Routes of
administration Oral CAS Number 885220-61-1 ECHA InfoCard 100.158.110 Molar mass 406.48 g/mol | ATC code none PubChem CID 11596613 Formula C22H26N6O2 ChemSpider ID 28295024 | |
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Verucerfont (GSK-561,679) 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 CRH-1 and CRH-2. This then triggers the release of corticotropin (ACTH), another hormone which is involved in the physiological response to stress.
Verucerfont blocks the CRH-1 receptor, and so reduces ACTH release following chronic stress. It is under investigation as a potential treatment for alcoholism, as chronic stress is often a factor in both development of alcoholism and relapse in recovering alcoholics. It has shown promising results in animal studies but has not been tested in humans.