heat-stable carbetocin

Heat-stable carbetocin is a long-acting synthetic analogue of oxytocin formulated to be thermostable for at least three years at up to 30°C and high humidity, eliminating the need for cold-chain storage and transport in contrast to conventional oxytocin and standard carbetocin formulations. It acts on uterine oxytocin receptors to induce sustained uterine contractions and is used as a uterotonic for the prevention of postpartum haemorrhage (PPH) after vaginal and caesarean births, with large randomized trials (e.g., CHAMPION) showing non-inferior efficacy and comparable safety to oxytocin for primary PPH prevention outcomes. Developed by Ferring Pharmaceuticals specifically to address PPH prevention needs in low- and middle-income countries, heat-stable carbetocin has been added to the WHO Model List of Essential Medicines and is recommended in WHO guidelines as a first-line or alternative uterotonic where oxytocin quality or cold-chain cannot be assured and where cost is comparable to other effective agents.[1][2][3][4][6]

Other names

HSCroom temperature stable carbetocinlong-acting oxytocin analogueheat-stable formulation of carbetocin