atosiban

Atosiban is a synthetic peptide and competitive antagonist of the oxytocin and vasopressin receptors. It is used intravenously to delay imminent preterm birth in pregnant adult women between 24 and 33 weeks of gestation who show signs of premature labor. Atosiban works by binding to oxytocin receptors on the myometrium (uterine muscle), inhibiting oxytocin-stimulated increases in inositol triphosphate production, which prevents calcium release from the sarcoplasmic reticulum and subsequent uterine contractions. This results in reduced frequency and intensity of uterine contractions, inducing uterine quiescence. Atosiban also binds to vasopressin receptors but does not exhibit significant cardiovascular effects at therapeutic doses. The drug was developed by Ferring Pharmaceuticals[2][4][1].

Brand names

TractocileAtosiban SUN

Other names

atosiban acetatedesamino-oxytocin analogue