Chemical Properties
Pale Yellow Solid
Uses
Almotriptan is a serotonin 5HT1B /1D-receptor agonist used for treatment of migraine.
Definition
ChEBI: The malate salt of almotriptan.
Originator
Almogran ,Lundbeck
Manufacturing Process
To a solution of previously dried 1-[[2-carboxy-3-(2-dimethylaminoethyl)-5-
indolyl]methanesulphonyl]-pyrrolidine (1.6 g; 0.0442 moles) in anhydrous
quinoline (75 ml) and under atmosphere of nitrogen, cuprous oxide (160 mg;
0.0011 moles) was added. The reaction mixture was heated to 190°C for 15
minutes, stirred to room temperature, poured into a mixture of 1 N
hydrochloric acid (150 ml) and ethyl acetate (50 ml), shaken and decanted.
The aqueous solution was washed several times with ethyl acetate, then solid
sodium bicarbonate was added until pH = 7.8, and washed with n-hexane to
eliminate the quinoline. The aqueous solution was made alkaline with solid
potassium carbonate and extracted with ethyl acetate. The organic solution
was dried (Na2SO4), the solvent removed under reduced pressure when a
dark oil was obtained (1.3 g; yield 92%). This product was purified by column
chromatography with silica gel and methylene chloride:ethanol:ammonium
hydroxide (60:8:1) as eluent and a white foam (0.8 g) of 1-[[3-(2-
dimethylaminoethyl)-5-indolyl]methanesulphonyl]-pyrrolidine was obtained. To
a solution of the above product (0.8 g) in acetone (30 ml), a few drops of
hydrogen chloride saturated dioxan solution, were added. The precipitated
solid was collected by filtration, washed with acetone and dried to give 1-[(3-
(2-(dimethylamino)ethyl)-5-indolyl)methanesulphonyl]-pyrrolidine
hydrochloride (0.75 g). Melting point 218°-220°C.
In practice it is usually used as malate salt.
Brand name
Axert (Ortho-McNeil).
Therapeutic Function
Migraine therapy
General Description
Almotriptan, marketed in 2000, has the highest oralbioavailability among all triptans. It is metabolizedby both MAO-A and CYP3A4, thus has a more favorableside effects profile when compared with sumatriptan.However, it is only available in a 12.5 mg tablet form.
Biochem/physiol Actions
Almotriptan is a serotonin 5HT-1B/1D-receptor agonist used to treat migraine. Almotriptan has low nanomolar affinity for the 5-HT(1B) and 5-HT(1D) receptors while affinity for 5-HT receptors other than 5-HT(1B/1D) is substantially lower. Affinity for 5-HT(7) and 5-HT(1A) receptors was approximately 40 and 60 times lower than that for 5-HT(1B/1D) receptors, respectively.
