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Protein / target

Prostaglandin G/H synthase 2

Encoded byPTGS2P35354Homo sapiensSwiss-Prot
Clinically validated
Therapeutic maturity
68
Approved medicines
Open Targets target-level
View by indication →
30
Clinical trials
Small-molecule tractable
Druggability
Approved Drug

Protein at a glance

Biological role

Prostaglandin-endoperoxide synthase

Strongest disease association

Arthritis, Rheumatoid

Via encoding gene PTGS2 · Clinical evidence · score 0.63

Therapeutic position

Established drug target

Small molecules

Research activity

Emerging research

3 papers · latest 2023

Derived from structured UniProt, Open Targets and literature data on this page.

Protein profile

UniProt 2026_02

Canonical identity and biological annotation from UniProt.

Function overview

Dual cyclooxygenase and peroxidase in the biosynthesis pathway of prostanoids, a class of C20 oxylipins mainly derived from arachidonate ((5Z,8Z,11Z,14Z)-eicosatetraenoate, AA, C20:4(n-6)), with a particular role in the inflammatory response.

View complete UniProt function annotation

Dual cyclooxygenase and peroxidase in the biosynthesis pathway of prostanoids, a class of C20 oxylipins mainly derived from arachidonate ((5Z,8Z,11Z,14Z)-eicosatetraenoate, AA, C20:4(n-6)), with a particular role in the inflammatory response (PubMed:11939906, PubMed:16373578, PubMed:19540099, PubMed:22942274, PubMed:26859324, PubMed:27226593, PubMed:7592599, PubMed:7947975, PubMed:9261177). The cyclooxygenase activity oxygenates AA to the hydroperoxy endoperoxide prostaglandin G2 (PGG2), and the peroxidase activity reduces PGG2 to the hydroxy endoperoxide prostaglandin H2 (PGH2), the precursor of all 2-series prostaglandins and thromboxanes (PubMed:16373578, PubMed:22942274, PubMed:26859324, PubMed:27226593, PubMed:7592599, PubMed:7947975, PubMed:9261177). This complex transformation is initiated by abstraction of hydrogen at carbon 13 (with S-stereochemistry), followed by insertion of molecular O2 to form the endoperoxide bridge between carbon 9 and 11 that defines prostaglandins. The insertion of a second molecule of O2 (bis-oxygenase activity) yields a hydroperoxy group in PGG2 that is then reduced to PGH2 by two electrons (PubMed:16373578, PubMed:22942274, PubMed:26859324, PubMed:27226593, PubMed:7592599, PubMed:7947975, PubMed:9261177). Similarly catalyzes successive cyclooxygenation and peroxidation of dihomo-gamma-linoleate (DGLA, C20:3(n-6)) and eicosapentaenoate (EPA, C20:5(n-3)) to corresponding PGH1 and PGH3, the precursors of 1- and 3-series prostaglandins (PubMed:11939906, PubMed:19540099). In an alternative pathway of prostanoid biosynthesis, converts 2-arachidonoyl lysophopholipids to prostanoid lysophopholipids, which are then hydrolyzed by intracellular phospholipases to release free prostanoids (PubMed:27642067). Metabolizes 2-arachidonoyl glycerol yielding the glyceryl ester of PGH2, a process that can contribute to pain response (PubMed:22942274). Generates lipid mediators from n-3 and n-6 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) via a lipoxygenase-type mechanism. Oxygenates PUFAs to hydroperoxy compounds and then reduces them to corresponding alcohols (PubMed:11034610, PubMed:11192938, PubMed:9048568, PubMed:9261177). Plays a role in the generation of resolution phase interaction products (resolvins) during both sterile and infectious inflammation (PubMed:12391014). Metabolizes docosahexaenoate (DHA, C22:6(n-3)) to 17R-HDHA, a precursor of the D-series resolvins (RvDs) (PubMed:12391014). As a component of the biosynthetic pathway of E-series resolvins (RvEs), converts eicosapentaenoate (EPA, C20:5(n-3)) primarily to 18S-HEPE that is further metabolized by ALOX5 and LTA4H to generate 18S-RvE1 and 18S-RvE2 (PubMed:21206090). In vascular endothelial cells, converts docosapentaenoate (DPA, C22:5(n-3)) to 13R-HDPA, a precursor for 13-series resolvins (RvTs) shown to activate macrophage phagocytosis during bacterial infection (PubMed:26236990). In activated leukocytes, contributes to oxygenation of hydroxyeicosatetraenoates (HETE) to diHETES (5,15-diHETE and 5,11-diHETE) (PubMed:22068350, PubMed:26282205). Can also use linoleate (LA, (9Z,12Z)-octadecadienoate, C18:2(n-6)) as substrate and produce hydroxyoctadecadienoates (HODEs) in a regio- and stereospecific manner, being (9R)-HODE ((9R)-hydroxy-(10E,12Z)-octadecadienoate) and (13S)-HODE ((13S)-hydroxy-(9Z,11E)-octadecadienoate) its major products (By similarity). During neuroinflammation, plays a role in neuronal secretion of specialized preresolving mediators (SPMs) 15R-lipoxin A4 that regulates phagocytic microglia (By similarity)

