Ganaxolone

Ganaxolone (developmental code name CCD-1042) is an experimental drug which is under development by Marinus Pharmaceuticals for potential medical use as an anxiolytic and anticonvulsant.[1] Ganaxolone has been shown to protect against seizures in animal models,[2][3] and to act a positive allosteric modulator of the GABAA receptor.[1][4]

Ganaxolone
Clinical data
Other namesGNX; CCD-1042; 3β-Methyl-5α-pregnan-3α-ol-20-one; 3α-Hydroxy-3β-methyl-5α-pregnan-20-one
Drug classNeurosteroid
ATC code
  • None
Legal status
Legal status
  • Investigational
Identifiers
CAS Number
PubChem CID
ChemSpider
UNII
KEGG
ChEMBL
CompTox Dashboard (EPA)
ECHA InfoCard100.210.937
Chemical and physical data
FormulaC22H36O2
Molar mass332.520 g/mol g·mol−1
3D model (JSmol)
 NY (what is this?)  (verify)

Ganaxolone is being investigated for potential medical use in the treatment of epilepsy. It is well tolerated in human trials, with the most commonly reported side effects being somnolence (sleepiness), dizziness, and fatigue.[5] Trials in adults with focal onset seizures and in children with infantile spasms have recently been completed.[6][7] There are ongoing studies in patients with focal onset seizures, PCDH19 pediatric epilepsy, and behaviors in Fragile X syndrome.[6][7]

Pharmacology

Mechanism of action

The exact mechanism of action for ganaxolone is unknown; however, results from animal studies suggest that it acts by blocking seizure propagation and elevating seizure thresholds.[2][3]

Ganaxolone is thought to modulate both synaptic and extrasynaptic GABAA receptors to normalize over-excited neurons.[1] Ganaxolone's activation of the extrasynaptic receptor is an additional mechanism that provides stabilizing effects that potentially differentiates it from other drugs that increase GABA signaling.[1]

Ganaxolone binds to allosteric sites of the GABAA receptor to modulate and open the chloride ion channel, resulting in a hyperpolarization of the neuron.[1] This causes an inhibitory effect on neurotransmission, reducing the chance of a successful action potential (depolarization) from occurring.[1][2][3]

Clinical trials

The most common adverse events reported across clinical trials have been somnolence (sleepiness), dizziness, and fatigue.[5] In 2015, the MIND Institute at the University of California, Davis, announced that it was conducting, in collaboration with Marinus Pharmaceuticals, a randomized, placebo-controlled, Phase 2 clinical trial evaluating the effect of ganaxolone on behaviors associated with Fragile X syndrome in children and adolescents.[8][9][10]

Chemistry
See also: List of neurosteroids

Ganaxolone is a synthetic pregnane steroid. Other pregnane neurosteroids include alfadolone, alfaxolone, allopregnanolone (brexanolone), hydroxydione, minaxolone, pregnanolone (eltanolone), and renanolone, among others.

References
  1. Carter RB, Wood PL, Wieland S, Hawkinson JE, Belelli D, Lambert JJ, White HS, Wolf HH, Mirsadeghi S, Tahir SH, Bolger MB, Lan NC, Gee KW (March 1997). "Characterization of the anticonvulsant properties of ganaxolone (CCD 1042; 3alpha-hydroxy-3beta-methyl-5alpha-pregnan-20-one), a selective, high-affinity, steroid modulator of the gamma-aminobutyric acid(A) receptor". The Journal of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics. 280 (3): 1284–95. PMID 9067315.
  2. Kaminski RM, Livingood MR, Rogawski MA (July 2004). "Allopregnanolone analogs that positively modulate GABA receptors protect against partial seizures induced by 6-Hz electrical stimulation in mice". Epilepsia. 45 (7): 864–7. doi:10.1111/j.0013-9580.2004.04504.x. PMID 15230714.
  3. Reddy DS, Rogawski MA (May 2010). "Ganaxolone suppression of behavioral and electrographic seizures in the mouse amygdala kindling model". Epilepsy Research. 89 (2–3): 254–60. doi:10.1016/j.eplepsyres.2010.01.009. PMC 2854307. PMID 20172694.
  4. Reddy DS, Rogawski MA (December 2000). "Chronic treatment with the neuroactive steroid ganaxolone in the rat induces anticonvulsant tolerance to diazepam but not to itself". The Journal of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics. 295 (3): 1241–8. PMID 11082461.
  5. Monaghan EP, Navalta LA, Shum L, Ashbrook DW, Lee DA (September 1997). "Initial human experience with ganaxolone, a neuroactive steroid with antiepileptic activity". Epilepsia. 38 (9): 1026–31. doi:10.1111/j.1528-1157.1997.tb01486.x. PMID 9579942.
  6. Nohria V, Giller E (January 2007). "Ganaxolone". Neurotherapeutics. 4 (1): 102–5. doi:10.1016/j.nurt.2006.11.003. PMID 17199022.
  7. Pieribone VA, Tsai J, Soufflet C, Rey E, Shaw K, Giller E, Dulac O (October 2007). "Clinical evaluation of ganaxolone in pediatric and adolescent patients with refractory epilepsy". Epilepsia. 48 (10): 1870–4. doi:10.1111/j.1528-1167.2007.01182.x. PMID 17634060.
  8. "Fragile X Research and Treatment Center: Clinical Research Studies" (PDF). UC Davis MIND Institute. 10 February 2015. Retrieved 27 January 2016.
  9. "Ganaxolone Treatment in Children With Fragile X Syndrome". Clinicaltrials.gov. 7 November 2012. Retrieved 27 January 2016.
  10. "UC Davis Health System. UC Davis researchers win $3 million grant from U.S. Congress to study fragile X". UC Davis Health System. 8 February 2011. Retrieved 27 January 2016.


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