flmodafinil
An isolated R-sulfoxide form of flmodafinil increased wakefulness in mice. Six volunteers also received racemic flmodafinil in a metabolism and anti-doping detection study, but it did not assess wakefulness, focus, safety, or performance.
Small-molecule experimental modafinil analog
- The six-person human study reported no cognitive, sleep, performance, vital-sign or adverse-event outcome.
- The purchased liquid assayed 95.7 mg/mL against a 50 mg/mL label; researchers adjusted the dose before administration.
- Enantiopure R-NLS-4 increased wakefulness in mice. Those findings do not directly apply to racemic CRL-40,940.
- Urinary detection for one to two weeks is not a clinical half-life or duration of benefit.
Are CRL-40,940, flmodafinil and R-NLS-4 identical?
CRL-40,940 is the bis-fluoro modafinil analog, but the public non-stereospecific record describes the racemate while the controlled mouse study used an isolated R-sulfoxide called NLS-4 or lauflumide.
Retail pages often collapse these names. An enantiopure experimental compound and an unspecified commercial liquid cannot share efficacy evidence without analytical identity and human bridging data.
PubChem: flmodafinil chemical identity
Government chemical identity database
National Library of Medicine. PubChem CID 13271852.
C15H13F2NO2S; molecular weight 309.3 g/mol.
- Participants / model
- Chemical record
- Follow-up
- Living database
- Study design
- Curated structure record
Formula and molecular weight establish the recorded structure, not the contents of a retail product or an effective dose.
Read the original sourceNCATS Inxight Drugs record: flmodafinil.
Government chemical identity database
National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences. Inxight Drugs record 174R2IG4T0.
The record identifies non-stereospecific flmodafinil chemistry; it does not establish that a retail product is the enantiopure R-sulfoxide used in the mouse study.
- Participants / model
- Chemical record
- Follow-up
- Living database
- Study design
- Curated identity record
Chemical naming and stereochemistry must remain separate from efficacy.
Read the original sourceLauflumide (NLS-4) Is a New Potent Wake-Promoting Compound.
Preclinical primary study
Luca G et al. Frontiers in Neuroscience. 2018. PMID 30158846.
Enantiopure R-NLS-4 increased wakefulness and sleep latency in male mice; selected-dose comparisons showed more induced wake than modafinil.
- Participants / model
- Adult male C57BL/6J mice
- Follow-up
- Acute 24-hour recordings
- Study design
- Controlled crossover EEG/EMG and locomotor experiments
- Funding
- NLS Pharma partly supported the study; author disclosures are reported in the paper.
The experiment used an isolated R-sulfoxide at a different dose from modafinil; it does not establish human potency, cognition or recovery from sleep debt.
Read the original sourceWhat did the six-person human study establish?
After one analytically adjusted 20 mg exposure, researchers detected flmodafinil and its metabolites. They did not test alertness, cognition, tolerability, or repeated use.
The same six volunteers received flmodafinil and fladrafinil three weeks apart. The flmodafinil liquid assayed 95.7 mg/mL despite a 50 mg/mL label, nearly 1.9 times the stated concentration.
Urine parent concentrations peaked at 191 to 891 ng/mL after 2 to 12 hours. Parent was detectable up to one week and acid/sulfone metabolites up to two weeks; dried-blood-spot parent and metabolites persisted at least 48 hours. These are assay-dependent windows, not a terminal plasma half-life or days of felt effect.
Investigations Into the Metabolism and Elimination of Flmodafinil and Fladrafinil for Sports Drug Testing Purposes.
Primary human metabolism study
Krug O et al. Drug Testing and Analysis. 2026. PMID 42210629. DOI 10.1002/dta.70100.
Six healthy volunteers each received analytically adjusted single 20 mg exposures to flmodafinil and fladrafinil three weeks apart; the study measured blood/urine analytes, not benefit or tolerability.
- Participants / model
- Six healthy volunteers, three women and three men
- Follow-up
- Single exposures separated by three weeks
- Study design
- Within-person two-administration metabolism and anti-doping detection study without placebo
No cognitive, wakefulness, sleep, physical-performance, vital-sign, ECG, laboratory-safety or adverse-event endpoint was reported.
Read the original sourceWhat did the controlled wake study find?
In male mice, 64 mg/kg intraperitoneal R-NLS-4 increased wakefulness and sleep latency versus vehicle and produced more induced wake than 150 mg/kg modafinil in separate selected-dose groups.
