XAP044 is an antagonist of the metabotropic glutamate (mGlu) receptor 7 (mGluR7), inhibiting lateral amygdala long term potentiation in brain slices from wild-type mice with an IC50 value of 88 nM. This effect is absent in mGluR7-deficient mice. XAP044 demonstrates good brain penetrance, producing wide spectrum anti-stress and antidepressant- and anxiolytic-like efficacy in rodent behavioral tests.
