A potent and selective BAX activator (EC₅₀ = 3.3 μM). BAM7 directly binds at the BH3-binding site; selective for BAX over other antiapoptotic and proapoptotic proteins. BAM7 triggers in vitro BAX oligomerization, BAX-mediated pore formation and BAX-dependent cell death. BAM7 selectively induces BAX-mediated apoptosis by triggering the hallmark features of intracellular BAX activation. BAM7 only kills the cell line that contains BAX, eliciting the biochemical and morphologic features of BAX-mediated apoptosis.