Induced wake was 151.18 ± 15.33 minutes for NLS-4 versus 109.67 ± 16.59 for modafinil. The unequal doses and separate drug groups do not establish human milligram-for-milligram potency.
The mice retained a larger 24-hour NREM deficit after NLS-4. Lack of a discrete rebound overshoot does not prove “wakefulness without sleep debt”; no later behavioral task showed normal recovery.
Lauflumide (NLS-4) Is a New Potent Wake-Promoting Compound.
Preclinical primary study
Luca G et al. Frontiers in Neuroscience. 2018. PMID 30158846.
Enantiopure R-NLS-4 increased wakefulness and sleep latency in male mice; selected-dose comparisons showed more induced wake than modafinil.
- Participants / model
- Adult male C57BL/6J mice
- Follow-up
- Acute 24-hour recordings
- Study design
- Controlled crossover EEG/EMG and locomotor experiments
- Funding
- NLS Pharma partly supported the study; author disclosures are reported in the paper.
The experiment used an isolated R-sulfoxide at a different dose from modafinil; it does not establish human potency, cognition or recovery from sleep debt.
Read the original sourceDoes this prove better focus or treatment of chronic fatigue?
No. Wake time is not cognition, and a three-day rat locomotor result after an imposed fatigue procedure is not a human fatigue-disorder trial.
The 2023 abstract reports locomotor activity at selected NLS-4 doses but omits group sizes, full effects and cognitive outcomes. A cited 83% dopamine-transporter result remains unpublished and lacks assay context.
Lauflumide (NLS-4) Is a New Potent Wake-Promoting Compound.
Preclinical primary study
Luca G et al. Frontiers in Neuroscience. 2018. PMID 30158846.
Enantiopure R-NLS-4 increased wakefulness and sleep latency in male mice; selected-dose comparisons showed more induced wake than modafinil.
- Participants / model
- Adult male C57BL/6J mice
- Follow-up
- Acute 24-hour recordings
- Study design
- Controlled crossover EEG/EMG and locomotor experiments
- Funding
- NLS Pharma partly supported the study; author disclosures are reported in the paper.
The experiment used an isolated R-sulfoxide at a different dose from modafinil; it does not establish human potency, cognition or recovery from sleep debt.
Read the original source0025 Effects of NLS-4 (Lauflumide) and modafinil in a rat model of circadian rhythm and chronic severe fatigue
Primary preclinical conference abstract
Bizot JC, Massé F, Combeau J, et al. SLEEP. 2023. DOI 10.1093/sleep/zsad077.0025.
Three daily oral NLS-4 administrations increased dark-phase locomotor activity after a seven-day fatigue procedure.
- Participants / model
- Male Sprague-Dawley rats
- Follow-up
- Three treatment days after a seven-day fatigue procedure
- Study design
- Controlled animal fatigue-model experiment reported in a meeting abstract
- Funding
- Coauthored by NLS Pharmaceutics personnel.
The abstract does not report group sizes, complete effect estimates, confidence intervals, cognitive outcomes, or adverse events; this is not human ME/CFS evidence.
Read the original sourceInvestigations Into the Metabolism and Elimination of Flmodafinil and Fladrafinil for Sports Drug Testing Purposes.
Primary human metabolism study
Krug O et al. Drug Testing and Analysis. 2026. PMID 42210629. DOI 10.1002/dta.70100.
Six healthy volunteers each received analytically adjusted single 20 mg exposures to flmodafinil and fladrafinil three weeks apart; the study measured blood/urine analytes, not benefit or tolerability.
- Participants / model
- Six healthy volunteers, three women and three men
- Follow-up
- Single exposures separated by three weeks
- Study design
- Within-person two-administration metabolism and anti-doping detection study without placebo
No cognitive, wakefulness, sleep, physical-performance, vital-sign, ECG, laboratory-safety or adverse-event endpoint was reported.
Read the original sourceWhat is known about human risk?
Human safety has not been quantified. The six-person paper did not report adverse events, vital signs, ECG, sleep, laboratory results or repeated exposure.
Cardiovascular, psychiatric, dermatologic, hepatic, reproductive, dependence, tolerance, withdrawal and interaction risks remain unresolved. The near-twofold bottle-strength error makes a label-based exposure assumption unsafe.
An FDA analytical method can identify the analog, but the four market samples in that paper were labeled as and contained adrafinil; they do not establish flmodafinil prevalence or purity.
Investigations Into the Metabolism and Elimination of Flmodafinil and Fladrafinil for Sports Drug Testing Purposes.
