Pherines, also known as vomeropherines, are odorless
synthetic Synthetic things are composed of multiple parts, often with the implication that they are artificial. In particular, 'synthetic' may refer to:
Science
* Synthetic chemical or compound, produced by the process of chemical synthesis
* Synthetic o ...
neuroactive steroid
Neurosteroids, also known as neuroactive steroids, are endogenous or exogenous steroids that rapidly alter neuronal excitability through interaction with ligand-gated ion channels and other cell surface receptors. The term ''neurosteroid'' was coin ...
s that engage nasal
chemosensory receptors and induce dose-dependent and reversible pharmacological and behavioral effects.
Pherines target human chemosensory receptors and possibly other
receptors such as the
GABAA receptor and influence
central nervous system activity.
Currently known pherine molecules are being developed for the treatment of various medical conditions. Pherines specifically target
nasal chemosensory cells and mediate selective modulation of brain areas like the limbic
amygdala,
hypothalamus,
hippocampus, and
prefrontal cortex.
In clinical trials, pherines formulated for
intranasal administration in ultra low doses (nanogram to low microgram quantities) showed rapid onset of efficacy (10–15 minutes) and an excellent safety and tolerability profile. Pherines are also minimally invasive (do not require systemic absorption) to exert their pharmacological effects and can be used on demand
Pherines described in the scientific literature include
PH10,
PH15,
PH80,
PH284 and
fasedienol
Fasedienol (; developmental code names PH94B and Aloradine), also known as 4-androstadienol or as 4,16-androstadien-3β-ol, is a pherine which is under development by VistaGen Therapeutics in a nasal spray formulation ( ''PRN'') for the acute trea ...
(PH94B, Aloradine, or 4,16-androstadien-3β-ol, a
positional isomer of
androstadienol).
Pherines are chemically and pharmacologically different from natural pheromones including
androstadienone,
androstenone
Androstenone (5α-androst-16-en-3-one) is a 16-androstene class steroidal pheromone. It is found in boar's saliva, celery cytoplasm, and truffle fungus. Androstenone was the first mammalian pheromone to be identified. It is found in high concent ...
,
androstenol,
androsterone, and
estratetraenol.
Examples of pherines
*
Fasedienol
Fasedienol (; developmental code names PH94B and Aloradine), also known as 4-androstadienol or as 4,16-androstadien-3β-ol, is a pherine which is under development by VistaGen Therapeutics in a nasal spray formulation ( ''PRN'') for the acute trea ...
(PH94B; Aloradine; 4,16-androstadien-3β-ol) is an investigational new drug proposed as an indication for the acute treatment of generalized
social anxiety disorder
*
PH10 is being developed as an indication for the acute treatment of
depression.
*
PH80. In clinical trials this pherine molecule showed efficacy to relieve premenstrual symptoms and it is also being studied for its beneficial effect to reduce menopausal hot flashes.
*
PH15 is in early stage development for the treatment of
cognitive impairment.
See also
*
List of neurosteroids
References
{{Use dmy dates, date=March 2018
Pherines
Steroids