Almorexant

Almorexant
Systematic (IUPAC) name
(2R)-2-[(1S)- 6,7-dimethoxy- 1-{2-[4-(trifluoromethyl)phenyl]ethyl}- 3,4-dihydroisoquinolin-2(1H)-yl]- N-methyl- 2-phenylacetamide
Clinical data
Pregnancy cat.  ?
Legal status  ?
Routes Oral
Pharmacokinetic data
Metabolism Hepatic
Identifiers
CAS number 871224-64-5 N
ATC code None
PubChem CID 23727689
ChemSpider 21377865 Y
UNII 9KCW39P2EI Y
ChEMBL CHEMBL455136 Y
Chemical data
Formula C29H32ClF3N2O3 
Mol. mass 512.6 g/mol (free base)
SMILES eMolecules & PubChem
 N(what is this?)  (verify)

Almorexant (INN, codenamed ACT-078573) is a competitive receptor antagonist of the OX1 and OX2 orexin receptors, which was being developed by the pharmaceutical companies Actelion and GSK for the treatment of insomnia. Development of the drug was abandoned in January 2011.[1]

Contents

Development

Originally developed by Actelion, from 2007 almorexant was being reported as a potential blockbuster drug, as its novel mechanism of action (orexin receptor antagonism) was thought to produce better quality sleep and fewer side effects than the traditional benzodiazepine and z drugs which dominated the multi-billion dollar insomnia medication market.[2][3]

In 2008, pharmaceutical giant GlaxoSmithKline bought the development and marketing rights for almorexant from Actelion for an initial payment of $147 million.[4] The deal was worth a potential $3.2billion if the drug were to successfully complete clinical development and obtain FDA approval.[5] GSK and Actelion continued to develop the drug together, and completed a Phase III clinical trial in November 2009.[6]

However in January 2011 Actelion and GSK announced they were abandoning the development of almorexant because of its side effect profile.[7][8]

Mechanism of action

Almorexant is a competitive, dual OX1 and OX2 receptor antagonist and selectively inhibits the functional consequences of OX1 and OX2 receptor activation, such as intracellular Ca2+ mobilization.

See also

References

  1. ^ GSK and Actelion discontinue clinical development of almorexant - GSK press release, 28 Jan 2011
  2. ^ Sleeping Beautifully - CBS Business Network 24 Sep 2007
  3. ^ Is this FINALLY a cure for insomnia? The new pill which blocks the brain's 'stay awake' messages - Daily Mail, 28 July 2008
  4. ^ Actelion Sells Glaxo Almorexant Sleep Medicine Rights - Bloomberg, 14 July 2008
  5. ^ Actelion's top dollar deal leaves doubts, and little on the horizon - EP Vantage, 14 July 2008
  6. ^ http://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT00608985 Almorexant in Adult Subjects With Chronic Primary Insomnia (RESTORA 1).] ClinicalTrials.gov (February 3, 2010). Retrieved on May 6, 2010.
  7. ^ Actelion and GSK Discontinue Clinical Development of Almorexant - Actelion press release, 28 Jan 2011
  8. ^ GSK and Actelion discontinue clinical development of almorexant - GSK press release, 28 Jan 2011

External links