Noua generaţie de antidepresive: sunt aceşti agenţi farmacologici capabili să schimbe paradigma terapeutică în tulburarea depresivă majoră?

Introduction

The partial response and treatment resistance in major depressive disorder (MDD) is a sad reality with a strong negative impact on social functionality in adult patients. About 20-40% of the patients receiving treatment for MDD or bipolar depression diagnosis have an insufficient clinical response^(1-4). A symptom-free status is an aim difficult to achieve in patients with bipolar or monopolar depressive episodes, and only about 33% can achieve full remission⁽³⁾. Residual symptoms, like depressed mood, anxiety, sleep dysfunctions or fatigue, are powerful predictors of relapse (up to 3-6 times higher versus patients who achieve complete remission), and these symptoms may also be associated with more medical and psychiatric visits, disability benefits, chronic evolution, risk of stroke and coronary events, and even suicidal attempts⁽³⁾.

Considerable efforts have been invested in finding new therapeutic agents for MDD and bipolar depression, and agents from extremely different pharmacological classes have been subjected to intense scrutiny in preclinical and clinical studies. Many antidepressants in the pipeline are based on the monoaminergic hypothesis, but there are also other mechanisms explored by researchers, such as glutamate neurotransmission, GABA-A receptor modulation or sestrin modulation, and agents acting as cholinergic receptor ligands or orexin receptor antagonists, anti-inflammatory drugs etc.^(5-8)

The characteristics of the “new wave” of antidepressants are explored in this paper, based on a literature search that involved querying electronic databases (Google Scholar, PubMed and Clarivate/Web of Science) and gray literature (data from manufacturers, press releases etc.). Only antidepressants approved for clinical use in the last five years were allowed for further analysis.

The “new wave” of antidepressants

A number of six pharmacological agents or drug combinations approved for treating depressive episodes were found: gepirone, bupropion+dextromethorphan, zuranolone, brexanolone, esketamine, and toludesvenlafaxine. While all of them target depressive symptoms, specific indications also exist, such as postpartum depression for brexanolone and treatment-resistant major depression for esketamine.

Gepirone is a new serotonin modulator antidepressant with selective 5HT1A agonist properties, which makes it a closely related agent to buspirone, both being classified within the chemical class of azapirones (Figure 1)⁽⁹⁾. However, gepirone does not possess in vitro dopamine receptor binding and has a higher bioavailability than buspirone⁽⁹⁾. The potency of 5HT1A receptor binding is presumably higher for gepirone than for selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), and its action at pre- and post-synaptic serotonin receptors is different (i.e., agonist and partial agonist, respectively), as proven by long-term studies^(10-12). Gepirone can also down-regulate 5HT2 receptors, without a significant impact on b-adrenergic receptors⁽⁹⁾. This receptoral profile makes it beneficial when sexual dysfunction or weight gain as adverse effects should be avoided, because in clinical trials these events were similar in the active drug and the placebo groups⁽¹³⁾.
 

Gepirone extended-release (ER) was approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in September 2023 for the treatment of major depressive disorder in adults⁽¹⁴⁾, but there are no available data about the submission for this drug’s approval from the European Medicines Agency (EMA). Gepirone is also explored for other disorders, like cocaine dependence or anxiety disorders^(10,15).

No results have been disclosed on a phase II clinical trial that enrolled 41 patients with cocaine use disorder⁽¹⁵⁾. However, in a randomized, double-blind clinical trial that enrolled patients with generalized anxiety disorder (GAD), gepirone has proven to have an anti-anxiety effect⁽¹⁰⁾. In this trial, which compared gepirone (mean daily dose of 19±11.5 mg/day) and diazepam (19.5±12.5 mg/day) during eight weeks, the 5HT1A receptor agonist had delayed anxiolytic effect compared to diazepam (six weeks versus one week), but the therapeutic activity was significant⁽¹⁰⁾. The main adverse events reported by patients treated with gepirone were lightheadedness, nausea and insomnia⁽¹⁰⁾. Another small, open-label, six-week study investigated the effects of gepirone (mean maximal dose 41 mg/day) on GAD core symptoms and concluded that Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale (HAMA) scores improved significantly (p<0.001)⁽¹⁶⁾.

