Phenserine
Identification
- Generic Name
- Phenserine
- DrugBank Accession Number
- DB04892
- Background
Phenserine is under development by Axonyx, a US biopharmaceutical company that focuses on treatments for dementia. Phenserine is a next generation acetylcholinesterase (AChE) inhibitor indicated for the treatment of AD. Unlike currently marketed AChE inhibitors, it has a dual mechanism of action that also includes anti-amyloid activity, which may confer disease-modifying effects in patients with AD. If this is substantiated in an ongoing clinical trial then phenserine may open the door to an entirely new type of treatment for AD. Axonyx announced on 20 September 2005 that phenserine was ineffective in two curtailed phase 3 trials.
- Type
- Small Molecule
- Groups
- Investigational
- Structure
- Weight
- Average: 337.4155
Monoisotopic: 337.179026995 - Chemical Formula
- C20H23N3O2
- Synonyms
- (-)-eseroline phenylcarbamate
- (-)-phenserine
Pharmacology
- Indication
For the treatment of Alzheimer's disease (AD).
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- Pharmacodynamics
Phenserine, a phenylcarbamate of physostigmine, is a reversible acetyl-selective cholinesterase inhibitor. In studies of rats with lesions of the forebrain cholinergic system, injections of phenserine was found to significantly decrease the levels of secreted beta-APP in the CSF of the rats. A study on cultured human brain cells found that phenserine reduces Abeta levels by regulating beta-APP translation.
- Mechanism of action
Phenserine is a highly selective, reversible acetylcholinesterase inhibitor, a mechanism of action known to improve memory and cognition in Alzheimer’s subjects. Phenserine may prove to concentrate in the brain rapidly which would reduce the incidence of drug toxicity and side effects.
Target Actions Organism UCholinesterase inhibitorHumans UAmyloid beta A4 protein Not Available Humans UAcetylcholinesterase Not Available Humans - Absorption
Rapidly absorbed and cleared from the body.
- Volume of distribution
Not Available
- Protein binding
Not Available
- Metabolism
- Not Available
- Route of elimination
Not Available
- Half-life
8 to 10 hours
- Clearance
Not Available
- Adverse Effects
- Improve decision support & research outcomesWith structured adverse effects data, including: blackbox warnings, adverse reactions, warning & precautions, & incidence rates.Improve decision support & research outcomes with our structured adverse effects data.
- Toxicity
The toxicity of phenserine, a derivate of physostigmine, is dramatically less. Doses of 20 mg/kg (rats, intravenous) of phenserine have not been associated with toxicity or deaths.
- Pathways
- Not Available
- Pharmacogenomic Effects/ADRs
- Not Available
Interactions
- Drug Interactions
- This information should not be interpreted without the help of a healthcare provider. If you believe you are experiencing an interaction, contact a healthcare provider immediately. The absence of an interaction does not necessarily mean no interactions exist.
Drug Interaction Integrate drug-drug
interactions in your softwareAcebutolol Phenserine may increase the bradycardic activities of Acebutolol. Acetylcholine The risk or severity of adverse effects can be increased when Phenserine is combined with Acetylcholine. Aclidinium Phenserine may increase the neuromuscular blocking activities of Aclidinium. Amantadine The therapeutic efficacy of Amantadine can be decreased when used in combination with Phenserine. Amifampridine The risk or severity of adverse effects can be increased when Phenserine is combined with Amifampridine. Amitriptyline The therapeutic efficacy of Amitriptyline can be decreased when used in combination with Phenserine. Amobarbital The therapeutic efficacy of Amobarbital can be decreased when used in combination with Phenserine. Amoxapine The therapeutic efficacy of Amoxapine can be decreased when used in combination with Phenserine. Anisotropine methylbromide The therapeutic efficacy of Anisotropine methylbromide can be decreased when used in combination with Phenserine. Aripiprazole The therapeutic efficacy of Aripiprazole can be decreased when used in combination with Phenserine. Identify potential medication risksEasily compare up to 40 drugs with our drug interaction checker.Get severity rating, description, and management advice.Learn more - Food Interactions
- Not Available
Categories
- Drug Categories
- Chemical TaxonomyProvided by Classyfire
- Description
- This compound belongs to the class of organic compounds known as pyrroloindoles. These are compounds containing a pyrroloindole moiety, which is a tricyclic heterocycle which consists of a pyrrole ring fused to an indole. Pyrrole is 5-membered ring consisting of four carbon atoms and one nitrogen atom. Indole is a bicyclic compound consisting of a six-membered benzene ring fused to a five-membered nitrogen-containing pyrrole ring.
