Structure-Guided Design of Novel 5-HT 2A Partial Agonists as Psychedelic Analogues with Antidepressant Effects

New compounds designed to activate the serotonin 2A receptor without causing hallucinations show antidepressant effects in mice. Building on the structures of the antipsychotic aripiprazole and a previously reported lead compound, two series of novel 5-HT2A partial agonists were synthesized and tested. Several compounds demonstrated potent activity in G protein coupling and β-arrestin2 recruitment assays. One compound, 28c, reduced depressive-like behavior in the mouse tail-suspension test without producing head-twitch responses, a rodent correlate of hallucinogenic effects. These results add to the growing collection of nonhallucinogenic 5-HT2A agonists that could potentially provide rapid and enduring antidepressant effects.

Study at a glance

Abstract

Depression is primarily treated with selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), which are limited by delayed onset of effects and low rates of remission. Recent studies showed that serotonergic psychedelics such as psilocybin can reduce depressive symptoms both rapidly and enduringly. Such effects have been associated with the activation of the serotonin 2A (5-HT2A) receptor in the central nervous system, which has prompted medicinal chemistry studies of novel 5-HT2A agonists. In this study, we designed and synthesized novel 5-HT2A partial agonists based on the structures of the antipsychotic drug aripiprazole and our previously reported lead compound IHCH-7086. Two series of new compounds were synthesized, a number of which exhibited potent 5-HT2A partial agonist activity in G protein coupling and β-arrestin2 recruitment assays. Compound 28c exhibited antidepressant effects in the mouse tail-suspension test without inducing head-twitch responses, supplementing the growing reservoir of nonhallucinogenic 5-HT2A agonists.