Primary human metabolism study
Krug O et al. Drug Testing and Analysis. 2026. PMID 42210629. DOI 10.1002/dta.70100.
Six healthy volunteers each received analytically adjusted single 20 mg exposures to flmodafinil and fladrafinil three weeks apart; the study measured blood/urine analytes, not benefit or tolerability.
- Participants / model
- Six healthy volunteers, three women and three men
- Follow-up
- Single exposures separated by three weeks
- Study design
- Within-person two-administration metabolism and anti-doping detection study without placebo
No cognitive, wakefulness, sleep, physical-performance, vital-sign, ECG, laboratory-safety or adverse-event endpoint was reported.
Read the original sourceLauflumide (NLS-4) Is a New Potent Wake-Promoting Compound.
Preclinical primary study
Luca G et al. Frontiers in Neuroscience. 2018. PMID 30158846.
Enantiopure R-NLS-4 increased wakefulness and sleep latency in male mice; selected-dose comparisons showed more induced wake than modafinil.
- Participants / model
- Adult male C57BL/6J mice
- Follow-up
- Acute 24-hour recordings
- Study design
- Controlled crossover EEG/EMG and locomotor experiments
- Funding
- NLS Pharma partly supported the study; author disclosures are reported in the paper.
The experiment used an isolated R-sulfoxide at a different dose from modafinil; it does not establish human potency, cognition or recovery from sleep debt.
Read the original sourceDevelopment and Validation of an Analytical Method to Identify and Quantitate Novel Modafinil Analogs in Products Marketed as Dietary Supplements.
Primary analytical study
Bakota EL et al. Journal of Dietary Supplements. 2025. PMID 39466147.
The method distinguishes modafinil, adrafinil, CRL-40,940 and CRL-40,941; four tested products were labeled as and contained adrafinil.
- Participants / model
- Four products labeled as adrafinil plus analytical standards
- Follow-up
- Cross-sectional product testing
- Study design
- Laboratory method validation and market-sample analysis
The study does not report that the products contained either fluorinated analog and supplies no efficacy or safety result.
Read the original sourceDoes anti-doping detection mean it improves performance?
No. WADA prohibits flmodafinil in competition, but the cited evidence contains no human athletic, reaction-time, strength or endurance trial.
The human study found none of its target analytes in 2,000 athlete samples from 2023 to 2024. That describes the tested pool, not consumer prevalence or efficacy.
The 2026 Prohibited List.
Official sports-regulation record
World Anti-Doping Agency. The 2026 Prohibited List. Effective 1 January 2026.
Flmodafinil and fladrafinil are named S6.A non-specified stimulants prohibited in competition.
- Participants / model
- Athletes subject to the World Anti-Doping Code
- Follow-up
- 2026 list
- Study design
- Official prohibited-substance list
A prohibited classification is a rule consequence, not evidence of improved performance or a quantified medical risk.
Read the original sourceInvestigations Into the Metabolism and Elimination of Flmodafinil and Fladrafinil for Sports Drug Testing Purposes.
Primary human metabolism study
Krug O et al. Drug Testing and Analysis. 2026. PMID 42210629. DOI 10.1002/dta.70100.
Six healthy volunteers each received analytically adjusted single 20 mg exposures to flmodafinil and fladrafinil three weeks apart; the study measured blood/urine analytes, not benefit or tolerability.
- Participants / model
- Six healthy volunteers, three women and three men
- Follow-up
- Single exposures separated by three weeks
- Study design
- Within-person two-administration metabolism and anti-doping detection study without placebo
No cognitive, wakefulness, sleep, physical-performance, vital-sign, ECG, laboratory-safety or adverse-event endpoint was reported.
Read the original sourceStudies and sources
Investigations Into the Metabolism and Elimination of Flmodafinil and Fladrafinil for Sports Drug Testing Purposes.
Primary human metabolism study
Krug O et al. Drug Testing and Analysis. 2026. PMID 42210629. DOI 10.1002/dta.70100.
Six healthy volunteers each received analytically adjusted single 20 mg exposures to flmodafinil and fladrafinil three weeks apart; the study measured blood/urine analytes, not benefit or tolerability.
- Participants / model
- Six healthy volunteers, three women and three men
- Follow-up
- Single exposures separated by three weeks
- Study design
- Within-person two-administration metabolism and anti-doping detection study without placebo
No cognitive, wakefulness, sleep, physical-performance, vital-sign, ECG, laboratory-safety or adverse-event endpoint was reported.
