Structure via PubChem · Public domain (PubChem)
GTS-21
Sign in to saveAlso known as 3-(2,4-dimethoxybenzylidene)anabaseine, Dimethoxybenzylidene anabaseine, DMXB-A, DMXB-Anabaseine
GTS-21 (also known as DMXBA or DMBX-anabaseine) is an investigational new drug being studied for the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases and psychiatric disorders, as well as for its potential to enhance memory and cognitive function. Despite study of the molecule since 1990s, as of 2025 it has not been shown to be effective in clinical trials.
Chemical data
- Formula
- C19H20N2O2
- Molecular weight
- 308.4 g/mol
- IUPAC name
- 3-[(5E)-5-[(2,4-dimethoxyphenyl)methylidene]-3,4-dihydro-2H-pyridin-6-yl]pyridine
- SMILES
- COC1=CC(=C(C=C1)/C=C/2\CCCN=C2C3=CN=CC=C3)OC
- InChIKey
- RPYWXZCFYPVCNQ-RVDMUPIBSA-N
- XLogP
- 3
- Polar surface area
- 43.7 Ų
- H-bond donors
- 0
- H-bond acceptors
- 4
- Formal charge
- 0
via PubChem
Drug data · ChEMBL
- Max clinical phase
- Phase 2
- Molecule type
- Small molecule
- Indications
- obesity, nicotine dependence, autism, schizoaffective disorder
via ChEMBL · EBI
Research
280 papers- GTS-21 alleviates sepsis-induced atrial fibrillation susceptibility by modulating macrophage polarization and Neuregulin-1 secretion.International immunopharmacology · 2025
- GTS-21 alleviates murine collagen-induced arthritis through inhibition of peripheral monocyte trafficking into the synovium.International immunopharmacology · 2023
- GTS-21 has cell-specific anti-inflammatory effects independent of α7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptors.PloS one · 2019
- GTS-21 ameliorates polymicrobial sepsis-induced hepatic injury by modulating autophagy through α7nAchRs in mice.Cytokine · 2020
- GTS-21 reduces microvascular permeability during experimental endotoxemia.Microvascular research · 2018
via PubMed
Wikidata facts
- Subclass of
- chemical compound
- Mass
- 308.152
Show 5 more facts
- chemical formula
- C₁₉H₂₀N₂O₂
- canonical SMILES
- COC1=CC(=C(C=C1)C=C2CCCN=C2C3=CN=CC=C3)OC
- isomeric SMILES
- COC1=CC(=C(C=C1)/C=C/2\CCCN=C2C3=CN=CC=C3)OC
- subject has role
- nicotinic agonist
- Commons category
- GTS-21
Sources (2)
via Wikidata · CC0
~2 min read
Encyclopedic overview
3 sectionsContents
- Research and clinical trial history
- References
- Further reading
GTS-21 (also known as DMXBA or DMBX-anabaseine) is an investigational new drug being studied for the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases and psychiatric disorders, as well as for its potential to enhance memory and cognitive function. Despite study of the molecule since 1990s, as of 2025 it has not been shown to be effective in clinical trials.
GTS-21 is a derivative of the natural product anabaseine that acts as a partial agonist at neural nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs). It binds to both the α4β2 and α7 subtypes, but activates only the α7 to any significant extent. Activation of the α7 nAChR has been shown to have neuroprotective effects which has made GTS-21 a focus of research in the treatment of neurological diseases.
Excerpted from Wikipedia’s “GTS-21” article, available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 licence.