TY - JOUR PY - 2020// TI - An update on glutamatergic system in suicidal depression and on the role of esketamine JO - Current topics in medicinal chemistry A1 - De Berardis, Domenico A1 - Tomasetti, Carmine A1 - Pompili, Maurizio A1 - Serafini, Gianluca A1 - Vellante, Federica A1 - Fornaro, Michele A1 - Valchera, Alessandro A1 - Perna, Giampaolo A1 - Volpe, Umberto A1 - Martinotti, Giovanni A1 - Fraticelli, Silvia A1 - di Giannantonio, Massimo A1 - Kim, Yong-Ku A1 - Orsolini, Laura SP - 554 EP - 584 VL - 20 IS - 7 N2 - BACKGROUND: A research on mood disorder pathophysiology has hypothesized abnormalities in glutamatergic neurotransmission, by suggesting further investigation on glutamatergic N-methyl-Daspartate (NMDA) receptor modulators in treating Major Depressive Disorder (MDD). Esketamine (ESK), an NMDA receptor antagonist able to modulate glutamatergic neurotransmission has been recently developed as an intranasal formulation for treatment-resistant depression (TRD) and for rapid reduction of depressive symptomatology, including suicidal ideation in MDD patients at imminent risk for suicide. OBJECTIVE: The present study aims at investigating recent clinical findings on research on the role of the glutamatergic system and ESK in treating suicidal depression in MDD and TRD. METHODS: A systematic review was here carried out on PubMed/Medline, Scopus and the database on U.S. N.I.H. Clinical Trials (https://clinicaltrials.gov) and the European Medical Agency (EMA) (https://clinicaltrialsregister.eu) from inception until October 2019. RESULTS: Intravenous infusion of ESK is reported to elicit rapid-acting and sustained antidepressant activity in refractory patients with MDD and TRD. In phase II studies, intranasal ESK demonstrated a rapid onset and a persistent efficacy in patients with TRD as well as in MDD patients at imminent risk for suicide. However, some data discrepancies have emerged in phase III studies. CONCLUSION: The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) granted fast track and Breakthrough Therapy Designation to Janssen Pharmaceuticals®, Inc. for intranasal ESK in 2013 for treatment-resistant depression (TRD) and in 2016 for the treatment of MDD with an imminent risk of suicide. However, further studies should be implemented to investigate the long-term efficacy and safety of intranasal ESK.

Language: en

LA - en SN - 1568-0266 UR - http://dx.doi.org/10.2174/1568026620666200131100316 ID - ref1 ER -