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Trade names | Nuplazid |
Other names | ACP-103; BVF-036; BVF-048 |
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Routes of administration | By mouth |
Drug class | Atypical antipsychotic |
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Pharmacokinetic data | |
Protein binding | 94–97% [2] |
Metabolism | Hepatic (CYP3A4, CYP3A5, CYP2J2) [1] |
Metabolites | N-Desmethyl-pimavanserin |
Elimination half-life | Pimavanserin: 54–57 h [2] [3] N-Desmethyl-pimavanserin (active): 200 h [3] |
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Chemical and physical data | |
Formula | C25H34FN3O2 |
Molar mass | 427.564 g·mol−1 |
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Pimavanserin, sold under the brand name Nuplazid, is an atypical antipsychotic which is approved for the treatment of Parkinson's disease psychosis. [3] [4] It is taken by mouth. [3]
Side effects of pimavanserin include peripheral edema and confusion. [3] Unlike other antipsychotics, pimavanserin is not a dopamine receptor antagonist, [5] but rather is a selective antagonist or inverse agonist of the serotonin 5-HT2A receptor and to a lesser extent of the serotonin 5-HT2C receptor. [3]
Pimavanserin was first approved for medical use in 2016. [3] It was approved as a generic medication in 2024. [6]
Pimavanserin is used in the treatment of Parkinson's disease psychosis. [3]
Pimavanserin is available in the form of 10 mg oral tablets and 34 mg oral capsules. [3]
Side effects of pimavanserin include peripheral edema and confusion, among others. [3]
Target | Affinity (Ki, nM) |
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5-HT1A | ND |
5-HT2A | 0.087–0.5 (Ki) 1.9–50 (IC50 ) |
5-HT2B | 436 (Ki) |
5-HT2C | 0.44–10 (Ki) 91 (IC50) |
D1–D5 | >300 |
α1–β3 | >300 |
H1–H4 | >300 |
M1–M5 | >300 |
σ1 | 120 |
Notes: The smaller the value, the more avidly the drug binds to the site. All proteins are human unless otherwise specified. Refs: [7] [8] [3] [9] |
Pimavanserin acts as a selective inverse agonist or antagonist of the serotonin 5-HT2A receptor. [2] [10] [9] [11] It is also an antagonist or inverse agonist of the serotonin 5-HT2C receptor to a lesser extent. [3]
The drug has an affinity (Ki) of 0.087 to 0.5 nM for the serotonin 5-HT2A receptor and 0.44 to 10 nM at the serotonin 5-HT2C receptor, whereas its functional inhibition (IC50 ) values have been reported to be 1.9 nM at the serotonin 5-HT2A receptor and 91 nM at the serotonin 5-HT2C receptor. [9] [10] Hence, it shows 3- to 50-fold greater affinity for the serotonin 5-HT2A receptor over the serotonin 5-HT2C receptor depending on the assay and 49-fold selectivity in terms of functional inhibition of the serotonin 5-HT2A receptor compared to the serotonin 5-HT2C receptor. [9]
Pimavanserin shows low binding to σ1 receptors (Ki = 120 nM) and has no appreciable affinity (Ki > 300 nM) to serotonin 5-HT2B, dopamine (including D2), muscarinic acetylcholine, histamine, or adrenergic receptors, or to calcium channels. [1] [12]
The elimination half-life of pimavanserin is 54 to 57 hours. [2] [3] The half-life of its active metabolite N-desmethylpimavanserin is 200 hours. [3]
Pimavanserin was developed by Acadia Pharmaceuticals.
