{{Short description|Class of compounds}} [[File:Core structure of imidazopyridines.svg|thumb|right|upright=1|class=skin-invert-image|alt=Imidazo[1,2-a]pyridine—an example of imidazopyridine and a core structure of zolpidem and some compounds described below.|Imidazo[1,2-a]pyridine—an example of imidazopyridine and a core structure of zolpidem and some compounds described below.]]

An '''imidazopyridine''' is a nitrogen containing heterocycle that is also a class of drugs that contain this same chemical substructure. In general, they are GABA<sub>A</sub> receptor agonists, however recently proton pump inhibitors, aromatase inhibitors, NSAIDs and other classes of drugs in this class have been developed as well. Despite usually being similar to them in effect, they are not chemically related to benzodiazepines. As such, GABA<sub>A</sub>-agonizing imidazopyridines, pyrazolopyrimidines, and cyclopyrrones are sometimes grouped together and referred to as "nonbenzodiazepines." Imidazopyridines include:

center|upright=1|class=skin-invert-image|alt=All existing unsubstituted imidazopyridines|All existing unsubstituted imidazopyridines

== Sedatives == Anxiolytics, sedatives and hypnotics (GABA<sub>A</sub> receptor positive allosteric modulators): * Imidazo[1,2-a]pyridines: ** Alpidem (original brand name Ananxyl)—an anxiolytic that was withdrawn from the market worldwide in 1995 due to hepatotoxicity. ** DS-1—a GABA<sub>A</sub> receptor positive allosteric modulator selective for the α<sub>4</sub>β<sub>3</sub>δ subtype, which is not targeted by other GABAergics such as benzodiazepines or other nonbenzodiazepines.<ref>{{cite journal | vauthors = Wafford KA, van Niel MB, Ma QP, Horridge E, Herd MB, Peden DR, Belelli D, Lambert JJ | display-authors = 6 | title = Novel compounds selectively enhance delta subunit containing GABA A receptors and increase tonic currents in thalamus | journal = Neuropharmacology | volume = 56 | issue = 1 | pages = 182–9 | date = January 2009 | pmid = 18762200 | doi = 10.1016/j.neuropharm.2008.08.004 | s2cid = 207224202 }}</ref> ** Necopidem—an anxiolytic. It has not found clinical use. ** Saripidem—a sedative and anxiolytic. It is not used clinically. ** TP-003—a subtype-selective partial agonist at GABA<sub>A</sub> receptors, binding to GABA<sub>A</sub> receptor complexes bearing either α<sub>2</sub>, α<sub>3</sub> or α<sub>5</sub> subunits, but only showing significant efficacy at α<sub>3</sub>. ** Zolpidem (original brand name Ambien)—a widely used hypnotic. Generic versions are widely available. * Imidazo[4,5-c]pyridines: ** Bamaluzole—a GABA<sub>A</sub> receptor-agonizing anticonvulsant that was never marketed.<ref name="isbn0-412-46630-9">{{cite book | author = David J. Triggle | title = Dictionary of Pharmacological Agents | publisher = Chapman & Hall/CRC | location = Boca Raton | year = 1996 | isbn = 0-412-46630-9 | url = https://books.google.com/books?id=DeX7jgInYFMC&q=Bamaluzole&pg=PA215}}</ref>

== Antipsychotic == Antipsychotics: * Imidazo[1,2-a]pyridines: ** Mosapramine (brand name クレミン, Cremin)—an atypical antipsychotic used in Japan.<ref>{{cite journal | vauthors = Takahashi N, Terao T, Oga T, Okada M | title = Comparison of risperidone and mosapramine addition to neuroleptic treatment in chronic schizophrenia | journal = Neuropsychobiology | volume = 39 | issue = 2 | pages = 81–5 | date = 1999 | pmid = 10072664 | doi = 10.1159/000026565 | s2cid = 6554048 }}</ref>

== Gastrointestinal == Drugs used for peptic ulcer disease (PUD), GERD and gastroprokinetic agents (motility stimulants): * Imidazo[1,2-a]pyridines: ** CJ-033466—an experimental gastroprokinetic acting as a selective 5-HT<sub>4</sub> serotonin receptor partial agonist.<ref>{{cite journal | vauthors = Mikami T, Ochi Y, Suzuki K, Saito T, Sugie Y, Sakakibara M | title = 5-Amino-6-chloro-N-[(1-isobutylpiperidin-4-yl)methyl]-2-methylimidazo[1,2-alpha]pyridine-8-carboxamide (CJ-033,466), a novel and selective 5-hydroxytryptamine4 receptor partial agonist: pharmacological profile in vitro and gastroprokinetic effect in conscious dogs | journal = The Journal of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics | volume = 325 | issue = 1 | pages = 190–9 | date = April 2008 | pmid = 18198343 | doi = 10.1124/jpet.107.133850 | s2cid = 40500864 }}</ref> ** Zolimidine—a gastroprotective agent.<ref>{{cite journal | vauthors = Belohlavek D, Malfertheiner P | title = The effect of zolimidine, imidazopyridine-derivate, on the duodenal ulcer healing | journal = Scandinavian Journal of Gastroenterology. Supplement | volume = 54 | page = 44 | date = 1979 | pmid = 161649 }}</ref> ** Linaprazan—a potassium-competitive acid blocker which demonstrated similar efficacy as esomeprazole in healing and controlling symptoms of GERD patients with erosive esophagitis.<ref>{{cite journal | vauthors = Kahrilas PJ, Dent J, Lauritsen K, Malfertheiner P, Denison H, Franzén S, Hasselgren G | title = A randomized, comparative study of three doses of AZD0865 and esomeprazole for healing of reflux esophagitis | journal = Clinical Gastroenterology and Hepatology | volume = 5 | issue = 12 | pages = 1385–91 | date = December 2007 | pmid = 17950677 | doi = 10.1016/j.cgh.2007.08.014 | doi-access = free }}</ref> ** SCH28080—the prototypical potassium-competitive acid blocker which has not found clinical use because of liver toxicity in animal trials and elevated liver enzyme activity in the serum of human volunteers.<ref>{{cite web| vauthors = Ravinder Reddy S, Basavaraja HS, Shivaprasad S |title=Reversible Proton Pump Inhibitors: A Superior Edge — Features|url=http://www.pharmabiz.com/article/detnews.asp?articleid=21265&sectionid=46 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20160305125148/http://www.pharmabiz.com/article/detnews.asp?articleid=21265&sectionid=46 | archive-date = 5 March 2016 |website=Pharmabiz.com|publisher=Saffron Media Pvt. Ltd I|access-date=7 December 2015}}</ref> * Imidazo[4,5-b]pyridines: ** Tenatoprazole—it blocks the gastric proton pump leading to decline of gastric acid production.

