ABT-384

ABT-384 is a potent and selective small molecule inhibitor of 11β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 1 (HSD-1), an enzyme responsible for the regeneration of active cortisol from cortisone in several tissues. By inhibiting HSD-1, ABT-384 blocks the local production of cortisol, which has been hypothesized to contribute to cognitive impairment in conditions such as Alzheimer's disease. The drug was developed by AbbVie and has been investigated primarily for the treatment of Alzheimer's disease. Despite achieving complete brain HSD-1 inhibition in clinical trials, it did not demonstrate symptomatic improvement in patients with mild-to-moderate Alzheimer's disease and development was discontinued after phase II studies[1][4][6][7].