Pimavanserin is expected to improve the effectiveness and side effect profile of antipsychotics. [13] [14] [15] The results of a clinical trial examining the efficacy, tolerability and safety of adjunctive pimavanserin to risperidone and haloperidol were published in November 2012, and the results showed that pimavanserin potentiated the antipsychotic effects of subtherapeutic doses of risperidone and improved the tolerability of haloperidol treatment by reducing the incidence of extrapyramidal symptoms. [16]
The drug met expectations for a Phase III clinical trial for the treatment of Parkinson's disease psychosis, [17] and has completed Phase II trials for adjunctive treatment of schizophrenia alongside an antipsychotic medication. [18]
In September 2014, the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) granted breakthrough therapy status to Acadia's New Drug Application for pimavanserin. [19]
In April 2016, Nuplazid (pimavanserin) was approved by the FDA for the treatment of hallucinations and delusions associated with Parkinson's disease psychosis. [20] [21] The non-binding advisory panel recommendation of 12-to-2 in support of approval that preceded the FDA approval action noted that the drug met an important need, despite its only providing modest benefits and posing serious safety issues. [22]
In June 2018, the FDA approved new dosages of pimavanserin to treat hallucinations and delusions associated with Parkinson's disease psychosis. A 34 mg capsule and 10 mg tablet formulation were approved. Previously, people were required to take two 17 mg tablets to achieve the recommenced 34 mg dose per day. The 10 mg dose is indicated for people also taking CYP3A4 inhibitors (e.g., ketoconazole). [23]
In a Phase III, double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial (ClinicalTrials.gov number NTC03325556) pimavanserin was given to people with dementia-related psychosis. The dementia was caused by Alzheimer’s disease, dementia with lewy bodies, frontotemporal dementia, Parkinson’s disease dementia, or vascular dementia. The trial was stopped early due to lack of efficacy. People treated with pimavanserin had a relapse in 13%, and those without 28%. Longer and larger trials are suggested. [24]
In April 2018, CNN reported that some in the FDA were concerned that pimavanserin (Nuplazid) was "risky" when it was approved and noted there have been a substantial number of deaths reported by those using the drug. The story further noted that the drug was approved based on a "six-week study of about 200 patients". [25] The FDA began post-market monitoring of the drug to assess the validity of these claims. [26] In September 2018, the FDA stated their review "did not identify any new or unexpected safety findings with Nuplazid, or findings that are inconsistent with the established safety profile currently described in the drug label". [27]
Pimavanserin was studied as a therapeutic agent in Phase III clinical trials for major depressive disorder and schizophrenia and Phase II trials for agitation. It was also under development for the treatment of insomnia, drug-induced akathisia, and drug-induced dyskinesia, but development for these indications was discontinued. [4]
In March 2024, Acadia Pharmaceuticals announced its decision to stop any further clinical trials of pimavanserin after the drug did not improve negative symptoms of schizophrenia better than placebo. [28]
As of November 2024, a phase 2 clinical trial is underway assessing the ability of pimavanserin to block the effects of the serotonergic psychedelic psilocybin. [29]
Antipsychotics, previously known as neuroleptics and major tranquilizers, are a class of psychotropic medication primarily used to manage psychosis, principally in schizophrenia but also in a range of other psychotic disorders. They are also the mainstay, together with mood stabilizers, in the treatment of bipolar disorder. Moreover, they are also used as adjuncts in the treatment of treatment-resistant major depressive disorder.
Haloperidol, sold under the brand name Haldol among others, is a typical antipsychotic medication. Haloperidol is used in the treatment of schizophrenia, tics in Tourette syndrome, mania in bipolar disorder, delirium, agitation, acute psychosis, and hallucinations from alcohol withdrawal. It may be used by mouth or injection into a muscle or a vein. Haloperidol typically works within 30 to 60 minutes. A long-acting formulation may be used as an injection every four weeks for people with schizophrenia or related illnesses, who either forget or refuse to take the medication by mouth.
The atypical antipsychotics (AAP), also known as second generation antipsychotics (SGAs) and serotonin–dopamine antagonists (SDAs), are a group of antipsychotic drugs largely introduced after the 1970s and used to treat psychiatric conditions. Some atypical antipsychotics have received regulatory approval for schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, irritability in autism, and as an adjunct in major depressive disorder.
