Laboratory tests in mice have shown promise
A potential new antidepressant and antianxiety treatment with a unique mechanism of action has been developed by scientists at the University of Bath.
The compound has shown significant potential after studies in mice. The research is published in the British Journal of Pharmacology.
Dr Sarah Bailey and Professor Steve Husbands with their research team
Around one in six adults will experience depression in their lifetimes. New drugs to treat depression in particular are needed because many existing antidepressants don’t work in up to 50% of patients. This new University of Bath compound, known as BU10119, works in a different way to the most common antidepressant drugs; selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), and may therefore offer a new potential treatment for those in whom SSRIs don’t work.
Unlike SSRIs which target the serotonin system in the brain, BU10119 works by blocking receptors called kappa opioid receptors. Blocking these receptors has been shown to have anti-depressant like effects in mice.
In a series of laboratory trials, mice given BU10119 demonstrated behaviours consistent with providing antidepressant–like effects.
Dr Sarah Bailey, Senior Lecturer in the Department of Pharmacy & Pharmacology at the University of Bath, said: “I’m really quite excited by the potential of this compound. Developing new medicines is why I got into pharmacology and, in 20 years of research, this is the closest I have come to a new compound that might translate towards the clinic. It’s promising, but that said, we are still at an early stage, these experiments are in mice and further research is still required for example to establish safety.
“SSRIs can work very well for some patients, but we know they don’t work for everyone which is one reason why developing new antidepressant and antianxiety drugs could be really beneficial.”
The researchers were inspired to develop the compound after previous University of Bath research showed that a combination of two existing drugs, buprenorphine and naltrexone, had potential as an antidepressant. BU10119 combines the effects of this combination in one drug.
Professor Stephen Husbands, Head of Medicinal Chemistry at the University of Bath added: “This research builds on our previous work which showed that combining buprenorphine and naltrexone can give antidepressant effects in mice. By combining the effects of both drugs in one molecule we hope that a safe and effective drug will eventually be the outcome. BU10119 is part of a series of compounds now licensed to, and under development with, Orexigen Therapeutics.”
The study was funded a by a National Institute on Drug Abuse grant and a PhD scholarship from the Government of Saudi Arabia.
The University of Bath has signed the Concordat on Openness on Animal Research. The University is committed to enhancing our communications with the media and public about our research using animals. Find out more: http://www.bath.ac.uk/collections/animal-research/
Learn more: New drug shows potential as a different kind of antidepressant in mouse trials
The Latest on: Depression and anxiety
- Transient Gastric Irritation in the Neonatal Rats Leads to Changes in Hypothalamic CRF Expression, Depression- and Anxiety-Like Behavior as Adultson October 20, 2021 at 1:06 am
A disturbance of the brain-gut axis is a prominent feature in functional bowel disorders (such as irritable bowel syndrome and functional dyspepsia) and psychological abnormalities are often ...
- Serious Depression, Anxiety Affect Nearly 4 in 10 Worldwideon October 19, 2021 at 11:04 pm
In 2020, 38% of adults worldwide said they or someone they know had felt so anxious or depressed that they could not continue their daily activities.
- In NC and elsewhere, rates of depression, anxiety and suicide increase among LGBTQ youthon October 19, 2021 at 6:27 am
According to an annual report by the Trevor Project, suicide is the second leading cause of death in 13- to 24-year-olds. And this year, 62% of LGBTQ youths reported symptoms of depression, with 2 out ...
- Linking sleep disturbance with depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, schizophreniaon October 19, 2021 at 4:50 am
Using wrist accelerometers to generate data about sleep, researchers identified associations between sleep properties and mental health conditions.
- NFL player rejoins team after 2-week absence to address anxiety and depressionon October 18, 2021 at 9:44 am
Philadelphia Eagles player Lane Johnson said that he had missed three games with the team amid a struggle with depression and anxiety.
- Eagles’ Lane Johnson returns after stepping away to address depression and anxietyon October 18, 2021 at 8:07 am
Offensive lineman Lane Johnson, who missed three games, has dealt with the issues before, as has teammate Brandon Brooks.
- Lane Johnson rejoins Eagles after three game absence, admits battling depression and anxietyon October 18, 2021 at 5:29 am
Lane Johnson is returning to the Philadelphia Eagles after an extended absence that left the city wondering if the franchise right tackle was okay. Johnson admitted he was battling depression and ...
- Lane Johnson says he is battling depression and anxiety, will re-join teamon October 18, 2021 at 4:56 am
Eagles offensive tackle Lane Johnson has taken time away for what the team described as “personal reasons.” Now Johnson has confirmed publicly that the reasons had to do with depression and anxiety. J ...
- Teen girls are showing up to the doctor with tics, and experts think anxiety, depression, and TikTok could be playing a roleon October 16, 2021 at 10:38 pm
Many of the teen girls who developed tics were watching TikTokers who say they have Tourette Syndrome, The Wall Street Journal reported.
- Not ‘all in your head’: Anxiety and depression can wreak havoc on bodyon October 12, 2021 at 1:00 pm
Although serious illness can trigger mental distress, the reverse is also true — and is too often overlooked, experts say ...
via Google News and Bing News
