Iloperidone is a novel psychotropic compound currently undergoing Phase III trials. Its affinity for human dopamine and 5-HT receptors has been reported previously (Kongsamut et al. 1996). This report presents the affinity of iloperidone for a largely extended number of human neurotransmitter receptors. In a few instances human receptors were not available and receptor studies were performed on tissues from laboratory animals. The present data, supplemented with those of Kongsamut et al. (1996) The prototypical classical neuroleptic agent haloperidol is an effective antipsychotic compound (Leucht et al. 1999) which, unfortunately, also induces severe extrapyramidal side effects (EPS) and hyperprolactinemia. The term "atypical antipsychotic" was originally introduced to describe compounds, such as clozapine, which not only suppressed psychotic symptoms, but differed from haloperidol by having a low tendency to induce EPS and increase plasma prolactin levels. It is postulated that dopamine D 2 receptor blockade is the mechanism by which antipsychotic activity is achieved (Creese et al. 1976;Seeman et al. 1976 Conley et al. 1999;Taylor and Duncan-McConnell 2000). The elucidation of the multiple receptor interactions of clozapine suggested that other neurotransmitter systems may also play a role in the efficacy and tolerability of that molecule. Particularly, the antiadrenergic effects of clozapine are now receiving increased attention (Nutt 1994;Litman et al. 1996;Hertel et al. 1999). Iloperidone is a new psychotropic agent currently undergoing Phase III trials for the treatment of psychotic disorders (Figure 1). Iloperidone was selected from a large series of piperidinyl-benzisoxazoles because it showed a 300-fold greater potency in a test for limbic activity (inhibition of apomorphine-induced climbing) than in a test for nigrostriatal activity (inhibition of apomorphine-induced stereotypy) . The large difference of potency of iloperidone in these tests is expected to result in an improved ratio of therapeutic effect to EPS liability compared with standard antipsychotics. Previous studies have investigated the receptor binding profile of iloperidone with rat receptors ) and a limited number of human homologues of dopamine and 5-HT receptor subtypes (Kongsamut et al. 1996). These experiments demonstated that iloperidone displays the desired 5-HT 2A /D 2 affinity ratio. The aim of the present study was to determine the receptor affinity profile of iloperidone at a wider range of human neurotransmitter receptors. In resemblance to clozapine, it was noted that iloperidone possesses high affinity for norepinephrine ␣ 1 -and ␣ 2C adrenergic receptors.
METHODSThe radioligand receptor binding assays are listed in Table 1.
MaterialsRadioligands were purchased from NEN Life Science Products, USA, except for 3 H-RX821002 and 3 H-Mesulergine, which were obtained from Amersham Pharmacia Biotech Ltd, UK, and 125 I-GTI which was obtained from ANAWA, Switzerland. Iloperidone was synthesized by Hoechst Marion Roussel. Unless speci...