== Anti-inflammatories == NSAIDs, analgesics and antimigraine drugs: * Imidazo[1,2-a]pyridines: ** Miroprofen—a derivative of propionic acid. * Imidazo[4,5-b]pyridines: ** Telcagepant—a calcitonin gene-related peptide receptor antagonist which was in clinical trials as a remedy for migraine. Its development was terminated.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.mercknewsroom.com/press-release/financial-news/merck-announces-second-quarter-2011-financial-results |title=Merck Announces Second Quarter 2011 Financial Results |access-date=6 December 2015 |archive-date=12 April 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130412063354/http://www.mercknewsroom.com/press-release/financial-news/merck-announces-second-quarter-2011-financial-results }}</ref>

== Cardiovascular == Drugs acting on the cardiovascular system: * Imidazo[1,2-a]pyridines: ** Olprinone (loprinone)—a cardiac stimulant.<ref>{{cite journal | vauthors = Uemura Y, Tanaka S, Ida S, Yuzuriha T | title = Pharmacokinetic study of loprinone hydrochloride, a new cardiotonic agent, in beagle dogs | journal = The Journal of Pharmacy and Pharmacology | volume = 45 | issue = 12 | pages = 1077–81 | date = December 1993 | pmid = 7908977 | doi = 10.1111/j.2042-7158.1993.tb07184.x | s2cid = 39583447 }}</ref>

== Bone == Drugs for treatment of bone diseases: * Imidazo[1,2-a]pyridines: ** Minodronic acid (brand names Bonoteo, Recalbon)—a third-generation bisphosphonate used for the treatment of osteoporosis.<ref>{{cite journal | vauthors = Hegde S, Schmidt M | title = To market, to market—2009. | journal = Annual Reports in Medicinal Chemistry | date = January 2010 | volume = 45 | pages = 466–537 | doi=10.1016/s0065-7743(10)45028-9| isbn = 978-0-12-380902-5 }}</ref>

== Antineoplastic == Antineoplastic agents: * Imidazo[1,5-a]pyridines: ** Fadrozole (brand name Afema)—an aromatase inhibitor. * Imidazo[4,5-c]pyridines: ** 3-Deazaneplanocin A—an ''S''-adenosyl-<small>L</small>-homocysteine synthesis inhibitor and histone methyltransferase EZH2 inhibitor.

== Antiviral == Directly-acting antiviral agents:

* Imidazo[1,2-a]pyridines: ** Tegobuvir (GS-9190) - an allosteric, non-nucleoside hepatitis C virus NS5B RNA-dependent RNA polymerase inhibitor targeting the thumb II allosteric site.<ref>{{cite journal | vauthors = Hebner CM, Han B, Brendza KM, Nash M, Sulfab M, Tian Y, Hung M, Fung W, Vivian RW, Trenkle J, Taylor J, Bjornson K, Bondy S, Liu X, Link J, Neyts J, Sakowicz R, Zhong W, Tang H, Schmitz U | display-authors = 6 | title = The HCV non-nucleoside inhibitor Tegobuvir utilizes a novel mechanism of action to inhibit NS5B polymerase function | journal = PLOS ONE | volume = 7 | issue = 6 | article-number = e39163 | date = 2012 | pmid = 22720059 | pmc = 3374789 | doi = 10.1371/journal.pone.0039163 | bibcode = 2012PLoSO...739163H | doi-access = free }}</ref> ==DAergic== *PIP3EA [885446-91-3] D4 agonist, shown to induce penile erection in rats.<ref name="x823">{{cite journal | last=Melis | first=Maria Rosaria | last2=Succu | first2=Salvatora | last3=Sanna | first3=Fabrizio | last4=Melis | first4=Tiziana | last5=Mascia | first5=Maria Stefania | last6=Enguehard‐Gueiffier | first6=Cécile | last7=Hubner | first7=Harald | last8=Gmeiner | first8=Peter | last9=Gueiffier | first9=Alain | last10=Argiolas | first10=Antonio | title=PIP3EA and PD‐168077, two selective dopamine D4 receptor agonists, induce penile erection in male rats: site and mechanism of action in the brain | journal=European Journal of Neuroscience | volume=24 | issue=7 | date=2006 | issn=0953-816X | doi=10.1111/j.1460-9568.2006.05043.x | pages=2021–2030}}</ref>

== References == {{reflist|2}} {{Use dmy dates|date=March 2017}}

==External links== *{{Commonscatinline|Imidazopyridines}}

{{Chemical classes of psychoactive drugs}}

Category:Imidazopyridines Category:Chemical classes of psychoactive drugs