Subcellular location

Microsome membraneEndoplasmic reticulum membraneNucleus inner membraneNucleus outer membrane
Domains and Gene Ontology detail (37)

Domains & features

EGF-like

Gene Ontology

  • Ccytoplasm
  • Cendoplasmic reticulum
  • Cendoplasmic reticulum lumen
  • Cendoplasmic reticulum membrane
  • Cneuron projection
  • Cnuclear inner membrane
  • Cnuclear outer membrane
  • Fenzyme binding
  • Fheme binding
  • Fmetal ion binding
  • Foxidoreductase activity, acting on single donors with incorporation of molecular oxygen
  • Foxidoreductase activity, acting on single donors with incorporation of molecular oxygen, incorporation of two atoms of oxygen

604 aa · 69 kDa

Biological roles

Reactome v97

What this protein does, drawn together from its UniProt function, Gene Ontology terms and Reactome pathways.

Lipid & lipoprotein metabolismUniProt · GOGrowth-factor signallingGOCell migrationGOImmune signallingUniProt · GO · Reactome
View supporting evidence

Lipid & lipoprotein metabolism

  • ·Dual cyclooxygenase and peroxidase in the biosynthesis pathway of prostanoids, a class o…
  • ·long-chain fatty acid biosynthetic process

Growth-factor signalling

  • ·positive regulation of fibroblast growth factor production

Cell migration

  • ·positive regulation of cell migration involved in sprouting angiogenesis

Immune signalling

  • ·Dual cyclooxygenase and peroxidase in the biosynthesis pathway of prostanoids, a class o…
  • ·brown fat cell differentiation
  • ·positive regulation of brown fat cell differentiation
  • ·regulation of inflammatory response
View underlying pathways (8)

Concepts derived from UniProt GO Reactome — each badge above shows which sources supported that role.

Interaction neighbourhood

STRING v12.0

Proteins with the strongest functional or physical association. Node size and line weight reflect STRING confidence; hover or select a partner to inspect one association.

PTGISPTGESCXCL8IL1BTP53ALOX5PTGES2ALOX15PLA2G4AIL6PTGS2

10 strongest partners — larger node and heavier line mean higher confidence

Functional and physical associations from STRING v12.0. Only associations with this protein are drawn — partner-to-partner links are not part of this evidence.

Approved medicines with mapped indications

12 medicines · 29 areas

Approved therapies targeting this protein, grouped by what they are approved to treat — the disease-first view of the medicines below. Relationships come from the canonical approved-indication graph (ChEMBL phase-4), the same source as the drug cards.

Migraine Disorders4 medicines
Arthritis3 medicines
Back Pain3 medicines
Common Cold3 medicines
Eye Diseases3 medicines
Arthritis, Juvenile2 medicines
Colitis, Ulcerative2 medicines
Influenza, Human2 medicines
Arthritis, Gouty1 medicine
Cataract1 medicine
Coronary Artery Disease1 medicine
Diarrhea1 medicine
Inflammation1 medicine
Keratosis, Actinic1 medicine
Myocardial Infarction1 medicine
Nausea1 medicine
Proctitis1 medicine
Spasm1 medicine
Spondylitis, Ankylosing1 medicine
Stroke1 medicine
Thrombosis1 medicine
Broader indication categories (1)
Cardiovascular Diseases2 medicines

Broad umbrella indications (e.g. “Neoplasms”). Shown here because every medicine also appears under a more specific disease above — kept for completeness, de-emphasised for clarity.

