W-18 Pharmacology Update

From the last post on W-18, we should remember that other than the mouse writing assay data, we know nothing about the pharmacology of the substance. NOTHING.

 

Chemical structure of W-18

Well, that's changed a bit. At least officially unofficially.

Dr. Brian Roth (@zenbrainest) of Roth Lab in the Department of Pharmacology at the University of North Carolina - Chapel Hill tweeted a few days ago that they had preliminary information on W-18 via the NIMH Psychoactive Drug Screening Program.

Regarding W-18 and possible activity at mu opioid receptors...

@rgcjk @forensictoxguy We have no evidence for mu receptor activity....

— BryanRoth (@zenbrainest) May 11, 2016

And what about activity at kappa and delta opioid receptors?

@andcunningham @rgcjk @forensictoxguy No activity there. Compound seems quite toxic (unknown target) which is problematic for some assays.

— BryanRoth (@zenbrainest) May 11, 2016

And toxicity at what cells?

@drugmonkeyblog @andcunningham @rgcjk @forensictoxguy HEK cells though I wouldn't be surprised if others also toxic

— BryanRoth(@zenbrainest) May 11, 2016

So, there you have it. Officially unofficially W-18 has no activity at the mu, kappa, or delta opioid receptors.