- Kingdom
- Organic compounds
- Super Class
- Organoheterocyclic compounds
- Class
- Indoles and derivatives
- Sub Class
- Pyrroloindoles
- Direct Parent
- Pyrroloindoles
- Alternative Parents
- Phenylcarbamic acid esters / Indoles / Dialkylarylamines / N-alkylpyrrolidines / Pyrroles / Carbamate esters / Organic carbonic acids and derivatives / Azacyclic compounds / Organopnictogen compounds / Organic oxides show 2 more
- Substituents
- Aromatic heteropolycyclic compound / Azacycle / Benzenoid / Carbamic acid ester / Carbonic acid derivative / Carbonyl group / Dialkylarylamine / Hydrocarbon derivative / Indole / Monocyclic benzene moiety show 11 more
- Molecular Framework
- Aromatic heteropolycyclic compounds
- External Descriptors
- Not Available
- Affected organisms
- Humans and other mammals
Chemical Identifiers
- UNII
- SUE285UG3S
- CAS number
- 101246-66-6
- InChI Key
- PBHFNBQPZCRWQP-QUCCMNQESA-N
- InChI
- InChI=1S/C20H23N3O2/c1-20-11-12-22(2)18(20)23(3)17-10-9-15(13-16(17)20)25-19(24)21-14-7-5-4-6-8-14/h4-10,13,18H,11-12H2,1-3H3,(H,21,24)/t18-,20+/m1/s1
- IUPAC Name
- (3aS,8aR)-1,3a,8-trimethyl-1H,2H,3H,3aH,8H,8aH-pyrrolo[2,3-b]indol-5-yl N-phenylcarbamate
- SMILES
- [H][C@]12N(C)CC[C@@]1(C)C1=C(C=CC(OC(=O)NC3=CC=CC=C3)=C1)N2C
References
- General References
- Greig NH, Ruckle J, Comer P, Brownell L, Holloway HW, Flanagan DR Jr, Canfield CJ, Burford RG: Anticholinesterase and pharmacokinetic profile of phenserine in healthy elderly human subjects. Curr Alzheimer Res. 2005 Oct;2(4):483-92. [Article]
- Klein J: Phenserine. Expert Opin Investig Drugs. 2007 Jul;16(7):1087-97. [Article]
- Thatte U: Phenserine (Axonyx/NIH). IDrugs. 2000 Oct;3(10):1222-8. [Article]
- External Links
- PubChem Compound
- 192706
- PubChem Substance
- 175426894
- ChemSpider
- 167225
- BindingDB
- 10958
- ChEMBL
- CHEMBL74926
- ZINC
- ZINC000052968892
Clinical Trials
Pharmacoeconomics
- Manufacturers
- Not Available
- Packagers
- Not Available
- Dosage Forms
- Not Available
- Prices
- Not Available
- Patents
- Not Available
Properties
- State
- Solid
- Experimental Properties
Property Value Source melting point (°C) 150 °C Not Available - Predicted Properties
Property Value Source Water Solubility 0.0509 mg/mL ALOGPS logP 3.38 ALOGPS logP 4.25 Chemaxon logS -3.8 ALOGPS pKa (Strongest Acidic) 12.86 Chemaxon pKa (Strongest Basic) 6.58 Chemaxon Physiological Charge 0 Chemaxon Hydrogen Acceptor Count 4 Chemaxon Hydrogen Donor Count 1 Chemaxon Polar Surface Area 44.81 Å2 Chemaxon Rotatable Bond Count 3 Chemaxon Refractivity 99.96 m3·mol-1 Chemaxon Polarizability 37.09 Å3 Chemaxon Number of Rings 4 Chemaxon Bioavailability 1 Chemaxon Rule of Five Yes Chemaxon Ghose Filter Yes Chemaxon Veber's Rule No Chemaxon MDDR-like Rule No Chemaxon - Predicted ADMET Features
Property Value Probability Human Intestinal Absorption + 1.0 Blood Brain Barrier + 0.9959 Caco-2 permeable + 0.5664 P-glycoprotein substrate Substrate 0.6917 P-glycoprotein inhibitor I Inhibitor 0.6794 P-glycoprotein inhibitor II Inhibitor 0.6073 Renal organic cation transporter Non-inhibitor 0.6463 CYP450 2C9 substrate Non-substrate 0.7167 CYP450 2D6 substrate Non-substrate 0.6433 CYP450 3A4 substrate Substrate 0.7843 CYP450 1A2 substrate Non-inhibitor 0.8426 CYP450 2C9 inhibitor Non-inhibitor 0.8863 CYP450 2D6 inhibitor Inhibitor 0.8163 CYP450 2C19 inhibitor Non-inhibitor 0.8352 CYP450 3A4 inhibitor Non-inhibitor 0.5605 CYP450 inhibitory promiscuity Low CYP Inhibitory Promiscuity 0.6125 Ames test Non AMES toxic 0.8444 Carcinogenicity Non-carcinogens 0.9126 Biodegradation Not ready biodegradable 0.9256 Rat acute toxicity 4.3485 LD50, mol/kg Not applicable hERG inhibition (predictor I) Weak inhibitor 0.8968 hERG inhibition (predictor II) Non-inhibitor 0.6199
