Protein / target

Prostaglandin G/H synthase 2

PTGS2P35354Homo sapiensSwiss-Prot
Clinically validated
Therapeutic maturity
68
Approved medicines
30
Clinical trials
Small-molecule tractable
Druggability
Approved Drug

Protein at a glance

Biological role

Prostaglandin-endoperoxide synthase activity

Primary system

Cardiovascular system

Strongest disease association

rheumatoid arthritis

Clinical evidence · score 0.63

Therapeutic maturity

Clinically validated target

68 approved medicines against this target

Druggability

Small molecule

Open Targets tractability · Approved Drug

Clinical development

68 approved · 6 in clinical development

30 linked trials

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

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.

Immune signallingUniProt · GO · ReactomeMetabolic enzyme activityGOHaemostasisGO
View supporting evidence

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

Metabolic enzyme activity

  • ·oxidoreductase activity, acting on single donors with incorporation of molecular oxygen
  • ·oxidoreductase activity, acting on single donors with incorporation of molecular oxygen,…

Haemostasis

  • ·positive regulation of platelet-derived growth factor production
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.

Drugs targeting this protein

1

Whether each drug engages this protein directly or through a complex, and how many other targets are recorded for it. Direct binders with few recorded targets are listed first.

Aspirin
ApprovedInhibitor

Cyclooxygenase inhibitor

Appears in clinical studies involving Headache, arthritic joint disease, Muscle spasm, Pain

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

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

Translational evidence

Open Targets 26

Why this target matters therapeutically — disease associations, drugs in development, tractability and safety, from Open Targets.

Highest-confidence therapeutic associations

Diseases where a drug acting on this target has already reached clinical development.

osteoarthritis1.00

Clinical · overall 0.62

Pain1.00

Clinical · overall 0.61

rheumatoid arthritis1.00

Clinical · overall 0.63

Dysmenorrhea1.00

Clinical · overall 0.61

gout1.00

Clinical · overall 0.63

Highest overall evidence

Remaining associations by Open Targets' aggregated evidence score.

migraine disorder0.63

Clinical

Headache0.62

Clinical

ulcerative colitis0.61

Clinical

Patent ductus arteriosus0.61

Clinical

Fever0.61

Clinical

Show all associations
rheumatoid arthritis0.63
gout0.63
migraine disorder0.63
osteoarthritis0.62
Headache0.62
ulcerative colitis0.61
Dysmenorrhea0.61
Patent ductus arteriosus0.61
Pain0.61
Fever0.61

Open Targets ranks 2,957 associations for this target and we store the top 10 by aggregated score. The long tail is largely literature co-mention and RNA-expression evidence, not evidence that this target drives those diseases.

Known drugs · 79 total

FENCLOFENACUnknown
MELOXICAMApproval

osteoarthritis · rheumatoid arthritis · juvenile idiopathic arthritis

DEXKETOPROFENApproval

rheumatic disorder · Myalgia · Arthralgia

SUPROFENApproval

Miosis · rheumatic disorder

DICLOFENACApproval

Dysmenorrhea · osteoarthritis · rheumatoid arthritis

DICLOFENAC EPOLAMINEApproval

sprain · Pain

NABUMETONEApproval

osteoarthritis · rheumatoid arthritis · Pain

PHENYLBUTAZONEApproval

Chronic pain · rheumatic disorder · Myalgia

ACETAMINOPHENApproval

Pain · toothache · Headache

LORNOXICAMApproval

migraine disorder · rheumatic disorder · malignant epithelial tumor of ovary

Tractability

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

Safety liabilities

Decrease, Population growth ratedecreased mitosisanti-inflammatory activitydecreased painatherothrombosisinhibits some mitogenic actionshypotensionantiinflammatoryischemic strokedecreased urinary sodium excretionclottingheart failure

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.

Show remaining trials (24)

COMPLETED · via Aspirin · NCT02906761

ACTIVE_NOT_RECRUITING · via Aspirin · NCT02394769

RECRUITING · via Aspirin · NCT06518317

COMPLETED · via Aspirin · NCT00568152

RECRUITING · via Aspirin · NCT04381936

ClinicalTrials.gov via the drug-target graph.

Related literature

3

Papers indexed under “Cyclooxygenase 2” — a subject heading that covers this protein without being specific to it. Shown as context; not counted as this protein's own research activity.

Europe PMC literature, reached through a MeSH descriptor linked to this protein.

Forefront confidence

Synthesis

Our own weighting of the evidence behind each disease association. Human genetics and clinical evidence count for most; literature co-mention counts for little, because two entities sharing an abstract is not evidence that one drives the other.

rheumatoid arthritisWell 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 disorderWell 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

HeadacheWell supported
0.76
agreement 0.610.92
Clinical92%Literature8%

Open Targets aggregate 0.62 · 2 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 underlying per-type scores are shown above so the calculation can be checked.

What's happening now

45

Recent activity around this target, drawn from one canonical event stream. Every item is reached through a drug that targets this protein, so each event is news about that drug rather than about the protein directly.

  1. Supplemental approval2026-06-18

    Supplemental approval: BUTALBITAL, ASPIRIN, CAFFEINE AND CODEINE PHOSPHATE (ANDA074951)

    fda · regulatory · fda · via Aspirin

  2. Supplemental approval2026-06-18

    Supplemental approval: OXYCODONE AND ASPIRIN (ANDA040910)

    fda · regulatory · fda · via Aspirin

  3. Supplemental approval2026-06-18

    Supplemental approval: BUTALBITAL, ASPIRIN, CAFEINE, AND CODEINE PHOSPHATE (ANDA075231)

    fda · regulatory · fda · via Aspirin

  4. Label change2025-12-22

    Label change: BUTALBITAL, ASPIRIN, CAFFEINE AND CODEINE PHOSPHATE (ANDA074951)

    fda · regulatory · fda · via Aspirin

  5. Label change2025-12-22

    Label change: BUTALBITAL, ASPIRIN, CAFEINE, AND CODEINE PHOSPHATE (ANDA075231)

    fda · regulatory · fda · via Aspirin

  6. Label change2025-05-09

    Label change: BUTALBITAL, ASPIRIN, CAFEINE, AND CODEINE PHOSPHATE (ANDA075231)

    fda · regulatory · fda · via Aspirin

  7. Label change2025-03-07

    Label change: OXYCODONE AND ASPIRIN (ANDA040910)

    fda · regulatory · fda · via Aspirin

  8. Label change2024-11-21

    Label change: BUTALBITAL, ASPIRIN, CAFFEINE AND CODEINE PHOSPHATE (ANDA074951)

    fda · regulatory · fda · via Aspirin

  9. Label change2024-11-21

    Label change: OXYCODONE AND ASPIRIN (ANDA040910)

    fda · regulatory · fda · via Aspirin

  10. Supplemental approval2024-10-31

    Supplemental approval: BUTALBITAL, ASPIRIN, CAFFEINE AND CODEINE PHOSPHATE (ANDA074951)

    fda · regulatory · fda · via Aspirin

  11. Supplemental approval2024-10-31

    Supplemental approval: OXYCODONE AND ASPIRIN (ANDA040910)

    fda · regulatory · fda · via Aspirin

  12. Supplemental approval2024-10-31

    Supplemental approval: BUTALBITAL, ASPIRIN, CAFEINE, AND CODEINE PHOSPHATE (ANDA075231)

    fda · regulatory · fda · 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.