68 medicines meet Open Targets' target-level approved-medicine definition; the 12 shown here are those on this page with a canonical approved disease indication in the graph. Approved indications from ChEMBL (phase-4), via the canonical drug→disease graph.

Drugs targeting this protein

12

How approved and investigational drugs engage this protein — mechanism and action type, direct vs complex targeting, and how broadly each acts across other targets. A drug-first view (the section above groups the approved ones disease-first); direct binders with few recorded targets are listed first.

aceclofenac
Narrow target profileApprovedInhibitor

Cyclooxygenase-2 inhibitor

Indicated for Arthritis, Rheumatoid, Osteoarthritis, Rheumatic Diseases

Direct interaction with this protein · Only this protein recorded as a target

etoricoxib
Narrow target profileApprovedInhibitor

Cyclooxygenase-2 inhibitor

Indicated for Rheumatic Diseases

Direct interaction with this protein · Only this protein recorded as a target

Aspirin
ApprovedInhibitor

Cyclooxygenase inhibitor

Indicated for Arthritis, Back Pain, Common Cold, Coronary Artery Disease

Acts on a complex — shared with PTGS1 · 1 of 2 recorded protein targets — narrow recorded profile

diclofenac
ApprovedInhibitor

Cyclooxygenase inhibitor

Indicated for Acute Pain, Arthritis, Rheumatoid, Cataract, Eye Diseases

Acts on a complex — shared with PTGS1 · 1 of 2 recorded protein targets — narrow recorded profile

indomethacin
ApprovedInhibitor

Cyclooxygenase inhibitor

Indicated for Acute Pain, Arthritis, Gouty, Arthritis, Rheumatoid, Eye Diseases

Acts on a complex — shared with PTGS1 · 1 of 2 recorded protein targets — narrow recorded profile

ibuprofen
ApprovedInhibitor

Cyclooxygenase inhibitor

Indicated for Acute Pain, Arthritis, Arthritis, Juvenile, Arthritis, Rheumatoid

Acts on a complex — shared with PTGS1 · 1 of 2 recorded protein targets — narrow recorded profile

View all 12 targeting drugs
mesalamine
ApprovedInhibitor

Cyclooxygenase inhibitor

Indicated for Colitis, Ulcerative, Proctitis

Acts on a complex — shared with PTGS1 · 1 of 4 recorded protein targets

acetaminophen
ApprovedInhibitor

Cyclooxygenase inhibitor

Indicated for Acute Pain, Arthritis, Back Pain, Common Cold

Acts on a complex — shared with PTGS1 · 1 of 4 recorded protein targets

piroxicam
ApprovedInhibitor

Cyclooxygenase inhibitor

Indicated for Arthritis, Rheumatoid, Eye Diseases, Osteoarthritis, Rheumatic Diseases

Acts on a complex — shared with PTGS1 · 1 of 2 recorded protein targets — narrow recorded profile

diflunisal
ApprovedInhibitor

Cyclooxygenase inhibitor

Indicated for Arthritis, Rheumatoid, Fever, Osteoarthritis, Pain

Acts on a complex — shared with PTGS1 · 1 of 2 recorded protein targets — narrow recorded profile

sulfasalazine
ApprovedInhibitor

Cyclooxygenase inhibitor

Indicated for Arthritis, Juvenile, Arthritis, Rheumatoid, Colitis, Ulcerative

Acts on a complex — shared with PTGS1 · 1 of 3 recorded protein targets — narrow recorded profile

bismuth subsalicylate
ApprovedInhibitor

Cyclooxygenase inhibitor

Indicated for Diarrhea, Nausea

Acts on a complex — shared with PTGS1 · 1 of 2 recorded protein targets — narrow recorded profile

ChEMBL mechanism, action type, target identity and approved indications. Open Targets clinical status.

Translational evidence

Open Targets 26

Why this target matters therapeutically, strongest evidence first. Disease associations are gene-level (via the gene that encodes this protein) and open into the full confidence synthesis; the development universe, tractability and safety annotations are target-level, from Open Targets.

