Nerisopam [EGIS 6775, GYKI 52322] is a novel 2,3-benzodiazepine derivative with both anxiolytic and antipsychotic activity in animal studies. Nerisopam induces rapid, intense expression of Fos-like immunoreactivity in the rostral, dorsomedial and lateral parts of the striatum in the rat. The striatal neurons are the primary targets of this anxiolytic and antipsychotic drug in the central nervous system. Nerisopam does not bind to the central dopamine receptors, but it shows affinity to the 5-HT1 receptors (IC50 = 7.1 x 10(-6) mol/l) and inhibits brain cAMP-phosphodiesterase (IC50 = 2.4 x 10(-5) mol/l). Nerisopam development for the treatment of anxiety disorder and schizophrenia were discontinued in phase 1.