Nepicastat (

INN Inns are generally establishments or buildings where travelers can seek lodging, and usually, food and drink. Inns are typically located in the country or along a highway; before the advent of motorized transportation they also provided accommo ...

, codenamed SYN117, RS-25560-197) is an inhibitor of

dopamine beta-hydroxylase Dopamine beta-hydroxylase (DBH), also known as dopamine beta-monooxygenase, is an enzyme () that in humans is encoded by the DBH gene. Dopamine beta-hydroxylase catalyzes the conversion of dopamine to norepinephrine. The three substrates of ...

, an

enzyme Enzymes () are proteins that act as biological catalysts by accelerating chemical reactions. The molecules upon which enzymes may act are called substrates, and the enzyme converts the substrates into different molecules known as products ...

that catalyzes the conversion of dopamine to

norepinephrine Norepinephrine (NE), also called noradrenaline (NA) or noradrenalin, is an organic chemical in the catecholamine family that functions in the brain and body as both a hormone and neurotransmitter. The name "noradrenaline" (from Latin '' ad' ...

. It has been studied as a possible treatment for

congestive heart failure Heart failure (HF), also known as congestive heart failure (CHF), is a syndrome, a group of signs and symptoms caused by an impairment of the heart's blood pumping function. Symptoms typically include shortness of breath, excessive fatigue, ...

, and appears to be well tolerated as such. As of 2012,

clinical trial Clinical trials are prospective biomedical or behavioral research studies on human participants designed to answer specific questions about biomedical or behavioral interventions, including new treatments (such as novel vaccines, drugs, diet ...

s to assess nepicastat as a treatment for

post-traumatic stress disorder Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a mental and behavioral disorder that can develop because of exposure to a traumatic event, such as sexual assault, warfare, traffic collisions, child abuse, domestic violence, or other threats o ...

(PTSD) and

cocaine dependence Cocaine dependence is a neurological disorder that is characterized by withdrawal symptoms upon cessation from cocaine use. It also often coincides with cocaine addiction which is a biopsychosocial disorder characterized by persistent use of coc ...

have been completed. In Phase 2 study treatment with nepicastat was not effective in relieving PTSD-associated symptoms when compared to placebo. The study was funded by the U.S. Department of Defense.Biotie reports top-line data from clinical study with nepicastat (SYN117) in post-traumatic stress disorder
BIOTIE THERAPIES CORP. STOCK EXCHANGE RELEASE 27 December 2012.

References

Aminotetralins Imidazolines Fluoroarenes Thioureas Dopamine beta hydroxylase inhibitors {{nervous-system-drug-stub