According to an older clinical trial (N=130 patients), gepirone administered in a 5-30 mg/day dose range led to superior effects on depressive symptoms, including melancholic manifestations, during an eight-week period of monitoring⁽⁹⁾. Also, in the four-week continuation trial that enrolled patients (N=137) with an initial response to six-week open therapy with gepirone, the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HAMD) scores decreased significantly⁽⁹⁾. Yet another trial, that included 209 patients with moderate-to-severe MDD, showed positive results for gepirone versus placebo, as determined by the HAM-17 scores evolution during the eight weeks of active monitoring⁽¹⁷⁾. The risk of weight gain and sedation was not different between the gepirone and placebo-treated patients⁽¹⁷⁾.

The effect of gepirone ER on sexual function in patients with MDD was explored by a clinical trial that compared this drug with fluoxetine and placebo in 181 male patients⁽¹⁸⁾. After eight weeks, gepirone ER improved total sexual function versus placebo, especially the “orgasm” domain; even patients who were nonresponders to this drug’s antidepressant and anxiolytic effects still showed significant improvement in sexual function, unlike fluoxetine⁽¹⁸⁾.

A similarly favorable impact on sexual function, independent of antidepressant/anxiolytic activity, was reported by a post hoc analysis in women with MDD who received gepirone, reflected by an improvement of “sexual desire” in the short-term and long-term⁽¹⁹⁾. Even more, a post hoc analysis that explored specifically the effect of gepirone on women with hypoactive sexual desire disorder (HSDD) and MDD (N=161 participants; 18 to 64 years old) supported a significant favorable effect of the 5HT1A receptor agonist versus placebo (63% HSDD improvement versus 40% after eight weeks)⁽²⁰⁾.

A review of clinical trials with gepirone showed that gepirone immediate-release (IR) had significant effects on depressive symptoms, but due to its short half-life, it necessitated frequent administration, and higher peak plasma concentrations were reported (leading to adverse events)⁽²¹⁾. Therefore, the ER formulation was conceived as a way to decrease the rate of adverse events, by reducing the peak-to-trough fluctuations in plasma concentration; due to this formulation, higher daily doses of gepirone could be used⁽²¹⁾.

The pharmacokinetics of gepirone refer to an absolute bioavailability of 14% to 17%, C_max reached after 6 hours, T_max decreased to 3 hours after a high-fat meal, steady-state achieved in 2-4 days, the volume of distribution was 94.5 l, plasma protein binding was 72%, a mean terminal half-life of 5 hours, metabolization by CYP3A4 to two major metabolites that are pharmacologically active (1-PP and 3’-OH-gepirone), and excretion through urine (81%) and feces (13%)^(22,23). Hepatic or renal impairment negatively impacts the clearance of gepirone, therefore the maximal dose should be limited to 36.3 mg/day in these patients⁽²²⁾.

The dosing regimen recommended is 18.2 mg orally once a day, taken with food, and the dose should be titrated, depending on the response, to 36.3 mg after four days, and it could be further raised to 54.5 mg/‌day (day 7) and 72.6 mg/day (day 14)⁽²²⁾. When co-administered with CYP3A4 inhibitors, the dose of gepirone should be reduced by 50%⁽²²⁾. In the geriatric population, the dose may be raised up to 36.3 mg/day after seven days⁽²²⁾. The warnings included in the FDA-approved Summary of Product Characteristics (SPC) are QT interval prolongation, serotonin syndrome, and activation of mania/hypomania⁽²²⁾.

The FDA approved the combination of bupropion hydrochloride and dextromethorphan hydrobromide in August 2022 as an oral, fixed-dose association for treating MDD in adults^(24,25). Other indications for this combination that are explored include agitation related to Alzheimer’s disease, and nicotine use disorder⁽²⁵⁾. While dextromethorphan is an uncompetitive N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor antagonist and s1 receptor agonist, bupropion is a norepinephrine and dopamine reuptake inhibitor with CYP2D6 inhibition properties⁽²⁴⁾. Also, the metabolites of bupropion are CYP2D6 inhibitors, a pharmacologic property that leads to higher dextromethorphan plasma levels, as confirmed by three phase I studies⁽²⁶⁾. This pharmacokinetic profile is important because dextromethorphan is rapidly metabolized by cytochrome P450 and the therapeutic plasma levels are difficult to obtain after its oral administration⁽²⁶⁾.