Risperidone, sold under the brand name Risperdal among others, is an atypical antipsychotic used to treat schizophrenia and bipolar disorder, as well as irritability associated with autism. It is taken either by mouth or by injection. The injectable versions are long-acting and last for 2–4 weeks.
Quetiapine, sold under the brand name Seroquel among others, is an atypical antipsychotic medication used for the treatment of schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, and major depressive disorder. Despite being widely used as a sleep aid due to its tranquillizing effects, the benefits of such use may not outweigh the risk of undesirable side effects. It is taken orally.
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Aripiprazole, sold under the brand names Abilify and Aristada, among others, is an atypical antipsychotic. It is primarily used in the treatment of schizophrenia and bipolar disorder; other uses include as an add-on treatment in major depressive disorder and obsessive–compulsive disorder (OCD), tic disorders, and irritability associated with autism. Aripiprazole is taken by mouth or via injection into a muscle. A Cochrane review found low-quality evidence of effectiveness in treating schizophrenia.
Amoxapine, sold under the brand name Asendin among others, is a tricyclic antidepressant (TCA). It is the N-demethylated metabolite of loxapine. Amoxapine first received marketing approval in the United States in 1980, approximately 10 to 20 years after most of the other TCAs were introduced in the United States.
The 5-HT2A receptor is a subtype of the 5-HT2 receptor that belongs to the serotonin receptor family and is a G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR). The 5-HT2A receptor is a cell surface receptor, but has several intracellular locations.
Asenapine, sold under the brand name Saphris among others, is an atypical antipsychotic medication used to treat schizophrenia and acute mania associated with bipolar disorder as well as the medium to long-term management of bipolar disorder.
Iloperidone, commonly known as Fanapt and previously known as Zomaril, is an atypical antipsychotic for the treatment of schizophrenia and bipolar I disorder.
Perospirone (Lullan) is an atypical antipsychotic of the azapirone family. It was introduced in Japan by Dainippon Sumitomo Pharma in 2001 for the treatment of schizophrenia and acute cases of bipolar mania.
Tiospirone (BMY-13,859), also sometimes called tiaspirone or tiosperone, is an atypical antipsychotic of the azapirone class. It was investigated as a treatment for schizophrenia in the late 1980s and was found to have an effectiveness equivalent to those of typical antipsychotics in clinical trials but without causing extrapyramidal side effects. However, development was halted and it was not marketed. Perospirone, another azapirone derivative with antipsychotic properties, was synthesized and assayed several years after tiospirone. It was found to be both more potent and more selective in comparison and was commercialized instead.
Acadia Pharmaceuticals Inc. is a biopharmaceutical company headquartered in Sorrento Valley, San Diego, California.
Brexpiprazole, sold under the brand name Rexulti among others, is an atypical antipsychotic medication used for the treatment of major depressive disorder, schizophrenia, and agitation associated with dementia due to Alzheimer's disease.
Brilaroxazine, also known as oxaripiprazole, is an investigational atypical antipsychotic which is under development by Reviva Pharmaceuticals for the treatment of neuropsychiatric and inflammatory disorders. It has currently completed the first of two phase III clinical trials for schizophrenia. Reviva Pharmaceuticals also intends to investigate brilaroxazine for the treatment of bipolar disorder, major depressive disorder, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), irritability in autism, tics, psychosis/agitation associated with Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease psychosis, as well as the inflammatory disorders pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH), idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), and psoriasis. The FDA granted brilaroxazine orphan drug designation for the treatment of PAH and IPF.
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Herbert Y. Meltzer is an American scientist and professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences, pharmacology and physiology and director of the Translational Neuropharmacology Program at Northwestern University, best known for his research on the treatment of schizophrenia. He is the author of over 1,000 publications.
AC-90179 is a piperidine derivative which acts as an inverse agonist at the 5-HT2A serotonin receptor and an antagonist at 5-HT2C. It was developed as a potential antipsychotic but was not pursued for medical applications due to poor oral bioavailability; however, it continues to be used as a tool compound in pharmacological research.