Read the original sourceFDA analytical method for modafinil analogs
Primary analytical methods poster
US FDA. Development and Validation of an Analytical Method to Identify and Quantitate Novel Modafinil Analogs in Dietary Supplements. 2023.
The method distinguishes modafinil, adrafinil, CRL-40,940, CRL-40,941, and N-methyl-4,4-difluoromodafinil.
- Participants / model
- Chemical standards and supplement analysis
- Follow-up
- Method-development study
- Study design
- LC-HRMS analytical method
Identifying a molecule is not demonstrating an approved indication, efficacy, or safe dose.
Read the original sourcePubChem: flmodafinil chemical identity
Government chemical identity database
National Library of Medicine. PubChem CID 13271852.
C15H13F2NO2S; molecular weight 309.3 g/mol.
- Participants / model
- Chemical record
- Follow-up
- Living database
- Study design
- Curated structure record
Formula and molecular weight establish the recorded structure, not the contents of a retail product or an effective dose.
Read the original sourceLauflumide (NLS-4) Is a New Potent Wake-Promoting Compound.
Preclinical primary study
Luca G et al. Frontiers in Neuroscience. 2018. PMID 30158846.
Enantiopure R-NLS-4 increased wakefulness and sleep latency in male mice; selected-dose comparisons showed more induced wake than modafinil.
- Participants / model
- Adult male C57BL/6J mice
- Follow-up
- Acute 24-hour recordings
- Study design
- Controlled crossover EEG/EMG and locomotor experiments
- Funding
- NLS Pharma partly supported the study; author disclosures are reported in the paper.
The experiment used an isolated R-sulfoxide at a different dose from modafinil; it does not establish human potency, cognition or recovery from sleep debt.
Read the original source0025 Effects of NLS-4 (Lauflumide) and modafinil in a rat model of circadian rhythm and chronic severe fatigue
Primary preclinical conference abstract
Bizot JC, Massé F, Combeau J, et al. SLEEP. 2023. DOI 10.1093/sleep/zsad077.0025.
Three daily oral NLS-4 administrations increased dark-phase locomotor activity after a seven-day fatigue procedure.
- Participants / model
- Male Sprague-Dawley rats
- Follow-up
- Three treatment days after a seven-day fatigue procedure
- Study design
- Controlled animal fatigue-model experiment reported in a meeting abstract
- Funding
- Coauthored by NLS Pharmaceutics personnel.
The abstract does not report group sizes, complete effect estimates, confidence intervals, cognitive outcomes, or adverse events; this is not human ME/CFS evidence.
Read the original sourceThe 2026 Prohibited List.
Official sports-regulation record
World Anti-Doping Agency. The 2026 Prohibited List. Effective 1 January 2026.
Flmodafinil and fladrafinil are named S6.A non-specified stimulants prohibited in competition.
- Participants / model
- Athletes subject to the World Anti-Doping Code
- Follow-up
- 2026 list
- Study design
- Official prohibited-substance list
A prohibited classification is a rule consequence, not evidence of improved performance or a quantified medical risk.
Read the original sourceDevelopment and Validation of an Analytical Method to Identify and Quantitate Novel Modafinil Analogs in Products Marketed as Dietary Supplements.
Primary analytical study
Bakota EL et al. Journal of Dietary Supplements. 2025. PMID 39466147.
The method distinguishes modafinil, adrafinil, CRL-40,940 and CRL-40,941; four tested products were labeled as and contained adrafinil.
- Participants / model
- Four products labeled as adrafinil plus analytical standards
- Follow-up
- Cross-sectional product testing
- Study design
- Laboratory method validation and market-sample analysis
The study does not report that the products contained either fluorinated analog and supplies no efficacy or safety result.
Read the original sourceNCATS Inxight Drugs record: flmodafinil.
Government chemical identity database
National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences. Inxight Drugs record 174R2IG4T0.
The record identifies non-stereospecific flmodafinil chemistry; it does not establish that a retail product is the enantiopure R-sulfoxide used in the mouse study.
- Participants / model
- Chemical record
- Follow-up
- Living database
- Study design
- Curated identity record
Chemical naming and stereochemistry must remain separate from efficacy.
Read the original sourceWhy is flmodafinil in D tier?
D reflects direct human metabolism, a serious product-strength mismatch and controlled R-enantiomer mouse wakefulness. No human benefit trial or adequate repeated-use safety dataset exists, and formulation identity blocks transfer from the mouse compound.