7-(1,1-dimethylethyl)-6-(2-ethyl-2h-1,2,4-triazol-3-ylmethoxy)-3-(2-fluorophenyl)-1,2,4-triazolo[4,3-b]pyridazine : A functionally selective γ-aminobutyric AcidA (GABAA) α2/α3-subtype selective agonist that exhibits potent anxiolytic activity but is not sedating in animal models

There is increasing evidence that compounds with selectivity for γ-aminobutyric acid A (GABA A ) α2- and/or α3-subtypes may retain the desirable anxiolytic activity of nonselective benzodiazepines but possess an improved side effect profile. Herein we describe a novel series of GABA A a2/ a3 subtype-selective agonists leading to the identification of the development candidate 17, a nonsedating anxiolytic in preclinical animal assays.