It acts as a potentdopamineD2 and D3 receptoragonist.[6][7] Naxagolide was described in the 1990s as the most potent dopamine D2 receptor agonist that had been used.[8][9] It shows about 50-fold selectivity for the dopamine D3 receptor over the dopamine D2 receptor (Ki = 0.16nM vs. 8.5nM).[7] The drug is a naphthoxazine derivative.[6] It is structurally similar to ergolines such as pergolide and cabergoline but is a non-ergoline itself.[10][9]
Naxagolide was first described in 1984 and was under development by Merck & Co in the 1980s and 1990s.[3][4] It was developed for treatment of Parkinson's disease and reached phase 2clinical trials for this indication.[3] The drug was discontinued due to inadequate effectiveness and/or due to toxicity.[6][8]
^ abFinnema SJ, Bang-Andersen B, Wikström HV, Halldin C (2010). "Current state of agonist radioligands for imaging of brain dopamine D2/D3 receptors in vivo with positron emission tomography". Current Topics in Medicinal Chemistry. 10 (15): 1477–1498. doi:10.2174/156802610793176837. PMID20583987.
^ abKuntzer T, Ghika J, Pollak P, Benabid AL, Limousin P, Krack P, et al. (1996). "Treatment of Parkinson's disease. Advances in the pharmacological therapy". European Neurology. 36 (6): 396–399. doi:10.1159/000117303. PMID8954312. PHNO (naxagolide, MK 458) [21], the most potent D2 agonist ever used, has been withdrawn because of animal toxicity, and this is also the case for mesulergin (CU 32 085), a D1 and D2 agonist.
^ abLewitt P, Oertel W (1999). Parkinsons's Disease: The Treatment Options. Taylor & Francis. p. 170. ISBN978-1-85317-379-0. Retrieved 23 February 2025. Two non-ergot dopaminergic agonists were developed for the potential of transdermal administration. (+)4—Propyl-9-hydroxynaphthoxazine (PHNO; also known as MK-458 or naxagolide), perhaps the most potent dopaminergic compound, is readily absorbed through the skin. Although administration of PHNO in an oral sustained-release form showed antiparkinsonian effectiveness,147 this drug was discontinued from further development before the transdermal delivery route could be tested in human subjects.