Preclinical progress with CHF2819, a novel orally active acetylcholinesterase inhibitor

(-)-(3aS,8aS,1S)-1,2,3,3a,8,8a-hexahydro-1,3a,8-trimethylpyrrolo[2,3-b]indol-5-ol-2′-ethylphenylcarbamate N-oxide hydrochloride (CHF2819) is a novel, orally active acetylcholinesterase inhibitor (AChEI) for Alzheimer's disease (AD). CHF2819 appears as a selective inhibitor of AChE, being 115 times more potent against this enzyme than butyrylcholinesterase (BuChE). Moreover, CHF2819 appears more selective for inhibiting central (brain) than peripheral (heart) AChE. In vivo studies show that CHF2819 significantly increases acetylcholine (ACh) levels in young adult rat hippocampus in a dose-dependent manner. Moreover, aged animals exhibit a marked increase in hippocampal concentrations of this…