Darigabat (developmental code names CVL-865, PF-06372865, PF-6372865) is a GABAergic medication which is under development for the treatment of photosensitive epilepsy, focal onset seizures, panic disorder, and other anxiety disorders.

[3][5] A dose of darigabat that achieved more than 80% receptor occupancy showed no somnolence with dose titration, whereas benzodiazepines, which are non-selective GABAA receptor positive allosteric modulators, achieve only 10 to 15% receptor occupancy whilst producing significant or severe somnolence.

[3][5] It is theorized that α1 subunit-containing GABAA receptors preferentially mediate sedation, amnesia, and ataxia, whereas α2 and α3 subunit-containing GABAA receptors mediate anxiolysis.

[1] In clinical trials conducted thus far, side effects of darigabat have included dizziness, fatigue, headache, mild-to-moderate somnolence, bradyphrenia (slowness of thought), modest memory impairment, mild cognitive impairment, balance impairment, and feeling abnormal.

[2][3] Development for back pain was discontinued due to lack of effectiveness in a phase 2 trial, while development for generalized anxiety disorder was discontinued due to business reasons as well as lack of effectiveness in a phase 2 trial.