New drug shows same antidepressant effect as ketamine, study shows

A drug under development seems to have similar antidepressant effects as previously observed with ketamine, but without the same level of dangerous side effects seen when the anesthetic is abused as a party drug, according to a new Yale-led study. The findings of a randomized, placebo-controlled trial suggest a new generation of antidepressants that act upon the brain's glutamate system may offer rapid relief for millions of people suffering from chronic depression who have not responded to existing antidepressant medications. "This study suggests it is possible to selectively develop drugs that can capture the clinical benefits previously observed with ketamine without inducing the same level unwanted side effects," said Gerard Sanacora, professor of psychiatry and lead author of the study published Oct. 15 in the journal Molecular Psychiatry. Previous Yale studies have shown that ketamine can provide almost immediate relief to some patients suffering from chronic depression. Subsequent studies have begun to illustrate the molecular mechanisms that may explain its clinical benefits. The current study includes Phase II data with lanicemine, one of several novel drugs under development that target the NMDA receptor for the neurotransmitter glutamate.