Strongest disease associations · via encoding gene PTGS2

Gene-level evidence surfaced through the gene PTGS2 that encodes this protein — not a direct protein–disease relationship. Ranked by Forefront's causal-directness weighting, so genetically- and clinically-evidenced diseases lead over ones that merely share the literature.

Arthritis, Rheumatoid
0.78Well supported

Clinical evidence dominant · Open Targets 0.63

Gout
0.78Well supported

Clinical evidence dominant · Open Targets 0.63

Migraine Disorders
0.78Well supported

Clinical evidence dominant · Open Targets 0.63

Osteoarthritis
0.77Well supported

Clinical evidence dominant · Open Targets 0.62

Colitis, Ulcerative
0.76Well supported

Clinical evidence dominant · Open Targets 0.61

View evidence synthesis (5)
Arthritis, RheumatoidWell supported
0.78
agreement 0.650.92
Clinical84%Literature15%RNA expression1%

Open Targets aggregate 0.63 · 3 independent evidence families

GoutWell supported
0.78
agreement 0.620.93
Clinical86%Literature14%

Open Targets aggregate 0.63 · 2 independent evidence families

Migraine DisordersWell supported
0.78
agreement 0.620.93
Clinical86%Literature14%

Open Targets aggregate 0.63 · 2 independent evidence families

OsteoarthritisWell supported
0.77
agreement 0.630.90
Clinical90%Literature9%RNA expression1%

Open Targets aggregate 0.62 · 3 independent evidence families

Colitis, UlcerativeWell supported
0.76
agreement 0.630.90
Clinical91%RNA expression5%Literature4%

Open Targets aggregate 0.61 · 3 independent evidence families

The evidence agreement range shows how closely the independent evidence families agree — it is not a statistical confidence interval, and nothing here is fitted to outcome data. Derived from Open Targets evidence types under Forefront weighting; the per-type scores above show the calculation.

Show all associations
Arthritis, Rheumatoid0.63
Gout0.63
Migraine Disorders0.63
Osteoarthritis0.62
Colitis, Ulcerative0.61

Drug development

79 compounds recorded · 68 approved · 6 in clinical development · 5 earlier-stage

Open Targets' development universe — every compound recorded against the target at any stage, not all approved medicines. Distinct from the 12 drugs that target this protein in Forefront's canonical graph (12 with a mapped approved indication, shown above): these count different sets and are not a subset relation.

View all recorded compounds (10)
FENCLOFENACUnknown
MELOXICAMApproval
DEXKETOPROFENApproval
SUPROFENApproval
DICLOFENACApproval
DICLOFENAC EPOLAMINEApproval
NABUMETONEApproval
PHENYLBUTAZONEApproval
ACETAMINOPHENApproval
LORNOXICAMApproval

Open Targets known-drugs universe. Drug name and highest clinical stage only — the disease relationship is NOT read from this slice (it carries trial-context noise); approved indications come from the canonical graph above.

Tractability

Small moleculesStrong

Approved Drug and Structure with Ligand support this modality.

AntibodiesEmerging

Feasibility evidence (uniprot loc med conf and uniprot sigp or tmhmm) — no clinical-stage drug of this modality recorded.

Protein degradersEmerging

Feasibility evidence (database ubiquitination and small molecule binder) — no clinical-stage drug of this modality recorded.

Other modalitiesStrong

Approved Drug support this modality.

View underlying tractability evidence (9)
SM · Approved DrugSM · Structure with LigandSM · High-Quality LigandSM · Druggable FamilyAB · UniProt loc med confAB · UniProt SigP or TMHMMPR · Database UbiquitinationPR · Small Molecule BinderOC · Approved Drug

Raw Open Targets tractability assessment buckets, by modality.

Safety-related annotations

Decrease, Population growth rateAOP-Wikidecreased mitosisLynch et al. (2017)anti-inflammatory activityBowes et al. (2012)decreased painLynch et al. (2017)atherothrombosisLynch et al. (2017)inhibits some mitogenic actionsUrban et al. (2012)hypotensionUrban et al. (2012)antiinflammatoryUrban et al. (2012)ischemic strokeLynch et al. (2017)decreased urinary sodium excretionLynch et al. (2017)clottingUrban et al. (2012)heart failureUrban et al. (2012)

Terms indexed against this target in Open Targets' safety data, with their datasource. These are annotations, not causal claims: the direction of effect (whether activation or inhibition is implicated), species and evidence strength are not captured here, so an entry does not mean that modulating this target is known to cause that condition.

