AB-FUBINACA
AB-FUBINACA is a synthetic cannabinoid of the indazolecarboxamide class.1 Originally developed by Pfizer in 20091 as an analgesic, it was never pursued for human use and first surfaced in synthetic cannabinoid blends in Japan in 201221. It is a highly potent cannabinoid receptor agonist,3 and its extreme potency3—combined with its widespread inclusion in unregulated herbal blends1—poses significant overdose risk, with fatalities reported.
Contents
Dosage & Duration
Dosage
Subjective Effects
Effects vary widely by individual, dose, and context.
Physical
Cognitive
Auditory
Reagent Testing
Loading reagent data
Pharmacology
Pharmacodynamics
AB-FUBINACA acts as a potent agonist at both major cannabinoid receptors, with notably high affinity and potency at CB1 (Ki of 0.9 nM4, EC50 of 1.8 nM5). It also binds CB2, though with lower affinity (Ki of 23.2 nM). Its pronounced CB1 activity at sub-nanomolar concentrations underlies its extremely high potency relative to many other cannabinoid receptor ligands.
Pharmacokinetics
Tolerance
Cannabinoids (both synthetic and plant-derived)
Harm Potential
Addiction & Dependence
Toxicity
Its extremely high potency and inclusion in synthetic cannabinoid blends make it dangerous, and it has caused death in overdose, with use linked to hospitalizations and fatalities. In an August 2018 event in New Haven, Connecticut, over 100 people required emergency transport after using synthetic cannabis containing AB-FUBINACA, with several in critical or life-threatening condition; no deaths resulted from that incident, and first responders attributed those overdoses to opiate adulterants.
History & Culture
AB-FUBINACA was initially synthesized by Pfizer in 2009 during research into novel analgesic compounds.8 The pharmaceutical company never advanced the substance to human clinical trials, and it was subsequently abandoned as a potential medication.…
Legality
International
UNODC Schedule II (recommended December 2019)12
By Country
References
Source Pages
Citations
- Michael Hsin-Hung Chen, Aybike Dip, Mostafa Ahmed, Michael L. Tan, Jeffrey P. Walterscheid, Hua Sun, Ba-Bie Teng, & Ashraf Mozayani. (2016). Detection and Characterization of the Effect of AB-FUBINACA and Its Metabolites in a Rat Model. Journal of Cellular Biochemistry, 117(4), 1033–1043. https://doi.org/10.1002/jcb.254211234
- Nahoko Uchiyama, Satoru Matsuda, Daigo Wakana, Ruri Kikura-Hanajiri, & Yukihiro Goda. (2012-11-04). New cannabimimetic indazole derivatives, N-(1-amino-3-methyl-1-oxobutan-2-yl)-1-pentyl-1H-indazole-3-carboxamide (AB-PINACA) and N-(1-amino-3-methyl-1-oxobutan-2-yl)-1-(4-fluorobenzyl)-1H-indazole-3-carboxamide (AB-FUBINACA) identified as designer drugs in illegal products. Forensic Toxicology, 31(1), 93–100. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11419-012-0171-4123
- Samuel D. Banister, Michael Moir, Jordyn Stuart, Richard C. Kevin, Katie E. Wood, Mitchell Longworth, Shane M. Wilkinson, Corinne Beinat, Alexandra S. Buchanan, Michelle Glass, Mark Connor, Iain S. McGregor, & Michael Kassiou. (2015). Pharmacology of Indole and Indazole Synthetic Cannabinoid Designer Drugs AB-FUBINACA, ADB-FUBINACA, AB-PINACA, ADB-PINACA, 5F-AB-PINACA, 5F-ADB-PINACA, ADBICA, and 5F-ADBICA. ACS Chemical Neuroscience, 6(9), 1546–1559. https://doi.org/10.1021/acschemneuro.5b0011212
- World Health Organization. (2019). AB-FUBINACA: Critical Review Report. https://ecddrepository.org/sites/default/files/2023-04/final_ab-fubinaca.pdf123
- Sunjoo Kim, Dong Kyun Kim, Yongho Shin, Ji-Hyeon Jeon, Im-Sook Song, & Hye Suk Lee. (2020-10-08). In Vitro Interaction of AB-FUBINACA with Human Cytochrome P450, UDP-Glucuronosyltransferase Enzymes and Drug Transporters. Molecules, 25(19), Article 4589. https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules251945891234
- (2019). Synthetic cannabinoid use disorder: an update for general psychiatrists. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30663326/1
- (2024). A critical assessment of the abuse, dependence and associated safety risks of naturally occurring and synthetic cannabinoids. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyt.2024.13224341
- Pfizer Inc.. (2009). Indazole Derivatives (WO2009106982A1). WIPO. https://patents.google.com/patent/WO2009106982A1/en1
- (2018). New Haven overdoses: Officials say there were 25 overdoses in a 3-hour span, K2 synthetic marijuana consumption likely. CBS News. https://www.cbsnews.com/news/new-haven-overdoses-connecticut-new-haven-green-k2-synthetic-marijuana/12
- Dan Vergano. (2018). Experts Are Worried About A New Wave Of Dangerous Synthetic Cannabis. BuzzFeed News. https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/danvergano/synthetic-marijuana-spice-ab-fubinaca-overdoses1
- (2018). 53-year-old man arrested in connection with over 100 synthetic pot overdoses. CBS News. https://cbsnews.com/news/new-haven-overdoses-53-year-old-man-john-parker-arrested-connecticut-k2-2018-08-1812
- (n.d.). December 2019 – WHO: World Health Organization recommends 12 NPS for scheduling. https://www.unodc.org/LSS/Announcement/Details/021820a0-8746-42a4-9ee3-47ce50b30ca31
- Finnish Government. (2017-10-24). Valtioneuvoston asetus kuluttajamarkkinoilta kielletyistä psykoaktiivisista aineista annetun valtioneuvoston asetuksen liitteen muuttamisesta (Government Decree 698/2017). Finlex — Finnish legislative database. https://www.finlex.fi/fi/laki/alkup/2017/201706981
- (n.d.). Gesetz über den Verkehr mit Betäubungsmitteln (Betäubungsmittelgesetz - BtMG) Anlage II (zu § 1 Abs. 1) (verkehrsfähige, aber nicht verschreibungsfähige Betäubungsmittel). http://www.gesetze-im-internet.de/btmg_1981/anlage_ii.html1
- Drug Enforcement Administration. (2014-01-10). Schedules of Controlled Substances: Temporary Placement of Four Synthetic Cannabinoids Into Schedule I. Federal Register / DEA. https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2014/01/10/2014-00217/schedules-of-controlled-substances-temporary-placement-of-four-synthetic-cannabinoids-into-schedule1
Further Reading
NCBI: Overview of Synthetic Cannabinoids ADB-FUBINACA and AMB-FUBINACA- NCBI: The short-acting synthetic cannabinoid AB-FUBINACA induces physical dependence in mice
Trecki et al. 2015: Synthetic Cannabinoid-Related Illnesses and Deaths
WHO Expert Committee on Drug Dependence: AB-FUBINACA Critical Review
Automated synthesisInformation aggregated and synthesized using an autonomous workflow built by Josie Kins.
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