Inhibitor of γ -secretase; causes a reduction in A β 40 and A β 42 levels in human primary neuronal cultures (IC 50 values are 115 and 200 nM for total A β and A β 42 respectively) and in brain extract, cerebrospinal fluid and plasma in vivo . Does not effect APP α and APP β levels. Blocks Notch signaling in hybrid human-mouse foetal thymus organ culture (FTOC). Activity causes neural cells to commit to neuronal differentiation.