Clinical trials

30

Trials of drugs that target this protein — reached indirectly through those drugs, so a trial listed here studies the drug, not the protein. Ranked by active status, then clinical phase and recency, and spread across the targeting drugs.

View all trials (26)

RECRUITING · via Aspirin · NCT04479072

RECRUITING · via Aspirin · NCT06518317

RECRUITING · via Aspirin · NCT04381936

ACTIVE_NOT_RECRUITING · via indomethacin · NCT00262470

NOT_YET_RECRUITING · via indomethacin · NCT07218653

RECRUITING · via Aspirin · NCT07525635

RECRUITING · via Aspirin · NCT04284397

ACTIVE_NOT_RECRUITING · via Aspirin · NCT02394769

ClinicalTrials.gov via the drug-target graph.

What's happening now

12

Recent therapeutic activity around this target — regulatory actions, clinical trials and safety signals for 5 drugs that target this protein, plus publications where such a drug is a genuine subject. Every item is reached indirectly through the drug, not the protein itself; incidental mentions (a paper that merely measures a drug) and press items are excluded.

  1. Supplemental approval2026-08-26

    Supplemental approval: IBUPROFEN (ANDA210149)

    fda · regulatory · fda · via ibuprofen

  2. Trial status changed2026-07-27

    The Role of Thomboxane A2 and it's Receptor in Vascular Regulation in Women With Endometriosis

    Status changed to Completed · ClinicalTrials.gov · via Aspirin

  3. Trial status changed2026-07-16

    Clopidogrel Plus Aspirin in Acute Ischemic Stroke Following Thrombectomy and/or Intravenous Thrombolysis (CoPrime): A Randomized Pilot Study

    Status changed to Completed · ClinicalTrials.gov · via Aspirin

  4. Supplemental approval2026-06-18

    Supplemental approval: ACETAMINOPHEN AND CODEINE (ANDA040779)

    fda · regulatory · fda · via acetaminophen

  5. Supplemental approval2026-06-18

    Supplemental approval: ACETAMINOPHEN AND CODEINE PHOSPHATE (ANDA040419)

    fda · regulatory · fda · via acetaminophen

  6. Supplemental approval2026-06-18

    Supplemental approval: ACETAMINOPHEN AND CODEINE PHOSPHATE (ANDA087508)

    fda · regulatory · fda · via acetaminophen

  7. Product recall2024-10-29

    Recall (Class III): IBUPROFEN

    fda · safety · fda · via ibuprofen

  8. New publication2024-03-01
    Cardiovascular/anti-inflammatory drugs repurposed for treating or preventing cancer: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized trials.

    Cancer medicine · 2024 · 20 citations · Europe PMC · via Aspirin

  9. Safety communication2015-01-22

    Drug Safety Update: Aceclofenac (Preservex): updated cardiovascular advice in line with diclofenac and COX-2 inhibitors

    mhra · safety · mhra · via aceclofenac

  10. Safety communication2014-12-11

    Drug Safety Update: Diclofenac: new contraindications and warnings

    mhra · safety · mhra · via diclofenac

  11. Safety communication2014-12-11

    Drug Safety Update: Diclofenac: public consultation on availability as a pharmacy medicine

    mhra · safety · mhra · via diclofenac

  12. New publication2004-10-01
    Diagnosis, treatment, and long-term management of Kawasaki disease: a statement for health professionals from the Committee on Rheumatic Fever, Endocarditis and Kawasaki Disease, Council on Cardiovascular Disease in the Young, American Heart Association.

    Circulation · 2004 · 1,251 citations · Europe PMC · via Aspirin

Objective event titles are shown unmodified; the event kind and significance line are derived from structured fields. Forefront AttentionEvent stream aggregating Europe PMC Regulatory filings ClinicalTrials.gov.

Research activity

3 papers · to 2023

Papers linked directly to this protein. This is the protein's own literature — descriptor-derived papers are kept separate below.

Most cited

Hussain SP · International journal of cancer · 2007

Smolarz B · International journal of molecular sciences · 2021

Recent

Europe PMC papers linked directly to this protein.