KH-001
Pharmaceutical compound
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
KH-001 is an atypical serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SRI) and phosphodiesterase (PDE) inhibitor which is under development for the treatment of premature ejaculation.[1][5][4][2][6][3][7] It is taken on-demand orally.[1][4][2][3]
| Clinical data | |
|---|---|
| Other names | KH001 |
| Routes of administration | Oral[1][2][3] |
| Drug class | Atypical serotonin reuptake inhibitor; Phosphodiesterase inhibitor |
| Pharmacokinetic data | |
| Onset of action | 15–20 minutes (Tmax)[4][3] |
| Duration of action | <4 hours[3] |
The drug is a purified alkaloid derived from the South African plant Sceletium tortuosum (kanna).[3][2][6] It is said to be selective and to have high potency as a serotonin reuptake inhibitor and phosphodiesterase inhibitor.[4][3] In addition, KH-001 has atypical properties as a serotonin reuptake inhibitor, including a rapid onset of therapeutic effectiveness rather than requiring chronic administration.[4] KH-001 has been found to increase latency to ejaculation in male rats treated acutely with para-chloroamphetamine (PCA) to induce ejaculation.[6][3] The pharmacokinetics of KH-001 in humans have been studied.[3] It showed a rapid onset and a short duration.[3] The drug is described as a potential first-in-class medication.[4]
KH-001 is under development by Kadence Bio (formerly Kanna Health).[1][5] As of November 2024, it is in phase 1 clinical trials.[1][5] Phase 2 trials were planned to begin in 2025.[8] The chemical structure of KH-001 does not yet appear to have been disclosed.[1] However, Kanna Health patented synthetic analogues of mesembrine with activity as serotonin reuptake inhibitors in 2023, with KH-001 being indicated as one of the compounds in the patent.[7][8][9]