From a pharmacodynamic perspective, both drugs enhance the norepinephrine neurotransmission by reuptake inhibition and a4b2 nicotinic receptor antagonism, indicating a synergistic activity⁽²⁶⁾. Besides the aforementioned properties of dextromethorphan, it should also be mentioned its effect on serotonin neurotransmission via s1 agonism in the dorsal raphe nuclei⁽²⁶⁾. It was presumed that the dextromethorphan/bupropion combo would be more efficient and would induce a more rapid effect than antidepressant monotherapy, due to its multimodal and multitarget properties⁽²⁶⁾.  

A phase III, double-blind clinical trial (N=327 patients with MDD) concluded that dextromethorphan/bupropion combination was superior to the placebo in decreasing the MADRS scores at week 6, with a rate of remission reaching 39.5% versus 17.3% at endpoint⁽²⁷⁾. The most common adverse events reported in patients treated with the active drug were dizziness, nausea, somnolence, dry mouth and headache⁽²⁷⁾. A randomized, double-blind, multicenter, parallel-group trial evaluated dextromethorphan/bupropion (45/105 mg) versus bupropion SR (105 mg) in 97 patients with MDD during six weeks; the end-point results showed a significantly greater MADRS score reduction in the first group versus the bupropion-only treated patients⁽²⁸⁾. Response rates and remission rates were also higher in patients treated with the combination of dextromethorphan and bupropion⁽²⁸⁾. Another phase III study (STRIDE-1, N=312 patients with MDD) achieved only secondary efficacy endpoints for dextromethorphan/bupropion (45/105 mg x 2/day) at weeks 1, 2, and 6 (MADRS scores) versus active comparator (150 x 2 mg/day)⁽²⁹⁾.

According to a recent literature review (n=9 papers) that included preclinical and clinical data on dextromethorphan, this pharmacological agent is “well tolerated and exhibits clinically significant effects”⁽³⁰⁾. The abuse potential or the gateway effect of the dextromethorphan/bupropion combo has not been systematically assessed⁽³¹⁾, therefore caution is still recommended for vulnerable populations. The rapid conversion of dextromethorphan to dextrorphan is considered a potential risk factor for the abusive use of this drug, and preclinical studies in rodents and monkeys showed an abuse potential for both the parent drug and its active metabolite^(32,33). A systematic review (n=5 studies with a low risk of bias) supported the efficacy of dextromethorphan/bupropion in decreasing the MADRS scores as early as seven days after the baseline versus placebo and after two weeks when compared to an active treatment⁽³⁴⁾. The treatment efficacy was maintained for up to one year, and this phenomenon was confirmed by clinical remission and response rates⁽³⁴⁾. The adverse events reported were transient⁽³⁴⁾. Regarding the pivotal studies and other studies that supported the approval of the dextromethorphan/bupropion combo, a potential risk for “sponsor and investigator biases” could not be excluded, because four preclinical studies and two clinical trials (out of nine sources) were sponsored by the same entities⁽³¹⁾.

Case reports about the efficacy of the dextromethor­phan/bupropion combination also exist. In such a report, a 42-year-old female patient diagnosed with severe, treatment-resistant MDD, posttraumatic disorder and borderline personality disorder was initiated on bupropion (450 mg/day) and trazodone (200 mg/day), but this treatment showed only partial effectiveness, therefore repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation therapy was carried out, but the response was incomplete⁽³⁵⁾. The patient attempted suicide five weeks after admission, and the case manager decided to initiate the treatment with dextromethorphan/bupropion (30/450 mg), reducing the dose of bupropion to 150 mg/day because its serum level was too high⁽³⁵⁾. The effect was favorable, with a significant decrease in depressive symptomatology and suicidal behavior starting from two weeks of treatment⁽³⁵⁾.

