AQW-051 also known as VQW-765 is an orally available, highly selective partial agonist of the alpha-7 nicotinic receptor (nAChR) developed by Novartis as a central nervous system agent aimed at improving cognitive function in disorders such as schizophrenia and Alzheimer's disease, and for reducing L-DopaâÂÂinduced dyskinesias in Parkinson's disease. AQW-051 had reached Phase 2 clinical trials for conditions like schizophrenia and ParkinsonâÂÂs disease, but development for AlzheimerâÂÂs disease has been discontinued.
It was later licensed it to Vanda Pharmaceuticals and who are evaluating it in phase 3 clinical trials for phobic disorders and social anxiety.