David Baxter PhD
Late Founder
EU approves first melatonergic antidepressant
Anxiety Insights
Thursday, 26 February 2009
The European Commission has granted marketing authorisation for Servier's agomelatine (Valdoxan?, Thymanax?), the first melatonergic antidepressant for the treatment of adult patients with major depressive episodes.
It has melatonin receptor (MT1) and (MT2) agonist properties and 5-hydroxytryptamine (serotonin) receptor 2C (5-HT2C) antagonist properties.
"Valdoxan's mechanism of action is unlike those of the commonly-prescribed antidepressants, the SSRIs and SNRIs, as Valdoxan exerts its antidepressant efficacy without having an impact on serotonin levels," says Professor Racagni from the University of Milan, Italy.
Valdoxan is claimed to be effective against all the core symptoms of depression, including depressed mood, anxiety, feeling of guilt, psychomotor retardation, sleep disturbances, daytime fatigue, without affecting sexual functioning or weight.
Following approval from the European Commission, Valdoxan is expected to become commercially available in European countries in the coming months.
Anxiety Insights
Thursday, 26 February 2009
The European Commission has granted marketing authorisation for Servier's agomelatine (Valdoxan?, Thymanax?), the first melatonergic antidepressant for the treatment of adult patients with major depressive episodes.
It has melatonin receptor (MT1) and (MT2) agonist properties and 5-hydroxytryptamine (serotonin) receptor 2C (5-HT2C) antagonist properties.
"Valdoxan's mechanism of action is unlike those of the commonly-prescribed antidepressants, the SSRIs and SNRIs, as Valdoxan exerts its antidepressant efficacy without having an impact on serotonin levels," says Professor Racagni from the University of Milan, Italy.
Valdoxan is claimed to be effective against all the core symptoms of depression, including depressed mood, anxiety, feeling of guilt, psychomotor retardation, sleep disturbances, daytime fatigue, without affecting sexual functioning or weight.
Following approval from the European Commission, Valdoxan is expected to become commercially available in European countries in the coming months.
