Biochem/physiol Actions

WAY-267464 is a non-peptide oxytocin receptor (OTR) agonist (EC50 = 61-881 nM; Ki = 58-978 nM) that, unlike oxytocin (OT), displays antagonist instead of agonist activity toward vasopressin V1a receptor/V1aR (IC50 = 613 nM; Ki = 27-113 nM). WAY-267464 exhibits OT-like anxiolytic effects in assays measuring both behavioral (33% increase in punished crossing by 10 mg/mL ip or 10 µg/mouse icv in four-plate tests; 75% increased open quadrants stay by 3 µg/mouse icv in elevated zero maze) and autonomic (47% higher stress-induced hyperthermia by 10 µg/mouse icv) parameters of the anxiety response. Similar to the antipsychotic-like effects reported for OT, WAY-267464 also reverses disruption in prepulse inhibition of the acoustic startle reflex induced by either MK-801 or amphetamine. Unlike OT, WAY-267464 does not affect immobility in mouse tail suspension test.

WAY-267464 is a non-peptide drug with a novel mechanism of action (MOA) to treat psychosis and schizophrenia.