WAY-620048 is primarily used in scientific research as a selective agonist for the 5-HT2C receptor, a subtype of serotonin receptor. Its main application lies in neuropharmacological studies, where it helps investigate the role of 5-HT2C receptor activation in regulating behaviors such as feeding, mood, and reward processing. Due to its selectivity, it is a valuable tool for studying the potential of 5-HT2C-targeted drugs in treating obesity, depression, and substance use disorders without the off-target effects commonly seen with less selective serotonergic compounds. It is not used clinically and remains restricted to preclinical research settings.