(−)-2-Methoxyethyl-18-methoxycoronaridinate (ME-18-MC) is a second generation synthetic derivative of
ibogaine developed by the research team led by the pharmacologist
Stanley D. Glick from the
Albany Medical College and the chemist
Martin E. Kuehne from the
University of Vermont.[1] In animal studies it has shown similar efficacy to the related compound
18-methoxycoronaridine (18-MC) at reducing self-administration of
morphine and
methamphetamine but with higher potency by weight, showing anti-addictive effects at the equivalent of half the minimum effective dose of 18-MC. Similarly to 18-MC itself, ME-18-MC acts primarily as a selective
α3β4 nicotinic acetylcholine antagonist, although it has a slightly stronger effect than 18-MC as an
NMDA antagonist, and its effects on
opioid receptors are weaker than those of 18-MC at all except the
kappa opioid receptor, at which it has slightly higher affinity than 18-MC.[2][3]