Brexpiprazole vs Aripiprazole: what is the difference?

How they differ

Brexpiprazole was developed by the maker of aripiprazole as its successor, and the two share one design: both partly switch on dopamine D2 receptors rather than blocking them outright, which sets them apart from older antipsychotics. Brexpiprazole switches them on less and acts more strongly on serotonin receptors. Both are built around a piperazine ring; aripiprazole carries two chlorine atoms, C23H27Cl2N3O2 at 448.4, where brexpiprazole carries a sulfur in a benzothiophene ring, C25H27N3O2S at 433.6. Both are used for schizophrenia and alongside antidepressants for depression, and both are prescription medicines, sold as Abilify and Rexulti.

Side by side

Structural similarity 0.43 of 1, computed as a Morgan fingerprint Tanimoto coefficient. It measures shape, not effect.

Common questions

What is the difference between Brexpiprazole and Aripiprazole?

Brexpiprazole was developed by the maker of aripiprazole as its successor, and the two share one design: both partly switch on dopamine D2 receptors rather than blocking them outright, which sets them apart from older antipsychotics. Brexpiprazole switches them on less and acts more strongly on serotonin receptors. Both are built around a piperazine ring; aripiprazole carries two chlorine atoms, C23H27Cl2N3O2 at 448.4, where brexpiprazole carries a sulfur in a benzothiophene ring, C25H27N3O2S at 433.6.

Is Brexpiprazole bigger than Aripiprazole?

Aripiprazole is the heavier molecule, 448.4 g/mol against 433.6 g/mol for Brexpiprazole. Brexpiprazole is C25H27N3O2S and Aripiprazole is C23H27Cl2N3O2.