MEAI appears to have been firstsynthesized in 1956.[1]Its molecular structure was first mentioned implicitly in amarkush structure schema appearing in a patent from 1998.[13] It was later explicitly and pharmacologically described in a peer reviewed paper in 2017 byDavid Nutt and Ezekiel Golan et al.[14] followed by another in February 2018 which detailed thepharmacokinetics,pharmacodynamics and metabolism of MEAI by Shimshoni, David Nutt, Ezekiel Golan et al.[15] One year later it was studied and reported on in another peer reviewed paper by Halberstadt et al.[16] The aminoindane family of molecules was, perhaps, first chemically described in 1980.[17][18]
MEAI was an early candidate ofalcohol replacement drugs that came to market during a late 2010s movement to replace alcohol with less-toxic alternatives spearheaded by BritishpsychopharmacologistDavid Nutt[19][20][21] rippling to the rest of Europe.[22]
In an act ofgonzo journalism, Michael Slezak writing forNew Scientist, tried and reported on his experience with MEAI[23] after being provided with it by Dr Zee[24] (Ezekiel Golan) after an interview[23] Golan claimed he invented MEAI and originally intended MEAI to be sold as a legal high but instead indicated plans to work withDavid Nutt and his company DrugScience to develop MEAI further based on Golan's patents as a "binge behaviour regulator"[25] and "alcoholic beverage substitute".[26]
In 2018, a company named Diet Alcohol Corporation of the Americas (DACOA) began openly marketing an MEAI-based drink called "Pace" for sale in the USA and Canada. Pace was described as a 50ml bottle containing 160 mg of MEAI in mineral water. Distribution halted afterHealth Canada released a warning indicating the substance was considered illegal to market for consumption in Canada due to structural similarity to amphetamine.[27][28] In a December 2018 article byCBC News, Ezekiel Golan (Dr Z/Dr Zee) was interviewed and publicly came out as the "lead scientist" of Pace claiming "tens of thousands" of bottles were already sold in Canada.[29] Golan claimed the MEAI featured in Pace was "manufactured in India" and "bottled in Delaware".[29]Health Canada provided a statement to CBC News stating "Pace is an illegal and unauthorized product in Canada."
On May 26, 2022, MEAI was prepared forFDA registration by Clearmind Medicine Inc.;[30][31][32] Clearmind Medicine claims wide intellectual property holdings to Ezekiel Golan's patents.[33][34][35][36] In March 2022 Clearmind Medicine announced supportive evidence from animal studies in mice attesting to suppression of alcohol consumption.[37] In June 2022 Clearmind Medicine announced promising results from animal studies that showed promise for treating cocaine addiction with MEAI.[38][39]
^Glennon RA, Dukat M (2017). "Structure-Activity Relationships of Synthetic Cathinones".Neuropharmacology of New Psychoactive Substances (NPS). Current Topics in Behavioral Neurosciences. Vol. 32. pp. 19–47.doi:10.1007/7854_2016_41.ISBN978-3-319-52442-9.PMC5818155.PMID27830576.
^Sainsbury PD, Kicman AT, Archer RP, King LA, Braithwaite RA (2011). "Aminoindanes--the next wave of 'legal highs'?".Drug Testing and Analysis.3 (7–8):479–482.doi:10.1002/dta.318.PMID21748859.
^Cannon JG, Perez JA, Pease JP, Long JP, Flynn JR, Rusterholz DB, Dryer SE (July 1980). "Comparison of biological effects of N-alkylated congeners of beta-phenethylamine derived from 2-aminotetralin, 2-aminoindan, and 6-aminobenzocycloheptene".Journal of Medicinal Chemistry.23 (7):745–749.doi:10.1021/jm00181a009.PMID7190613.
