nornicotine

Nornicotine is a small molecule alkaloid and a demethylated derivative of nicotine, found naturally in tobacco plants and produced as a primary metabolite of nicotine in the brain. It acts as an agonist at neuronal nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs), with significant potency at $\alpha$7 and $\alpha$6-containing subtypes. Yaupon Therapeutics was developing an oral, once-daily formulation of nornicotine (YP-101) for smoking cessation and the treatment of nicotine dependence. The drug was intended to provide a more stable and potentially less addictive alternative to nicotine replacement therapies. However, the clinical development program for nornicotine was ultimately discontinued.

Other names

3-(pyrrolidin-2-yl)pyridine2-(3-pyridyl)pyrrolidine