Background:

URB597, also known as KDS-4103, is a potent and selective inhibitor of fatty-acid amide hydrolase (FAAH), an enzyme catalyzing the intracellular hydrolysis of the endocannabinoid anandamide, with values of 50% inhibition concentration IC₅₀of 5 nM and 3 nM in rat brain membranes and human liver microsomes respectively. Study results have shown that, through intraperitoneal (i.p.) administration, URB597 potently inhibits FAAH in rat brain with a median inhibitory dose ID₅₀of 0.15 mh/kg. However, URB597 fails to show significant inhibition against a few other cannabinoid-related targets (such as cannabinoid receptors and anandamide transport) as well as a broad range of receptors, ion channels, transporters and enymes.

Reference

[1].Daniele Piomelli, Giorgio Tarzia, Andrea Duranti, Andrea Tontini, Marco Mor, Timothy R. Compton, Oliver Dasse, Edward P. Monaghan, Jeff A. Parrot and David Putman. Pharmacological profile of the selective FAAH inhibitor KDS-4103 (URB597). CNS Drug Review 2006; 12(1): 21-38