In light of the barrage of recent reviews on 5-HT 7 receptor agonists and antagonists, this article will highlight and review the research advances published in the patent literature between January 1997 and December 2003. The article is supplemented with selected references on the design, synthesis and development of novel 5-HT 7 agents to treat central and peripheral nervous system diseases. Emphasis is placed on recent advances in the possible involvement of 5-HT 7 serotonergic agents in the treatment of learning and memory, depression, schizophrenia and migraine. By no means has any attempt been made to exhaustively review the literature, but rather, primary references together with citations to recent literature reviews have been included in each section.