Apafant (WEB-2086, LSM-2613) is a drug which acts as a potent and selective inhibitor of the phospholipid mediator platelet-activating factor (PAF). It was developed by structural modification of the thienotriazolodiazepinesedative drug brotizolam and demonstrated that PAF inhibitory actions could be separated from activity at the benzodiazepine receptor. Apafant was investigated for several applications involving inflammatory responses such as asthma and conjunctivitis but was never adopted for medical use, however it continues to be used in pharmacology research.[1][2][3][4]
References
^Casals-Stenzel J (December 1991). "Thieno-triazolo-1,4-diazepines as antagonists of platelet-activating factor: present status". Lipids. 26 (12): 1157–1161. doi:10.1007/BF02536522. PMID1668111. S2CID4053407.
^Brecht HM, Adamus WS, Heuer HO, Birke FW, Kempe ER (January 1991). "Pharmacodynamics, pharmacokinetics and safety profile of the new platelet-activating factor antagonist apafant in man". Arzneimittel-Forschung. 41 (1): 51–59. PMID1646613.
^Ikegami K, Hata H, Fuchigami J, Tanaka K, Kohjimoto Y, Uchida S, Tasaka K (June 1997). "Apafant (a PAF receptor antagonist) suppresses the early and late airway responses in guinea pigs: a comparison with antiasthmatic drugs". European Journal of Pharmacology. 328 (1): 75–81. doi:10.1016/s0014-2999(97)83031-2. PMID9203572.