SGT-152

SGT-152, also known as Cumyl-NBMINACA or Cumyl-BC[2.2.1]HpMINACA, is a synthetic cannabinoid in the indazole-carboxamide family. It contains a cumyl group and an unusual norbornylmethyl side chain. The compound was identified in seized herbal material in Europe and later characterised in receptor assays, which found very high affinity and potent full agonist activity at the CB₁ receptor.

Chemistry and identification

Cumyl-NBMINACA combines an indazole-3-carboxamide core with a norbornylmethyl substituent on the ring nitrogen and a cumyl group on the carboxamide nitrogen. The abbreviation NBM refers to the norbornylmethyl side chain. Its structure is distinct from earlier cumyl cannabinoids that carry a pentyl or cyclobutylmethyl group.

The compound was part of a group of new synthetic cannabinoids identified in seized materials and test purchases in Germany and the Netherlands in 2020–2021. Analytical identification used GC-MS, infrared spectroscopy, LC-high-resolution mass spectrometry and NMR, with these methods also helping distinguish the endo and exo forms (Pulver and colleagues, 2021).

A later forensic paper explicitly lists Cumyl-NBMINACA as SGT-152 and distinguishes it from the related indole and gamma-carbolinone compounds in the same group (Synthetic cannabinoids in hair: prevalence of use in abstinence control, 2024).

Pharmacology

A 2023 study of cyclobutylmethyl- and norbornylmethyl-type synthetic cannabinoids found that Cumyl-NBMINACA was a full agonist at the CB₁ receptor. It showed a binding affinity (K_i) of approximately 0.25 nM and a functional EC₅₀ of approximately 1.78 nM in the assay used. Among the norbornyl compounds tested, the indazole derivative had the highest measured affinity and potency (Pulver and colleagues, 2023).

These in-vitro measurements establish strong receptor activity. They cannot directly predict the severity of human intoxication or establish a toxicity threshold based on concentration.

Reported effects

Human information specific to the effects of SGT-152 is limited. Its potent CB₁ agonism is consistent with cannabimimetic activity, but the available sources do not establish a reliable subjective profile or a characteristic clinical syndrome.

Severe reactions such as confusion, agitation, seizures and cardiovascular disturbances are recognised concerns with potent synthetic cannabinoid agonists. These are class-level risks rather than a complete set of confirmed SGT-152-specific effects.

Forensic findings and research limitations

SGT-152 has been identified in herbal blends and hair-analysis investigations. The 2023 pharmacology study also documented the emergence of norbornylmethyl side chains in response to changes in drug-control legislation. There is still little published information on human metabolism, acute toxicity, dependence or long-term outcomes.

Its high CB₁ affinity makes it important to distinguish SGT-152 from less active or structurally different compounds that share the cumyl label. The norbornylmethyl substituent is a defining part of its identity.

Related compounds

SGT-152 is related to CUMYL-BICA, CUMYL-CBMICA and other cumyl-derived cannabinoids. It is specifically the norbornylmethyl indazole carboxamide analogue.