[Research on new AMPA antagonists of the 2,3-benzodiazepine type]

This article is a written version of a lecture held at the 50th anniversary of the foundation of Institute for Drug Research. It describes the chain of ideas as well as the most interesting studies made during our structure-activity relationship investigations with AMPA antagonists of 2,3-benzodiazepine type, which led to the discovery of several new types of active non competitive AMPA antagonists. One proprietary molecule (GYKI-47261) exerts a broad spectrum of anticonvulsive and excellent neuroprotective effects and is going to be developed.