PRL-8-53 is methyl 3-[2-[benzyl(methyl)amino]ethyl]benzoate, supplied as its hydrochloride salt. It was described in 1974 by Nikolaus Hansl as a spasmolytic and central nervous system active agent. Published research on PRL-8-53 is very limited. Beyond the 1974 description, the only indexed study is a 1978 double-blind study of verbal learning and retention from the same author. No receptor binding, mechanistic, pharmacokinetic or toxicology studies have been identified on PubMed, and the work has not been independently replicated in the indexed literature.