| | |
| Clinical data | |
|---|---|
| Other names | NRX-1074; AGN-241660; Threonyl-prolyl-2R-(2-benzyl)-prolyl-threonine amide |
| Routes of administration | By mouth |
| Drug class | NMDA receptor modulator |
| Legal status | |
| Legal status | |
| Identifiers | |
| |
| CAS Number | |
| PubChem CID | |
| ChemSpider | |
| UNII | |
| KEGG | |
| ChEMBL | |
| CompTox Dashboard (EPA) | |
| Chemical and physical data | |
| Formula | C25H37N5O6 |
| Molar mass | 503.600 g·mol−1 |
| 3D model (JSmol) | |
| |
| |
Apimostinel (GATE-202, formerly NRX-1074) is an investigational antidepressant, acting as a novel and selective modulator of the NMDA receptor. [1] [2] [3] [4] It is currently under development for the acute treatment of major depressive disorder (MDD) by Syndeio Biosciences, and previously by Naurex and Allergan. [5] [6] [7] As of February 2015, an intravenous formulation of apimostinel has completed a phase IIa clinical trial for MDD. [5] [8]
Similar to rapastinel (GLYX-13), its mechanism of action acts through a unique binding site on the NMDA receptor, independent of the glycine site, to modulate receptor activity and enhance NMDAR-mediated synaptic plasticity. [9] However, apimostinel is 1000-fold more potent in vitro and is intended as an improved, follow-up drug to rapastinel. [2] [5] Similar to rapastinel, apimostinel is an amidated tetrapeptide, but has been structurally modified, via the addition of a benzyl group, to enhance its metabolic stability and pharmacokinetic profile. The drug has shown rapid and potent antidepressant effects in pre-clinical models of depression. [5] In addition, similarly to rapastinel, it is well tolerated and lacks the hallucinosis-like psychotomimetic effects of NMDA receptor antagonists such as ketamine. [5]