Although initially patented for its anti-tussive properties in 1949, the research of dextromethorphan’s properties evolved rapidly and it has been repurposed as an antidepressant, but it is also explored for the treatment of stroke, traumatic brain injury, pain etc.^(31,36) The FDA approved the combination of dextromethorphan and quinidine for treating the pseudobulbar affect in adults; EMA also approved this combination of drugs, but in February 2016 the authorization was withdrawn at the manufacturer’s request^(30,37). A small proof-of-concept clinical trial (N=20 participants) explored the efficacy and tolerability of dextromethorphan/quinidine (45/10 mg/12 h) during 10 weeks⁽³⁸⁾. This open-label phase II trial showed a decrease in the Montgomery-Asberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS) and Quick Inventory of Depressive Symptomatology (QIDS-SR) scores at a significant level⁽³⁸⁾. The remission rate according to the MADRS scores was 45%⁽³⁸⁾. There are also reports on the favorable effects of dextromethorphan in bipolar depression^(31,36). The association of dextromethorphan and memantine as an add-on to valproate has been efficient in patients with depressive episodes within type II bipolar disorder, in a 12-week randomized, placebo-controlled clinical trial⁽³¹⁾.

The warnings included in the package leaflet include a dose-related risk of seizure, high blood pressure, activation of mania/hypomania, psychotic reactions, angle-closure glaucoma new onset, dizziness, serotonin syndrome, and embryo-fetal toxicity (Figure 2)⁽²⁴⁾. Contraindications for the administration of dextromethorphan/bupropion combo are represented by seizure disorders, current or prior diagnosis of anorexia nervosa, withdrawal of alcohol, benzodiazepines, barbiturates and antiepileptics, concomitant use with monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs), and hypersensitivity to the components of this drug⁽²⁴⁾.
 

The starting dose is one tablet (45/105 mg dextromethorphan hydrobromide/bupropion hydrochloride) daily, and the increase to the maximum recommended dose (two tablets/day) could be done after three days⁽²⁴⁾. In patients with moderate renal impairment and CYP2D6 poor metabolizers, the maximum daily dose is one tablet⁽²⁴⁾.

The steady-state plasma concentration of dextromethorphan/bupropion is reached within eight days, the median T_max is 3 hours for dextromethorphan and 2 hours for bupropion, and the effect of food on the drug’s absorption is negligible⁽²⁴⁾. The plasma protein binding of dextromethorphan is 60-70%, and for bupropion – 84%; the mean elimination half-life of dextromethorphan increases to 22 hours when administered with bupropion, which is three-fold higher than the monotherapy; the mean elimination half-life of bupropion is 15 hours⁽²⁴⁾.

The excretion of dextromethorphan is mainly through urine (37-52% in extensive CYP2D6 metabolizers, and 45-83% in poor metabolizers)⁽²⁴⁾. There are no specifications about the pharmacokinetics of dextromethorphan/bupropion association in geriatric or pediatric populations⁽²⁴⁾.

Zuranolone and brexanolone target g-aminobutyric acid (GABA) neurotransmission as an allosteric modulator of GABA-A receptors, and are classified as “allopregnanolone agonists”^(39,40). The rapid therapeutic effect of these neurosteroid analogs was not previously reported by any other antidepressant, which may represent a clear advantage for managing major depression, since most antidepressants do not associate therapeutic response before two weeks⁽⁴¹⁾. FDA approved brexanolone in March 2019 for treating PPD and zuranolone for MDD in August 2023^(42,43).

Neurosteroids were explored as components of the excitatory-inhibitory neuronal balance and modulation of the stress reactions⁽⁴¹⁾. In vitro studies showed that zuranolone may enhance the GABA-A receptor current in presynaptic and postsynaptic configurations (g subunit and d subunit-containing configurations, respectively)^(44-46). In vivo studies supported the potent activity of zuranolone to modulate GABA-A receptors in the central nervous system after oral dosing in rats and mice^(44-46). Allopregnanolone analogs protected mice from chronic stress-induced dysfunctions of neural network and behavioral states, and correlated with modulation of q oscillations in the basolateral amygdala, an important structure involved in mood regulation^(44-46). An inhibitory effect of brexanolone on the inflammatory signaling post-infusion has been suggested in patients with PPD⁽⁴⁷⁾.

