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Drug

Polyethylene Glycols

In clinical development
Emerging researchLate-stage developmentRising momentum
Also known as Hypotears, Macrogol, PEG, PEG - Polyethylene glycol+5 more

Hypotears, Macrogol, PEG, PEG - Polyethylene glycol, POLYETHYLENE GLYCOL, UNSPECIFIED, POLYOXYETHYLENE, Polyethylene Oxide, POLYETHYLENE GLYCOL, polythylene glycol.

RxNorm8516ChEMBLCHEMBL1201478ATCA06AD15ATCA06AD65UNII3WJQ0SDW1A
3
Research papers
5
Active clinical trials
Latest activity
beta

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

Polyethylene glycol-enhanced removal of 2,4-dichlorophenol and 4-chlorophenol by peroxidase from shepherd’s purse (Capsella bursa-pastoris)

Industry2026-07-26Nature — Environmental Sciences

Effects of Simethicone on Colon Preparation in Water Exchange Colonoscopies: a Randomized Controlled Study

Clinical trial2026-06-29Results expected Q2 2028 · ClinicalTrials.gov

Nerve Repair Using Hydrophilic Polymers to Promote Immediate Fusion of Severed Axons and Swift Return of Function

Clinical trial2026-05-21Completed · ClinicalTrials.gov

Pilot Trial of an Implantable Microdevice for In Vivo Drug Sensitivity Testing in Patients With Sarcomas

Clinical trial2026-02-19Results expected Q4 2028 · ClinicalTrials.gov

Efficacy and Safety of Oral Lactulose Combined With Polyethylene Glycol Electrolytes Powder (PEG-ELS) for Bowel Preparation in Type II Diabetes Mellitus Patients: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Clinical trial2026-01-25Primary completion · ClinicalTrials.gov

Efficacy and Safety of Lubiprostone in the Treatment of Slow Transit Constipation: A Multicenter, Randomized Controlled Trial

Clinical trial2026-01-20Results expected Q4 2027 · ClinicalTrials.gov

Clinical Study on the Application of Lactulose Combined with Linaclotide in Bowel Preparation for Colonoscopy

Clinical trial2025-10-01Primary completion · ClinicalTrials.gov

Comparative Study on the Efficacy of Disposable Gastrointestinal Vibrating Capsule (Vibrabot Capsule) and Polyethylene Glycol for Chronic Functional Constipation

Clinical trial2025-06-14Primary completion · ClinicalTrials.gov

Hydrogel loaded with cerium-manganese nanoparticles and nerve growth factor enhances spinal cord injury repair by modulating immune microenvironment and promoting neuronal regeneration.

Research2025-01-20Journal of nanobiotechnology

Effect of MiniGo As Add-on to Oral Laxatives for Children with Constipation and Fecal Incontinence

Clinical trial2024-08-20Completed · ClinicalTrials.gov

Lipid nanoparticles with PEG-variant surface modifications mediate genome editing in the mouse retina.

Research2023-10-13Nature communications

A review of current advancements for wound healing: Biomaterial applications and medical devices.

Research2022-05-17Journal of biomedical materials research. Part B, Applied biomaterials

Profile

Identifiers & mechanism

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

Canonical name
Polyethylene Glycols
Aliases & brands
HypotearsMacrogolPEGPEG - Polyethylene glycolPOLYETHYLENE GLYCOL, UNSPECIFIEDPOLYOXYETHYLENEPolyethylene OxidePOLYETHYLENE GLYCOLpolythylene glycol
RxNorm CUI
8516
ChEMBL ID
CHEMBL1201478
ATC codes
A06AD15A06AD65
UNII
3WJQ0SDW1A

Clinical trials

82 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
82
registered trials across all phases
LATEST COMPLETION 2026
5
Active studies
5
Recruiting
69
Late-stage (III+)
53
Completed
24
Discontinued
PHASE DISTRIBUTIONn = 82
Early Phase 11Phase 12Phase 1 / 23Phase 27Phase 2 / 33Phase 313Phase 427Phase N / A26

