Description
AWD 131-138 is a positive allosteric modulator of GABA-A receptors; it acts at the benzodiazepine site. AWD 131-138 is used in veterinary medicine to treat canine epilepsy as it displays anticonvulsant and antiepileptic activities. In various animal models, this compound prevents convulsions and the development of epilepsy and increases seizure thresholds.
References
Rundfeldt C, Löscher W. The pharmacology of imepitoin: the first partial benzodiazepine receptor agonist developed for the treatment of epilepsy. CNS Drugs. 2014 Jan;28(1):29-43. PMID: 24357084.
Löscher W, Hoffmann K, Twele F, et al. The novel antiepileptic drug imepitoin compares favourably to other GABA-mimetic drugs in a seizure threshold model in mice and dogs. Pharmacol Res. 2013 Nov;77:39-46. PMID: 24056205.
Yasar S, Bergman J, Munzar P, et al. Evaluation of the novel antiepileptic drug, AWD 131-138, for benzodiazepine-like discriminative stimulus and reinforcing effects in squirrel monkeys. Eur J Pharmacol. 2003 Apr 4;465(3):257-65. PMID: 12681437.