Ocinaplon has a similar pharmacological profile to the benzodiazepine family of drugs, but with mainly anxiolytic properties and relatively little sedative or amnestic effect.[1]
Medical uses
A 2019 review found tentative evidence of benefit in anxiety.[2]
Mechanism of action
The mechanism of action by which ocinaplon produces its anxiolytic effects is by modulating GABAA receptors,[3] although ocinaplon is more subtype-selective than most benzodiazepines.[4]
Availability
Development of ocinaplon is discontinued due to liver complications that occurred in one of the Phase III subjects.[5]
Synthesis
Condensation of 4-Acetylpyridine[8] with N,N-Dimethylformamide dimethyl acetal (DMFDMA) gives the "enamide" (3). This is then condensed with (3-Amino-1H-pyrazol-4-yl)(2-pyridinyl)methanone (4) (96219-90-8).[9][10] This is the same intermediate as was used in the synthesis of zaleplon in which the nitrile is replaced by a 2-acetylpyridil moiety. This affords the anxiolytic agent ocinaplon (5).
^Slee A, Nazareth I, Bondaronek P, Liu Y, Cheng Z, Freemantle N (February 2019). "Pharmacological treatments for generalised anxiety disorder: a systematic review and network meta-analysis". Lancet. 393 (10173): 768–777. doi:10.1016/S0140-6736(18)31793-8. PMID30712879. S2CID72332967.
^Mirza NR, Rodgers RJ, Mathiasen LS (March 2006). "Comparative cue generalization profiles of L-838, 417, SL651498, zolpidem, CL218,872, ocinaplon, bretazenil, zopiclone, and various benzodiazepines in chlordiazepoxide and zolpidem drug discrimination". The Journal of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics. 316 (3): 1291–9. doi:10.1124/jpet.105.094003. PMID16339395. S2CID21913400.
^Atack JR (May 2005). "The benzodiazepine binding site of GABA(A) receptors as a target for the development of novel anxiolytics". Expert Opinion on Investigational Drugs. 14 (5): 601–18. doi:10.1517/13543784.14.5.601. PMID15926867. S2CID22793644.