Brexanolone, a soluble intravenous preparation of synthetic allopregnanolone, was investigated in one phase II and two phase III trials focused on the efficacy and safety of this antidepressant^(40,48,49). Brexanolone is administered in patients with PPD in order to produce a stable serum level of allopregnanolone similar to third-trimester concentrations of pregnancy⁽⁴⁹⁾. The HAMD scores were significantly reduced by brexanolone versus placebo in patients with PPD, after a single 14-day course⁽⁴⁰⁾. A significant reduction of HAMD scores in patients with MDD at 15 and 28 days versus placebo was reported after brexanolone administration⁽⁴⁰⁾. Also, in patients diagnosed with bipolar disorder, the decrease in HAMD scores was important⁽⁴⁰⁾. The main adverse events were sedation, dizziness and headache⁽⁴⁰⁾. Unfortunately, brexanolone requires a long infusion time, hospitalizing the patient during treatment, and a risk evaluation and mitigation strategy program^(40,50). The last aspect is a recommendation formulated by the FDA after 4.3% of the patients treated with brexanolone presented a loss or altered state of consciousness⁽⁵⁰⁾.

Brexanolone is administered i.v. during 60 hours, with an initial dose of 30 µg/kg/h (0-4 h), increased to 60 µg/kg/h (4-24 h), then to 90 µg/kg/h (24-52 h), or preserving the 60 µg dose for those who cannot tolerate higher doses; after 52 hours, the dose should be decreased to 60 µg/kg/h and after 56 hours and up to 60 hours, the dose should be decreased to 30 µg/‌kg/h (Figure 3)⁽⁵¹⁾. The terminal half-life of brexanolone is 9 hours, its metabolism is non-CYP based, and the excretion is through feces and urine (47% and 42%, respectively)⁽⁵¹⁾. There were no significant variations in the drug’s pharmacokinetics in patients with severe renal impairment or hepatic dysfunction⁽⁵¹⁾.
 

Zuranolone (50 mg/day) was assessed in a double-blind phase III trial that enrolled 196 patients with peripartum depression (PPD, defined as an MDD episode during the third trimester of pregnancy or ≤4 weeks after the child’s birth) monitored for 45 days⁽⁵²⁾. Zuranolone was superior to placebo in decreasing the severity of depressive symptoms after three days (the study’s primary outcome), and the most common adverse events were somnolence, dizziness and sedation⁽³¹⁾. Another large, phase III trial randomized 543 patients with MDD on zuranolone (50 mg/day) or placebo, and the treatment was maintained for 14 days; statistically significant improvement in depressive symptoms was reported at day 15, based on HAMD scores⁽⁴¹⁾. This trial also reported greater improvements versus placebo starting rapidly, from the third day of the treatment⁽⁴¹⁾. Zuranolone was well tolerated, with no significant safety findings⁽⁴¹⁾.

Zuranolone is also explored as a treatment in patients with bipolar depression⁽⁴⁴⁾.

Zuranolone is administered in doses of 50 mg/day for 14 days, and the dosage can be reduced to 40 mg/day if a central nervous system (CNS) depressant effect occurs⁽⁵³⁾. Zuranolone can be used alone or as an adjunct to oral antidepressant therapy⁽⁵³⁾. In patients with severe hepatic/renal impairment, the daily dose recommended is 30 mg orally, for 14 days⁽⁵³⁾. The terminal half-life of zuranolone is 19.7-24.6 h in an adult population; this drug is metabolized through CYP3A4 isoenzymes; its excretion is done by the kidney (45%) and feces (42%)⁽⁵³⁾.

According to a recent meta-analysis (n=9 reports), the efficacy of zuranolone and brexanolone was supported by the percentage of patients with PPD who achieved therapeutic response and remission versus placebo, according to the HAMD score evolution⁽⁵⁴⁾. Also, the percentage of patients with MDD achieving HAMD response and remission was significantly increased during zuranolone versus placebo, using HAMD scores as the main outcome⁽⁵⁴⁾.

