Tonabersat (SB-220453) exhibits anticonvulsant property. It is a member of the family of novel benzoylamino-benzopyran compounds. Tonabersat is used as a therapeutic for trigeminal nerve-induced neurovascular reflexes. In addition, it acts as a putative migraine prophylactic agent containing an unique stereospecific binding site in the brain.
Tonabersat is a potent inhibitor of neuronal-glial gap junctions in trigeminal ganglion that inhibits cortical spreading depression (CSD) and neurogenic inflammation in animal models of migraine.