalTrials.gov

Effects of Commonly Used Medications on Mood and Choice

Clinical trial2026-02-02Results posted · ClinicalTrials.gov

Electronic cigarettes and cardiovascular disease: epidemiological and biological links.

Research2024-02-20Pflugers Archiv : European journal of physiology

A Pilot Randomized Trial of Transdermal Nicotine for Pulmonary Sarcoidosis.

Research2021-05-23Chest

Design, rationale, and baseline characteristics of a pilot randomized clinical trial of nicotine treatment for pulmonary sarcoidosis.

Research2020-10-07Contemporary clinical trials communications

Nicotine replacement therapy for smoking cessation.

Research2012-11-14The Cochrane database of systematic reviews

Profile

Identifiers & mechanism

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

Canonical name

Nicotine

Aliases & brands

(S)-(-)-nicotine(S)-3-(1-methylpyrrolidin-2-yl)pyridine(S)-3-(N-methylpyrrolidin-2-yl)pyridine(S)-Nicotine3-(2-(N-methylpyrrolidinyl))pyridine3-(N-methylpyrollidino)pyridineCommitHabitrolL(-)-nicotineNicduicNicoderm C-QNicoreliefNicoretteNicotine PolacrilexNicotrolNikotinNikotynaProStepThrive(-)-nicotineNicotina

RxNorm CUI

7407

ChEMBL ID

CHEMBL3

ATC codes

N07BA01

UNII

6M3C89ZY6R

Primary mechanism

Neuronal acetylcholine receptor; alpha4/beta2 agonist

Pharmacology & targets

2 targets

Known molecular targets and mechanisms supported by curated pharmacology databases.

Neuronal acetylcholine receptor subunit beta-2

CHRNB2 · P17787

AGONISTNeuronal acetylcholine receptor; alpha4/beta2 agonist

Neuronal acetylcholine receptor subunit alpha-4

CHRNA4 · P43681

AGONISTNeuronal acetylcholine receptor; alpha4/beta2 agonist

Clinical trials

118 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

118

registered trials across all phases

LATEST COMPLETION 2025

Active studies

Recruiting

Late-stage (III+)

Completed

Discontinued

PHASE DISTRIBUTIONn = 118

Early Phase 110Phase 127Phase 1 / 24Phase 214Phase 38Phase 412Phase N / A43

Late-stage studies

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

Expanding the Role of the Safety Manager to Implement a Workplace Smoking Cessation Program in the Construction Sector

RecruitingPH IVUniversity of Miamin=6082027

Efficacy and Safety of E-cigarettes for Smoking Cessation in Middle-aged Heavy Smokers

CompletedPH IVUniversity of Oulun=4502021

Effect of Smoking Reduction on Endothelial Glucocalyx and Arterial Wall Properites During Medically-aided Smoking Cessation Program.

Unknown statusPH IVUniversity of Athensn=6002020

Effect of Nicotine on Acquisition and Extinction of a Conditioned Place Preference in a Virtual Reality Environment

WithdrawnPH IVUniversity of Chicago2018

Depressed Mood Improvement Through Nicotine Dosing (Depressed MIND Study)

CompletedPH IVVanderbilt University Medical Centern=152017

Recent completions

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

IV Pulsed-Nicotine as a Model of Smoking: The Effects of Dose and Delivery Rate

CompletedPH IYale Universityn=202025

Pharmacokinetics, Subjective Effects, and Abuse Liability of Nicotine Salt-Based Vaping Products With Tobacco or Unflavored E-liquids[SALTVAPE Study]

CompletedN/ARoswell Park Cancer Instituten=152024

The Acute Effects of Moderate Intensity Exercise and Nicotine on Cognition in Smokers

CompletedPH IIIWestern University, Canadan=342024

Effects of Commonly Used Medications on Mood and Choice

CompletedPH IJohns Hopkins Universityn=252024

Behavioral Pharmacology of Cannabis and Nicotine

CompletedPH IJohns Hopkins Universityn=262023

Effects of Menthol in E-cigarettes on Smoking Behaviors

CompletedPH IYale Universityn=142023

Research activity

7 papers

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

Publications over time

20012024

Most influential

The brain metabolite kynurenic acid inhibits alpha7 nicotinic receptor activity and increases non-alpha7 nicotinic receptor expression: physiopathological implications.

The Journal of neuroscience : the official journal of the Society for Neuroscience · 2001 · 691 cites

Nicotine replacement therapy for smoking cessation.

The Cochrane database of systematic reviews · 2012 · 476 cites

Effects of transdermal nicotine on symptoms, moods, and cardiovascular activity in the everyday lives of smokers and nonsmokers with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder.

Psychology of addictive behaviors : journal of the Society of Psychologists in Addictive Behaviors · 2009 · 37 cites

A Pilot Randomized Trial of Transdermal Nicotine for Pulmonary Sarcoidosis.

Chest · 2021 · 25 cites

Electronic cigarettes and cardiovascular disease: epidemiological and biological links.

Pflugers Archiv : European journal of physiology · 2024 · 16 cites

Drug and alcohol dependence · 2013 · 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).

Choline

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

1 shared disease1 shared paper

Glycine

Frequently co-studied with Nicotine in the research literature.

1 shared paper

Kynurenic Acid

Frequently co-studied with Nicotine 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