beta 2-adrenoceptor Agonists
5 drugsAbout beta 2-adrenoceptor
The beta 2-adrenoceptor (ADRB2) is a GPCR that mediates adrenaline and noradrenaline effects in the sympathetic nervous system, triggering smooth muscle relaxation.
ADRB2 is a validated drug target with strong genetic support (max score 0.90) linking it to skeletal system abnormalities. This genetic evidence, combined with clinical success, strengthens the rationale for targeting ADRB2.
Five FDA-approved drugs, including BREYNA, SYMBICORT, and SEREVENT, target ADRB2, all of which are small molecules. These drugs are used exclusively in respiratory therapeutic areas.
Strategic Insights
ℹ️ How we calculate- White space opportunity in Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia (BPD) with only 2 trials.
beta 2-adrenoceptor Genetic Evidence Strong
ADRB2 has strong genetic support linking it to skeletal system abnormalities (score 0.90).
Strong genetic support suggests a higher likelihood of clinical trial success for ADRB2-targeting drugs.
Evidence Across Diseases
1 totalGWAS and other genetic studies link ADRB2 to 1 diseases.
🔗 Colocalization Evidence 20 strong
max H4: 1.00eQTL/pQTL signals for ADRB2 colocalize with these GWAS traits, providing causal evidence that gene expression changes drive disease risk.
Understanding these scores
Association Score (0-1): Combines all evidence types (genetic, literature, drugs, animal models). Higher = more evidence linking target to disease. This is a ranking heuristic, not a confidence score.
L2G Score: Open Targets uses a machine learning model (Locus-to-Gene) to predict which gene is causal at each GWAS locus. L2G=0.5 means ~50% probability of being the causal gene. Only associations with L2G > 0.05 are included.
Odds Ratio (OR): From gene burden studies (UK Biobank, AstraZeneca PheWAS). Measures how loss-of-function variants affect disease risk. OR<1 = protective (inhibiting target may help), OR>1 = risk (losing function causes disease).
Beta (β): Effect size for continuous traits. β<0 = protective, β>0 = risk.
Clinical Translation (~1.8x): Based on Nelson et al. 2015: drug targets with genetic evidence have ~2x higher success rates in clinical trials. We estimate: Strong support (score ≥0.7) → ~1.8x, Moderate (0.3-0.7) → ~1.3x, Weak → baseline.
Colocalization (H4): Tests whether a GWAS signal and an eQTL/pQTL signal share the same causal variant. H4 is the posterior probability that both traits are associated AND share a causal variant. H4 > 0.8 = strong evidence that gene expression/protein levels drive disease risk. This links genetic variation → gene expression → disease, supporting the target-disease connection.
Top beta 2-adrenoceptor Drugs
Four companies, including Viatris and Boehringer Ingelheim, have approved ADRB2-targeting drugs.
The presence of established players may present entry barriers for new companies.
| Drug | Company | Approved | Indications |
|---|---|---|---|
| STIOLTO RESPIMAT | Boehringer Ingelheim | 2015 | 3 |
| SPIRIVA | Boehringer Ingelheim | 2004 | 3 |
beta 2-adrenoceptor Drug Modality Landscape
Modalities
Routes of Administration
beta 2-adrenoceptor is druggable by small molecules, though no oral formulations are currently approved.
Exploring alternative modalities like antibodies or peptides could provide a competitive advantage.
beta 2-adrenoceptor Clinical Trials 434 trials
Completion by Phase
| Phase | Total | Completed | Failed | Active | Completion |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Phase 1 | 72 | 62 | 4 | 6 | 94% |
| Phase 2 | 95 | 68 | 16 | 10 | 81% |
| Phase 3 | 140 | 114 | 14 | 11 | 89% |
| Phase 4 | 127 | 95 | 15 | 17 | 86% |
Top Sponsors
By Modality
Top Conditions
Top Drugs
Phase 3 Readout Calendar Pro
2 Phase 3 trials testing approved beta 2-adrenoceptor drugs across all sponsors.
Coverage: trials whose intervention is an approved drug targeting beta 2-adrenoceptor. Pre-approval candidates with development codes (e.g. AZD0901, MK-7240) are not yet linked. Anchored on CT.gov primary completion date.
beta 2-adrenoceptor Drug Approval Timeline (1994 - 2022)
The first ADRB2-targeting drug was approved in 1994, with the most recent in 2022.
The continued approval of new drugs suggests ongoing innovation and market potential.
Pro Intelligence Preview
Deep insights for drug target analysis
Competitive Landscape
- • 4 companies competing
- • Market share by company
Full Drug Portfolio
- • All 5 approved drugs
- • Approval dates & indications
Genetic Validation
- • Full genetic evidence table
- • Effect sizes & directions
Approval Timeline
- • Full 5-drug timeline
- • First-of-modality markers
Clinical Trials Analysis
- • Competition: High (15 sponsors)
- • White space: 10 underexplored indications
- • Success rates by condition
Full summary • All drugs • Genetic evidence • Trials • Timeline
How We Calculate These Metrics
Target Attractiveness Score
A 0-100 score based on trial activity, sponsor diversity, and completion rates. Calculated from 275 clinical trials targeting beta 2-adrenoceptor.
Completion rate: Percentage of trials that reached their planned endpoint. Trials terminated early, withdrawn, or suspended are not counted—these often indicate safety issues, lack of efficacy, or strategic pivots.
- Highly Attractive (80+): High trial activity, many sponsors, strong completion rates
- Attractive (60-79): Good trial activity and validation
- Moderate (40-59): Moderate interest from sponsors
- Low (under 40): Limited trial activity or validation concerns
Strategic Insights
Auto-generated insights based on trial analytics including competition intensity, white space opportunities, modality shifts, and failure patterns. We analyze trial sponsors, phases, indications, and outcomes.
Risk Signals
- High Competition: Many sponsors competing for this target (may reduce market opportunity)
- High Failure Risk: Low trial completion rates suggest development challenges
- Low Validation: Limited trial activity or poor outcomes indicate uncertain viability
- White Space Available: Underexplored indications present opportunities