Novel mechanism of action for rapastinel is published in International Journal of Neuropsychopharmacology.- Allergan

Allergan announced new pharmacology research for its investigational compound rapastinel, which is currently being studied in Phase III trials for the treatment of major depressive disorder (MDD).

Published in the International Journal of Neuropsychopharmacology the preclinical research supports that rapastinel exhibited rapid and sustained antidepressant effects through positive modulation of the NMDA (N-methyl-D-aspartate) receptor and suggests that it may work differently from NMDA receptor antagonists like ketamine and S-ketamine (esketamine).

Comment: Glutamate is the most prominent excitatory neurotransmitter in the brain, research suggests that dysfunction of the glutamatergic system may play a role in the neurobiology of MDD. The NMDA receptor is one of the glutamatergic receptors in the brain, and plays a critical role in learning, memory, and the strength of synaptic communication. The current research suggests that rapastinel may help relieve depression by enhancing NMDA receptor function.

See- "Positive N-Methyl-D-Aspartate Receptor Modulation by Rapastinel Promotes Rapid and Sustained Antidepressant-like Effects"- John E Donello, PhD, Pradeep Banerjee, PhD, Yong-Xin Li, PhD, Yuan-Xing Guo, BS, Takashi Yoshitake, PhD . International Journal of Neuropsychopharmacology, pyy101, https://doi.org/10.1093/ijnp/pyy101.