Deramciclane is a novel anxiolytic agent that binds with high affinity to 5-HT _2A / _2C receptors. The interactions of Deramciclane with the serotonin 5-HT _2C receptor are further characterized using receptor phosphoinositide hydrolysis assays and receptor autoradiography. Deramciclane antagonizes 5-HT _2C receptor mediated 5-HT-stimulated phosphoinositide hydrolysis with an IC ₅₀ value of 168 nM. Deramciclane also decreases basal phosphoinositide hydrolysis by up to 33% (EC ₅₀ = 93 nM) in a physiological system in the choroid plexus, suggesting that Deramciclane possesses inverse agonist properties at this receptor.

Deramciclane 3 and 10 mg/kg does not change the dopamine levels significantly at any time point versus the basal level whereas 30 mg/kg of Deramciclane significantly increases the levels at 40-100 min and at 160-240 min (P<0.05). Deramciclane is a putative antiserotonergic compound that reduces 5-HT-induced phosphoinositol hydrolysis and a variety of actions caused by serotonergic agonists. The receptor binding profile of Deramciclane is rather similar to that of ritanserin. Deramciclane has a high affinity for 5-HT _2A and 5-HT _2C receptors; it acts as an antagonist at both receptor subtypes and has inverse agonist properties at the 5-HT _{2C < /sub> receptors without direct stimulatory agonist effects. Deramciclane has been shown to have anxiolytic-like activity in several animal tests.}