Pynegabine

Pynegabine is a Kv7.2 and Kv7.3 potassium channel opener which is under development for the treatment of epilepsy in China. The drug is an analogue of flupirtine and retigabine (ezogabine). However, it shows 55-fold greater potency in activating Kv7.2 channels and 127-fold greater potency in activating Kv7.3 channels compared to retigabine in vitro. In addition, it shows improved chemical or metabolic stability compared to retigabine and in relation to this may have reduced toxicity in comparison. The drug is under development by the Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica and Hainan Haiyao. As of 2026, it is in phase 2 clinical trials for epilepsy.

Pynegabine

Pharmaceutical compound

Pynegabine

Clinical data
Other names	HN-37
Routes of administration	Oral[1][2]
Drug class	Kv7.2 and Kv7.3 potassium channel opener
Identifiers
IUPAC name methyl N-[4-[(4-fluorophenyl)methyl-prop-2-ynylamino]-2,6-dimethylphenyl]carbamate
CAS Number	1821222-10-9
PubChem CID	92045023
ChemSpider	115007893
ChEMBL	ChEMBL5180351
PDB ligand	9MF (PDBe, RCSB PDB)
Chemical and physical data
Formula	C20H21FN2O2
Molar mass	340.398 g·mol−1
3D model (JSmol)	Interactive image
SMILES CC1=CC(=CC(=C1NC(=O)OC)C)N(CC#C)CC2=CC=C(C=C2)F
InChI InChI=1S/C20H21FN2O2/c1-5-10-23(13-16-6-8-17(21)9-7-16)18-11-14(2)19(15(3)12-18)22-20(24)25-4/h1,6-9,11-12H,10,13H2,2-4H3,(H,22,24) Key:HXUBJZRAVCPBRH-UHFFFAOYSA-N

Pynegabine (developmental code name HN37) is a K_v7.2 and K_v7.3 potassium channel opener which is under development for the treatment of epilepsy in China.^[3][1][2] The drug is an analogue of flupirtine and retigabine (ezogabine).^[1][2][4] However, it shows 55-fold greater potency in activating K_v7.2 channels and 127-fold greater potency in activating K_v7.3 channels compared to retigabine in vitro.^[1] In addition, it shows improved chemical or metabolic stability compared to retigabine and in relation to this may have reduced toxicity in comparison.^[1][2] The drug is under development by the Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica and Hainan Haiyao.^[3][1][2] As of 2026, it is in phase 2 clinical trials for epilepsy.^[3][1][2]

See also

• Retigabine
• Flupirtine
• Azetukalner
• Opakalim

References

1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Perucca E, Taglialatela M (March 2025). "Targeting Kv7 Potassium Channels for Epilepsy". CNS Drugs. 39 (3): 263–288. doi:10.1007/s40263-024-01155-3. PMC 11850491. PMID 39853501.
2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Pelorosso C, Balestrini S, Guerrini R (May 2026). "Potassium channel agonists emerging as treatment options for focal epilepsy: are we breaking new ground?". Expert Opinion on Emerging Drugs: 1–8. doi:10.1080/14728214.2026.2675274. PMID 42153277.
3. 1 2 3 "Delving into the Latest Updates on Pynegabine with Synapse". Synapse. 7 March 2026. Retrieved 31 May 2026.
4. ↑ Zhang YM, Xu HY, Hu HN, Tian FY, Chen F, Liu HN, et al. (May 2021). "Discovery of HN37 as a Potent and Chemically Stable Antiepileptic Drug Candidate". Journal of Medicinal Chemistry. 64 (9): 5816–5837. doi:10.1021/acs.jmedchem.0c02252. PMID 33929863.