List of investigational aggression drugs

This is a dynamic list and may never be able to satisfy particular standards for completeness. You can help by adding missing items with reliable sources.

This is a list of investigational aggression drugs, or drugs that are currently under development for clinical use in the treatment of aggression but are not yet approved. Drugs used to treat aggression may also be known as "serenics".^[1]

Chemical/generic names are listed first, with developmental code names, synonyms, and brand names in parentheses.

This list was last comprehensively updated in February 2025. It is likely to become outdated with time.

Under development

Phase 3

• Molindone (AFX 2201; EN-1733A; -810; SPN-810M; Zalvari) – antipsychotic (non-selective monoamine receptor modulator) – specifically for aggression in children and adolescents with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)^[2][3][4]

Phase 2

• Vafidemstat (ORY-2001) – lysine-specific demethylase 1 (LSD1; KDM1A) and monoamine oxidase B (MAO-B) inhibitor^[5]

Preclinical

• SRX251 – vasopressin V_1A receptor antagonist – no recent development since 2007^[6][7]

Not under development

No development reported

• Eltoprazine (DU-28853) – serotonin 5-HT_1A and 5-HT_1B receptor agonist and serotonin 5-HT_2C receptor antagonist^[8][1]
• Zolmitriptan (ML-004) – serotonin 5-HT_1B and 5-HT_1D receptor agonist^[9][10][11]

Development discontinued

• Batoprazine – serotonin 5-HT_1A and 5-HT_1B receptor agonist^[12][1]
• Mibampator (LY-451395) – ionotropic glutamate AMPA receptor positive allosteric modulator^[13]
• Olanzapine intranasal (INP-105; POD™ olanzapine) – atypical antipsychotic (non-selective monoamine receptor modulator)^[14]
• Risperidone extended-release (Risperisphere) – atypical antipsychotic (non-selective monoamine receptor modulator)^[15]

Formal development never or not yet started

• Antiandrogens (e.g., cyproterone acetate, medroxyprogesterone acetate, GnRH modulators)^{[16][17][18][19]}
• Other serotonin 5-HT_1A and 5-HT_1B receptor agonists (e.g., fluprazine)^[1][20]
• Selective 5-HT_1B receptor agonists (e.g., anpirtoline, CP-94253)^{[21][22][23][24]}
• Serotonin 5-HT_2C receptor agonists (e.g., lorcaserin)^{[25][26][27][28]}
• Serotonin releasing agents (e.g., fenfluramine)^[29]
• Trace amine-associated receptor 1 (TAAR1) agonists (e.g., RO5263397)^[30][21]

Clinically used drugs

Approved drugs

• Olanzapine (Zyprexa) – atypical antipsychotic (non-selective monoamine receptor modulator)^[31]
• Paliperidone (Invega) – atypical antipsychotic (non-selective monoamine receptor modulator)^[32]
• Risperidone (Risperdal) – atypical antipsychotic (non-selective monoamine receptor modulator)^[33]

Off-label drugs

• α₂-Adrenergic receptor agonists (e.g., clonidine, dexmedetomidine, guanfacine)^[34][35]
• Anticonvulsants (e.g., valproic acid, divalproex)^[36][37][35]
• Antidepressants (e.g., selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) like sertraline)^[38][39] (but may exacerbate aggression)^[40][41][42]
• Benzodiazepines (e.g., diazepam, lorazepam, midazolam)^[43][44][35] (but may exacerbate aggression)^{[45][46][47][41]}
• Beta blockers (β-adrenergic receptor antagonists) (e.g., propranolol, pindolol, nadolol)^[48][49]
• Lithium – mood stabilizer with unknown mechanism of action^[36][50]
• Norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (NRIs) (e.g., atomoxetine)^[34]
• Other antipsychotics (e.g., aripiprazole, chlorpromazine, droperidol, haloperidol, quetiapine, thioridazine)^{[36][44][51][52][35]}
• Psychostimulants (e.g., amphetamine, methylphenidate)^{[34][36][53][54][37][49]} (but may exacerbate aggression)^[53][41]

See also

• List of investigational drugs
• List of investigational agitation drugs
• List of investigational borderline personality disorder drugs
• List of investigational autism and pervasive developmental disorder drugs
• Serenic
• Anger § Medication therapy
• Entactogen