A 3b-methylated synthetic analog of allopregnanolone, named ganaxolone, is undergoing testing for severe PPD as an add-on to the ongoing antidepressant^(48,55). Other products from the same category that are undergoing investigation for a large range of psychiatric and neurological disorders are an allopregnanolone prodrug (LYT-300), the a2/3-selective GABAkines (KRM-II-81), and the a2/3/5-preferring GABAkines (PF-06372865, darigabat)⁽⁵⁶⁾. This interest in agents that regulate the concentration of allopregnanolone derives from the fact that the concentration of this substance is decreased in pathologies like Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, posttraumatic stress disorder, anxiety disorders, multiple sclerosis etc.⁽⁵⁷⁾

The intranasal administration of esketamine was approved by the FDA in March 2019 and by EMA in February 2021 to manage treatment-resistant major depression, as an add-on agent to orally administered SSRIs or serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs)^(58-60). Esketamine is intended as an acute short-term treatment of psychiatric emergencies from the spectrum of depressive disorders that have been nonresponsive to first-line antidepressants, in order to obtain a rapid reduction of mood symptoms⁽⁵⁸⁾.

Esketamine’s mechanism of action is very complex and involves specific blockade of glutamate NMDA receptors containing GluN2B subunits, an NMDA receptor inhibition independent effect, and also the ability to induce a dopamine release in the striatum and other areas involved in the reward system⁽⁶¹⁾.

In two phase III studies, TRANSFORM-1 (N=346 patients with moderate/severe MDD, non-responsive to at least two antidepressants) and TRANSFORM-3 (N=138 patients with treatment-resistant depression), esketamine added to oral antidepressants was not superior to placebo added to oral antidepressants for the primary endpoint (MADRS score)^(62,63). Another phase III trial, TRANSFORM-2 (N=227 patients with treatment-resistant MDD), supported a significant superior efficacy of esketamine + antidepressant in reducing the MADRS scores versus placebo + antidepressant⁽⁶⁴⁾. Other two phase III trials, SUSTAIN-1 and 2, that enrolled 297 and 802 patients, respectively, assessed the long-term effects of esketamine administration as an add-on to oral antidepressants: the risk of relapse after remission/response under esketamine plus antidepressant was lowered by 51-70% during the 16 weeks of monitoring if the treatment continued, in the first trial. In the second trial, the duration of monitoring was 48 weeks, and the improvement of clinical status reached by the use of esketamine plus antidepressant was maintained with decreased MADRS scores^(65,66). A meta-analysis of five studies (N=774 patients with treatment-resistant major depression) showed that adjunctive esketamine was significantly more effective than placebo for MADRS score change, remission and therapeutic response (p<0.0001)⁽⁶⁷⁾.

Warnings included in the Summary of Product Characteristics of esketamine nasal spray state that, before esketamine initiation, blood pressure should be assessed, and a high value of this parameter indicates the need for careful risks/benefits weighing; if significant or unstable cardiovascular or respiratory diseases are present, additional precautions are required. After esketamine dosing, blood pressure should be reassessed approximately 40 minutes and subsequently; the risk of sedation, dissociation and high blood pressure requires monitoring by a healthcare professional (Figure 4)⁽⁵⁸⁾.
 

The induction phase of esketamine nasal spray includes 1-4 weeks, with a starting dose of 56 mg, with subsequent doses of 56-84 mg twice a week; the maintenance phase includes weeks 5-8 with 56-84 mg once weekly doses, and from week 9 onwards, the administration of 56-84 mg every two weeks or once weekly⁽⁵⁸⁾. After the initiation phase, evidence of therapeutic benefit should be evaluated in order to assess the need for treatment continuation⁽⁵⁸⁾. In older patients (≥65 years old), the dose should be decreased to half, and the steps of the dose increments should be limited to 28 mg during the induction and the maintenance phase⁽⁵⁸⁾.

