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editorial
. 2025 Jul 31;16(8):1522–1523. doi: 10.1021/acsmedchemlett.5c00441

Novel Compounds as 5‑HT2A Agonists for Treating Depression

Ram W Sabnis 1,*
PMCID: PMC12358972  PMID: 40832513

Abstract

Provided herein are novel compounds as 5-HT2A agonists, pharmaceutical compositions, use of such compounds in treating depression, and processes for preparing such compounds.


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Important Compound Classes

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Title

5-HT2A Agonists for Use in Treatment of Depression

Patent Publication Number

US 11633390 B2

URL

https://patents.google.com/patent/US11633390B2/en

Publication Date

April 25, 2023

Priority Application

US 17/090,457

Priority Date

November 5, 2020

Inventors

Kristensen, J. L.; Jensen, A. A.; Marcher-Rorsted, E.; Leth-Petersen, S.

Assignee Company

LOPHORA APS, Denmark

Disease Area

Depression

Biological Target

5-HT2A

Summary

Depression was for a long time considered an illuness of the soul, but it is currently viewed as a disorder of the brain. Norepinephrine and serotonin (5-hydroxytryptamine, 5-HT) act as neurotransmitters in the brain. Serotonin is involved in and regulates diverse biological functions in the brain such as mood, emotion, and sleep. Thus, the serotonergic system and serotonin receptors have been investigated for the treatment of depression and psychiatric disorders.

Psychedelics (serotonergic hallucinogens) are powerful psychoactive substances that alter perception and mood and affect numerous cognitive processes. After the discovery of (5R,8R)-(+)-lysergic acid-N,N-diethylamide (LSD) and the identification of serotonin in the brain, early research focused intensively on LSD. Today, there is consensus that psychedelics are agonists or partial agonists at brain serotonin 5-hydroxytryptamine 2A (5-HT2A) receptors. Psychedelics have both rapid onset and persisting effects, which includes changes in mood and brain function. The classical psychotic agents include LSD, psilocybin, or mescaline.

The 5-HT2A receptor plays an important role in emotional responses and is an important target to be considered in the action of 5-HT2A agonist psychedelics. In fact, a majority of known 5-HT2A agonists produce hallucinogenic effects in humans. Psilocybin activates 5HT1A receptors, which may contribute to antidepressant/antianxiety effects.

The present application describes a series of novel compounds as 5-HT2A agonists for the treatment of depression. Further, the application discloses compounds, their preparation, use, pharmaceutical composition, and treatment.

Definitions

X = F, Cl, Br, I, CN, S-(C1-C5 alkyl), S-(C1-C5 fluoroalkyl), S-(C2-C5 alkenyl), S-(C2-C5 fluoroalkenyl), S-(C2-C5 alkynyl), S-(C2-C5 fluoroalkynyl), C1-C5 alkyl, C1-C5 fluoroalkyl, C2-C5 alkenyl, C2-C5 fluoroalkenyl, C2-C5 alkynyl and C2-C5 fluoroalkynyl;

Y1 and Y2 = H, O, S, C1-C5 alkyl, C1-C5 fluoroalkyl, and halogen;

R1 is not present when Y1 is H, C1-C3 alkyl, C1-C3 fluoroalkyl, or halogen;

R2 is not present when Y2 is H, C1-C3 alkyl, C1-C3 fluoroalkyl, or halogen;

R3 = F, C1-C3 alkyl, C1-C3 fluoroalkyl, C2-C3 alkenyl, and C2-C3 alkynyl; R4 = H or CH3; and

z = 0, 1, 2, or 3.

Key Structures

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Biological Assay

Human 5-HT2A receptor Ca2+/Fluo-4 assay was performed. The compounds described in this application were tested for agonist activity at the 5-HT2A receptor. The 5-HT2A EC50 (nM) values are shown in the following Table.

Biological Data

The Table below shows representative compounds that were tested for agonist activity at 5-HT2A. The biological data obtained from testing representative examples are listed in the following Table.graphic file with name ml5c00441_0003.jpg

Claims

Total claims: 15

Method of treatment claims: 15

Recent Review Articles

See refs − .

The author declares no competing financial interest.

Published as part of ACS Medicinal Chemistry Letters special issue “Psychedelics and Entactogens”.

References

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