Ocinaplon is an anxiolytic

Anxiolytic

An anxiolytic is a drug used for the treatment of anxiety, and its related psychological and physical symptoms...

 drug in the pyrazolopyrimidine

Pyrazolopyrimidine

Pyrazolopyrimidine is a heterocyclic chemical compound with the molecular formula C6H5N3. It forms the central core of a variety of more complex chemical compounds including some pharmaceuticals and pesticides.-Pharmaceuticals:...

 family of drugs. Other pyrazolopyrimidine drugs include zaleplon

Zaleplon

Zaleplon is a sedative/hypnotic, mainly used for insomnia. It is a nonbenzodiazepine hypnotic from the pyrazolopyrimidine class. In terms of adverse effects zaleplon appears to offer little improvement compared to both benzodiazepines and other non-benzodiazepine Z-drugs.Sonata is manufactured by...

 and indiplon

Indiplon

Indiplon is a nonbenzodiazepine, hypnotic sedative being developed in 2 formulations - an immediate release product for sleep onset and a modified-release version for sleep maintenance.- Mode of action :...

.

Ocinaplon has a similar pharmacological profile to the benzodiazepine

Benzodiazepine

A benzodiazepine is a psychoactive drug whose core chemical structure is the fusion of a benzene ring and a diazepine ring...

 family of drugs, but with mainly anxiolytic properties and relatively little sedative

Sedative

A sedative or tranquilizer is a substance that induces sedation by reducing irritability or excitement....

 or amnestic effect.

Mechanism of action

The mechanism of action by which ocinaplon produces its anxiolytic effects is by modulating GABA_A receptors, although ocinaplon is more subtype-selective than most benzodiazepines.

Availability

Development of ocinaplon is discontinued due to liver complications that occurred in one of the Phase III subjects.