This is a list of investigational obsessive–compulsive disorder drugs, or drugs that are currently under development for clinical use in the treatment of obsessive–compulsive disorder (OCD) but are not yet approved. Chemical/generic names are listed first, with developmental code names, synonyms, and brand names in parentheses. The format of list items is "Name (Synonyms) – Mechanism of Action [Reference]". This list was last comprehensively updated in September 2025. It is likely to become outdated with time.
Under development
Phase 2 BP-1.4979 (BP-1.4979; BP-14979; BP14979) – dopamine D3 receptor partial agonist Psilocybin (SYNP-101; synthetic psilocybin) – non-selective serotonin receptor agonist and psychedelic hallucinogen [1]
Phase 1 Carbidopa/oxytriptan (EVX-101; carbidopa/oxitriptan; carbidopa/5-HTP) – combination of carbidopa (aromatic L-amino-acid decarboxylase (AAAD) inhibitor) and oxytriptan (5-HTP; serotonin precursor) [2] Psilocybin (MLS-101) – non-selective serotonin receptor agonist and psychedelic hallucinogen [3]
Preclinical HBL20017 – non-hallucinogenic non-selective serotonin receptor agonist
Research Research programme: obsessive-compulsive disorder therapeutics - Serenatis Bio – dopamine modulators and glutamate modulators [4]
Not under development
No development reported Agomelatine (AGO-178; AGO178C; Alodil; Melitor; S-20098; S-20098-F55; Thymanax; Valdoxan; Vestin) – melatonin MT1 and MT2 receptor agonist and weak serotonin 5-HT2C receptor antagonist [5] Ketamine (AWKN-001; AWKN-P-001) – ionotropic glutamate NMDA receptor antagonist [6] Research programme: Cannabidiol therapeutics - Phytecs (4'-F-CBD; fluorinated cannabidiol; HUF-102; HUF-103) – cannabinoid receptor modulators [7] Research programme: cannabis extract therapeutics - Cannabis Science (CBIS compounds) – cannabinoid receptor modulators [8] Research programme: central nervous system therapeutics - AbbVie/Rugen – undefined mechanism of action [9] Research programme: GPCR modulators - Nxera Pharma – various actions [10] Research programme: orexin receptor antagonists - Rottapharm (CR-5542) – orexin receptor antagonists [11] Research programme: serotonin reuptake inhibitors/serotonin 1A receptor antagonists - Pfizer (SSA-426; SSRI/5HT1A receptor antagonist; WAY-163426; WAY-211612; WAY-253752; WAY-426) – serotonin reuptake inhibitors and serotonin 5-HT1A receptor antagonists [12] Risperidone (JNJ-410397-AAA; R-64766; R064766; Risperdal; Risperdal Consta; Risperdal Depot) – atypical antipsychotic (non-selective monoamine receptor modulator [13]
Discontinued Bitopertin (DISC-1459; R-1678; RG-6178; RG1678; RO-4917838) – glycine transporter 1 (GlyT1) inhibitor and glycine reuptake inhibitor [14] Cycloserine (D-cycloserine; TIK-101) – ionotropic glutamate NMDA receptor partial agonist and other actions [15] DSP-1181 – serotonin 5-HT1A receptor agonist [16] [17] F-14258 – serotonin 5-HT1B and 5-HT1D receptor antagonist [18] Mavoglurant (AFQ-056; STP-7) – metabotropic glutamate mGlu5 receptor antagonist [19] Minocycline (NPL-2003) – various actions and "glutamate modulator" [20] Naltrexone/fluoxetine (fluoxetine/naltrexone; OREX-004) – combination of naltrexone (opioid receptor antagonist) and fluoxetine (selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI)) [21] Ondansetron (Setrodon; TO-2061) – serotonin 5-HT3 receptor antagonist [22] Ro-600175 (Ro600175) – serotonin 5-HT2C receptor agonist [23] Roxindole (EMD-49980) – non-selective monoamine receptor modulator [24] SB-200646 (SB-200646A) – serotonin 5-HT2B and 5-HT2C receptor antagonist [25] Secretin (INN-329; RG-1068; SecreFlo; synthetic human secretin) – secretin receptor agonist and medical imaging enhancer [26] [27] Troriluzole (BHV-4157; Dazluma; FC-4157; trigriluzole) – various actions (riluzole prodrug) [28]
Formal development never or not yet started Antiandrogens (e.g., flutamide, cyproterone acetate, triptorelin) Cannabinoids (e.g., nabilone, tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), cannabis) Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) (e.g., celecoxib, naproxen) Rituximab (Rituxan) – monoclonal antibody against CD20 Serotonin 5-HT6 receptor agonists (e.g., WAY-181187, WAY-208466) Tolcapone (Tasmar) – catechol-O-methyltransferase (COMT) inhibitor
Clinically used drugs
Approved drugs
Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) Escitalopram (Cipralex; Entact; Lexapro; LU-26054; MLD-55; (S)-citalopram; Seroplex; Sipralex; Sipralexa) – selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) [29] Fluoxetine (LY-110140; Prozac; Prozac Weekly; Reneuron; Sarafem) – selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) [30] Fluoxetine – selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) [31] Fluvoxamine (Depromel; Luvox; Luvox CR; SME-3110) – selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) and sigma σ1 receptor agonist [32] Paroxetine (Aropax; BRL-29060; Deroxat; Divarius; FG-7051; Frosinor; Motivan; NNC-207051; Paxil; Paxil CR; Seroxat; SI-211103; Tagonis) – selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) [33] Paroxetine (Dropax; Dropaxin; Serestill) – selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) [34] Sertraline (Aremis; Besitran; CP-51974; CP-51974-01; Gladem; J Zoloft; Lustral; Serad; Serlain; Tatig; Zoloft) – selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) [35]
Tricyclic antidepressants (TCAs) Clomipramine (Anafranil) – tricyclic antidepressant (TCA) (non-selective monoamine reuptake inhibitor and receptor modulator) [36]
Off-label drugs Anticonvulsants (e.g., lamotrigine, topiramate) Antipsychotics (non-selective monoamine receptor modulators) (e.g., aripiprazole, haloperidol, olanzapine, quetiapine, risperidone) Anxiolytics (e.g., benzodiazepines, buspirone) Entactogens (e.g., midomafetamine/MDMA) Monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs) (e.g., phenelzine, tranylcypromine, moclobemide) NMDA receptor antagonists (e.g., memantine, ketamine) Serotonergic psychedelics (e.g., psilocybin, lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD), dimethyltryptamine (DMT)) Serotonin 5-HT3 receptor antagonist (e.g., ondansetron, granisetron, tropisetron) Serotonin–norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs) (e.g., desvenlafaxine, duloxetine, venlafaxine) Stimulants (e.g., dextroamphetamine)
See also List of investigational drugs
References
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