Antipsychotic Benzamides Amisulpride and LB-102 Display Polypharmacy as Racemates, S Enantiomers Engage Receptors D2 and D3, while R Enantiomers Engage 5-HT7.

Abstract

Benzamide antipsychotics such as amisulpride are dosed as racemates though efficacy is assumed to be mediated through S enantiomer binding to D2 receptors. At prescribed doses, the benzamides likely display polypharmacy since brain exposure should be sufficient to engage the 5-HT7 receptors, as well. Curiously, the studies herein reveal that racemic dosing is required to engage both targets since the D2 receptor has an almost 40-fold selectivity for the S enantiomer, while the 5-HT7 receptor has greater than 50-fold preference for the R enantiomer.