AKO-002, or AKO002, is a
combination
In mathematics, a combination is a selection of items from a set that has distinct members, such that the order of selection does not matter (unlike permutations). For example, given three fruits, say an apple, an orange and a pear, there are ...
of the
non-selective serotonin receptor agonist
A serotonin receptor agonist is an agonist of one or more serotonin receptors. They activate serotonin receptors in a manner similar to that of serotonin (5-hydroxytryptamine; 5-HT), a neurotransmitter and hormone and the endogenous ligand of t ...
and
serotonergic psychedelic
Psychedelics are a subclass of hallucinogenic drugs whose primary effect is to trigger non-ordinary mental states (known as psychedelic experiences or "trips") and a perceived "expansion of consciousness". Also referred to as classic halluci ...
psilocybin
Psilocybin, also known as 4-phosphoryloxy-''N'',''N''-dimethyltryptamine (4-PO-DMT), is a natural product, naturally occurring tryptamine alkaloid and Investigational New Drug, investigational drug found in more than List of psilocybin mushroom ...
and an undisclosed "specific plant bioactive" which is under development for the treatment of
Alzheimer's disease
Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a neurodegenerative disease and the cause of 60–70% of cases of dementia. The most common early symptom is difficulty in remembering recent events. As the disease advances, symptoms can include problems wit ...
.
While the "specific plant bioactive" in the combination and the action of this compound have not been disclosed, certain plant compounds, such as the
β-carboline harmine
Harmine is a β-carboline and a harmala alkaloid. It occurs in a number of different plants, most notably ''Peganum harmala'' and ''Banisteriopsis caapi''. Harmine reversibly inhibits monoamine oxidase A (MAO-A), an enzyme which breaks down mono ...
in ''
Banisteriopsis caapi
''Banisteriopsis caapi'', also known as, caapi, soul vine, yagé (yage), or ayahuasca (the latter of which also refers to the psychedelic decoction made with the vine and a plant source of dimethyltryptamine) is a South American liana of the fam ...
'', are
reversible monoamine oxidase A
Monoamine oxidase A, also known as MAO-A, is an enzyme ( E.C. 1.4.3.4) that in humans is encoded by the ''MAOA'' gene. This gene is one of two neighboring gene family members that encode mitochondrial enzymes which catalyze the oxidative dea ...
(MAO-A)
inhibitor
Inhibitor or inhibition may refer to:
Biology
* Enzyme inhibitor, a substance that binds to an enzyme and decreases the enzyme's activity
* Reuptake inhibitor, a substance that increases neurotransmission by blocking the reuptake of a neurotransmi ...
s and inhibit the
metabolism
Metabolism (, from ''metabolē'', "change") is the set of life-sustaining chemical reactions in organisms. The three main functions of metabolism are: the conversion of the energy in food to energy available to run cellular processes; the co ...
of psychedelic
tryptamine
Tryptamine is an indolamine metabolite of the essential amino acid tryptophan. The chemical structure is defined by an indole—a fused benzene and pyrrole ring, and a 2-aminoethyl group at the second carbon (third aromatic atom, with the firs ...
s, in turn potentiating their effects.
AKO-002 is being developed by Akome Biotech.
As of March 2022, the drug is in the
preclinical research
In drug development, preclinical development (also termed preclinical studies or nonclinical studies) is a stage of research that begins before clinical trials (testing in humans) and during which important feasibility, iterative testing and dr ...
stage of development.
See also
*
List of investigational hallucinogens and entactogens
This is a list of investigational hallucinogens and entactogens, or hallucinogens and entactogens that are currently under formal development for clinical use but are not yet approved.
''Chemical/generic names are listed first, with developmenta ...
References
External links
AKO002 for Alzheimer's - Akome Biotech Ltd.
Combination drugs
Drugs with undisclosed chemical structures
Experimental drugs for Alzheimer's disease
Experimental hallucinogens
Psychedelic drugs
Serotonin receptor agonists
{{Hallucinogen-stub