Emicerfont

Emicerfont

Clinical data
Routes of administration	Oral
ATC code	None
Identifiers
IUPAC name 1-[1-[1-(4-methoxy-2-methylphenyl)-6-methyl-2,3-dihydropyrrolo[2,3-b]pyridin-4-yl]pyrazol-3-yl]imidazolidin-2-one
CAS Number	786701-13-1
PubChem CID	11223423
ChemSpider	9398476
UNII	OJ8EG4264P
KEGG	D09610
Chemical and physical data
Formula	C22H24N6O2
Molar mass	404.465 g/mol
3D model (JSmol)	Interactive image
SMILES CC1=C(C=CC(=C1)OC)N2CCC3=C2N=C(C=C3N4C=CC(=N4)N5CCNC5=O)C

Emicerfont (GW-876,008) is a drug developed by GlaxoSmithKline which acts as a CRF-1 antagonist. Corticotropin releasing factor (CRF), also known as Corticotropin releasing hormone, is an endogenous peptide hormone which is released in response to various triggers such as chronic stress, and activates the two corticotropin-releasing hormone receptors: CRF₁ and CRF₂. This then triggers the release of corticotropin (ACTH), another hormone which is involved in the physiological response to stress.

Emicerfont blocks the CRF₁ receptor, and so reduces ACTH release. It has been investigated for the treatment of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and alcoholism, and while it was not effective enough to be adopted for medical use in these applications, it continues to be used for research, as the role of the CRH-ACTH system in IBS remains poorly understood.