zanvipixant

Zanvipixant (JNJ-55308942) is an orally active, brain-penetrant, and highly selective small molecule antagonist of the **P2X7 receptor** (P2RX7). The P2X7 receptor is an ATP-gated ion channel expressed on microglial cells in the central nervous system, where it plays a critical role in the activation of the **NLRP3 inflammasome** and the subsequent release of the proinflammatory cytokine **interleukin-1β (IL-1β)**. By inhibiting P2X7 signaling, zanvipixant aims to attenuate neuroinflammation, which is hypothesized to be a key driver in the pathophysiology of mood disorders. Developed by Janssen Pharmaceuticals, the drug has been investigated primarily for the treatment of **bipolar depression** and **major depressive disorder**, with clinical trials also utilizing PET imaging ligands to confirm target engagement in the human brain.

Other names

zanvipixantum