The absorption of esketamine is rapid through the nasal mucosa, with a T_max=20-40 min, a distribution volume of 709 l (if administered i.v.), a 43-45% protein binding, and extensive metabolization in the liver (CYP2B6 and CYP3A4, but also CYP2C19 and CYP2C9)⁽⁵⁸⁾. Esketamine is eliminated by kidneys (approximately 78%) and by feces (approximately 2%)^(58,61).

Toludesvenlafaxine was approved for MDD treatment by the Chinese National Medical Products Administration (NMPA) for clinical use in November 2022, and it has also been under review by the FDA since 2020^(68,69).

This drug is the first-in-class triple reuptake monoamine inhibitor (Figure 5). According to the results of manufacturer-conducted clinical studies, toludesvenlafaxine (ansofaxine, anshufaxine) can significantly reduce anxiety, retardation/fatigue, anhedonia and cognitive symptoms, while facilitating faster social recovery in patients with MDD⁽⁶⁸⁾. This drug has no significant impact on sexual functioning, body weight and lipid metabolism, with a good overall tolerability⁽⁶⁸⁾.
 

The available data on the efficacy and tolerability of toludesvenlafaxine are derived from three phase I, one phase II and one phase III trials, with short duration (up to eight weeks)⁽⁷⁰⁾. In the phase II trial, 260 adult patients with MDD were randomized on 40, 80, 120 or 160 mg/day doses of toludesvenlafaxine or placebo, and a significant decrease in the HAMD scores was reported at week 6⁽⁷¹⁾. A relatively high rate of adverse events was reported in this trial (52% versus 38.8%)⁽⁷¹⁾. In a phase III trial, 558 adults with MDD received toludesvenlafaxine 80 or 160 mg/day or placebo, for eight weeks, and at the endpoint, MADRS scores decreased significantly in the active drug-treated groups⁽⁷²⁾. Nausea, headache, vomiting and drowsiness were the most frequently reported adverse effects of toludesvenlafaxine, but their incidence was lower than in the previously mentioned trial (approximately 5%)⁽⁷²⁾.

Also, preclinical studies exploring the acute and long-term effects of toludesvenlafaxine showed changes in prolactin and testosterone levels, rapid penetration into the striatum, and an increase of all three monoamine levels more than with desvenlafaxine^(73,74). The affinity for the serotonin transporter (SERT), norepinephrine transporter (NET), and dopamine transporter (DAT) was defined by IC₅₀ values of 31.4±0.4, 586.7±83.6, and 733.3±103 nM in studies that utilized in vitro measurements⁽⁷⁵⁾.
Toludesvenlafaxine is rapidly absorbed and transformed into O-desvenlafaxine after oral administration, and high concentrations have been detected in the hypothalamus⁽⁷⁵⁾. Morphological studies revealed increased density of dendritic spines in hippocampal CA1 neurons after toludesvenlafaxine administration in a “two-hit” stress mouse model⁽⁷⁶⁾.

Conclusions

Six new pharmacological products with antidepressant properties have been approved by different national or regional medicines agencies in the last five years, which indicates an accelerated rhythm of research in this field. Many other investigational products for treating unipolar or bipolar depression are also in advanced phases of research, suggesting that promising perspectives exist for patients diagnosed with this type of pathology. Gepirone, the combination of bupropion and dextromethorphan, zuranolone, brexanolone, toludesvenlafaxine and esketamine are interesting therapeutic options that encompass pharmacological agents based on the traditional monoaminergic theory of depression, and agents with innovative mechanisms of action (glutamatergic modulation or allopregnanolone agonists). Although quite heterogenous from a pharmacodynamic perspective, this “new wave” of antidepressants arrived with a potential paradigm-shift promise: fewer adverse events (for gepirone and toludesvenlafaxine), faster therapeutic effect (zuranolone, brexanolone), increasing the response and remission rates in treatment-resistant MDD (for esketamine nasal spray), efficacy for PPD (brexanolone), pharmacodynamic complementarity with other antidepressants (zuranolone as add-on, esketamine nasal spray added to SNRI/SSRI), and multitarget properties (bupropion plus dextromethorphan).