BEHAVIORAL AND SUBJECTIVE EFFECTS OF DN-2327 (PAZINACLONE) AND ALPRAZOLAM IN NORMAL VOLUNTEERS

DN-2327 (pazinaclone) is a new non-benzodiazepine compound which has h igh affinity for benzodiazepine receptors. The acute behavioral effect s and abuse liability of DN-2327 (2, 4 and 8 mg) were compared to thos e of the benzodiazepine anxiolytic alprazolam (0.25, 0.5 and 1 mg) in ten normal adult male volunteers using a double-blind, placebo-control led, outpatient design. For both drugs, the peak effect occurred appro ximately 1.5 h after drug administration. Both drugs also produced com parable dose-related effects on several measures related to sedation, as well as on subject- and observer-rated strength of drug effect. Bot h alprazolam and DN-2327 produced dose-related impairments on various performance measures; on some tasks, the impairment was greater for DN -2327. In contrast, there were no differences between DN-2327 and alpr azolam on observer-rated measures. Although no measures of drug-taking were made in this study, to the extent that self-reported effects pre dict reinforcing effects, the data suggest little liability for abuse of these two compounds in this subject population. Ratings of 'drug li king' and 'willing to take the drug again' were not increased followin g alprazolam. Although DN-2327 did not increase ratings of 'willing to take the drug again', DN-2327 did produce small but significant incre ases on ratings of 'drug liking'. Overall, these results suggest that the non-benzodiazepine DN-2327 has a pharmacological profile that is s imilar to that of benzodiazepines.