Spectra
- Mass Spec (NIST)
- Not Available
- Spectra
Spectrum Spectrum Type Splash Key Predicted MS/MS Spectrum - 10V, Positive (Annotated) Predicted LC-MS/MS Not Available Predicted MS/MS Spectrum - 20V, Positive (Annotated) Predicted LC-MS/MS Not Available Predicted MS/MS Spectrum - 40V, Positive (Annotated) Predicted LC-MS/MS Not Available Predicted MS/MS Spectrum - 10V, Negative (Annotated) Predicted LC-MS/MS Not Available Predicted MS/MS Spectrum - 20V, Negative (Annotated) Predicted LC-MS/MS Not Available Predicted MS/MS Spectrum - 40V, Negative (Annotated) Predicted LC-MS/MS Not Available
Targets

- Kind
- Protein
- Organism
- Humans
- Pharmacological action
- Unknown
- Actions
- Inhibitor
- General Function
- Identical protein binding
- Specific Function
- Esterase with broad substrate specificity. Contributes to the inactivation of the neurotransmitter acetylcholine. Can degrade neurotoxic organophosphate esters.
- Gene Name
- BCHE
- Uniprot ID
- P06276
- Uniprot Name
- Cholinesterase
- Molecular Weight
- 68417.575 Da
References
- Janas AM, Cunningham SC, Duffy KB, Devan BD, Greig NH, Holloway HW, Yu QS, Markowska AL, Ingram DK, Spangler EL: The cholinesterase inhibitor, phenserine, improves Morris water maze performance of scopolamine-treated rats. Life Sci. 2005 Jan 21;76(10):1073-81. [Article]
- Kind
- Protein
- Organism
- Humans
- Pharmacological action
- Unknown
- General Function
- Transition metal ion binding
- Specific Function
- Functions as a cell surface receptor and performs physiological functions on the surface of neurons relevant to neurite growth, neuronal adhesion and axonogenesis. Involved in cell mobility and tra...
- Gene Name
- APP
- Uniprot ID
- P05067
- Uniprot Name
- Amyloid beta A4 protein
- Molecular Weight
- 86942.715 Da
References
- Venti A, Giordano T, Eder P, Bush AI, Lahiri DK, Greig NH, Rogers JT: The integrated role of desferrioxamine and phenserine targeted to an iron-responsive element in the APP-mRNA 5'-untranslated region. Ann N Y Acad Sci. 2004 Dec;1035:34-48. [Article]
- Kind
- Protein
- Organism
- Humans
- Pharmacological action
- Unknown
- General Function
- Serine hydrolase activity
- Specific Function
- Terminates signal transduction at the neuromuscular junction by rapid hydrolysis of the acetylcholine released into the synaptic cleft. Role in neuronal apoptosis.
- Gene Name
- ACHE
- Uniprot ID
- P22303
- Uniprot Name
- Acetylcholinesterase
- Molecular Weight
- 67795.525 Da
References
- Greig NH, Ruckle J, Comer P, Brownell L, Holloway HW, Flanagan DR Jr, Canfield CJ, Burford RG: Anticholinesterase and pharmacokinetic profile of phenserine in healthy elderly human subjects. Curr Alzheimer Res. 2005 Oct;2(4):483-92. [Article]
- Klein J: Phenserine. Expert Opin Investig Drugs. 2007 Jul;16(7):1087-97. [Article]
Drug created at October 21, 2007 17:34 / Updated at June 12, 2020 16:52