Late-stage studies

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

Clinical Study on the Application of Lactulose Combined with Linaclotide in Bowel Preparation for Colonoscopy

Enrolling by invitationPH IVHaifeng Lann=4442025

HELP Trial: Efficacy of L-Ornithine L-Aspartate and Polyethylene Glycol in Cirrhotic Patients With Overt Hepatic Encephalopathy

Unknown statusPH IVJinnah Postgraduate Medical Centren=3602024

Effect of Polyethylene Glycol Versus Lactulose on Hepatic Encephalopathy in Patients With Liver Cirrhosis; a Randomized Clinical Trial (PEGHE Trial)

Unknown statusPH IVAga Khan Universityn=1022023

Comparison of Colon Preparation With 2-Litre Polyethylene Glycol (PEG) Split-dose in Combination With Lubiprostone Versus 4-Litre Polyethylene Glycol (PEG) Split-dose: a Randomized Controlled Trial

CompletedPH IVDepartment of Medical Services Ministry of Public Health of Thailandn=1402021

Randomized Controlled Trail of Polyethylene Glycol vs Sodium Phosphate for Colonic Cleansing of Colonoscopy

CompletedPH IVDong Yangn=5862020

Recent completions

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

Nerve Repair Using Hydrophilic Polymers to Promote Immediate Fusion of Severed Axons and Swift Return of Function

CompletedPH IVanderbilt University Medical Centern=452026

Effect of MiniGo As Add-on to Oral Laxatives for Children with Constipation and Fecal Incontinence

CompletedN/AUniversity of Aarhusn=502024

Physical Therapy for Functional Constipation in Children

CompletedN/ADelta University for Science and Technologyn=4002023

Optimization of the Bowel Preparation Regimen for Colon Capsule Endoscopy Procedure

CompletedPH IIIRegion Skanen=1472023

Efficacy of Polyethylene Glycol vs Lactulose With Isabgol in Acute Fissure-in-Ano: A Randomized Control Trial (PEGASIS Trial)

CompletedPH II/IIIAll India Institute of Medical Sciences, Bhubaneswarn=1442023

1L Oral Lactulose is an Effective Regimen for Bowel Preparation in Low-risk Patients

CompletedN/AZhang Xiaofeng,MDn=2552022

Research activity

3 papers

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

Publications over time
20222025
Major research themes8
Cerium1Chitosan1Fibroins1Hydrogels1Metal Nanoparticles1Nanoparticles1Nerve Growth Factor1Nerve Regeneration1
Journals, researchers & institutions
Top journals
  • Journal of biomedical materials research. Part B, Applied biomaterials1
  • Journal of nanobiotechnology1
  • Nature communications1
Leading researchers
  • Ali MA1
  • Arrizabalaga S1
  • Chen Z1
  • Curtis A1
  • Deng X1
  • Gautam M1
  • Gong Z1
  • Gould M1
Leading institutions
free-text, unnormalised
  • Artemisinin Research Center1
  • Casey Eye Institute1
  • Centre for Bioengineering & Nanomedicine (Dunedin)1
  • College of Pharmacy1
  • Huashan Hospital1
  • Oregon Health & Science University1

Related drugs

6 matches

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

Cerium

Studied across the same disease area as Polyethylene Glycols in the shared literature.

1 shared disease1 shared paper
Chitosan

Frequently co-studied with Polyethylene Glycols in the research literature.

1 shared paper
Hyaluronic Acid

Frequently co-studied with Polyethylene Glycols in the research literature.

1 shared paper
Liposomes

Frequently co-studied with Polyethylene Glycols in the research literature.

1 shared paper
Polyvinyl Alcohol

Frequently co-studied with Polyethylene Glycols in the research literature.

1 shared paper
Silver

Frequently co-studied with Polyethylene Glycols 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