Nicotinic acid azide (I) is mixed with a solution of gamma-aminobutyric acid (II) in 1 N NaOH (pH 8-9). The mixture is stirred for 24 hours, evaporated and the residue is washed with methanol. The resultant sodium salt of nicotinoyl-gamma-aminobutyric acid is then dried. It can be further converted to nicotinoyl-gamma-aminobutyric acid (III) by dissolving in a minimum amount of water and adjusting pH to 3.5.