Ropanicant (SUVN-911) is an

investigational new drug The United States Food and Drug Administration's Investigational New Drug (IND) program is the means by which a pharmaceutical industry, pharmaceutical company obtains permission to start human clinical trials and to ship an experimental drug inte ...

under development by Suven Life Sciences Ltd for the treatment of

major depressive disorder Major depressive disorder (MDD), also known as clinical depression, is a mental disorder characterized by at least two weeks of pervasive depression (mood), low mood, low self-esteem, and anhedonia, loss of interest or pleasure in normally ...

(MDD) and other neurological conditions. It acts as an antagonist of the

α4β2 The alpha-4 beta-2 nicotinic receptor, also known as the α4β2 receptor, is a type of nicotinic acetylcholine receptor implicated in learning, consisting of α4 and β2 subunits. It is located in the brain, where activation yields post- and pr ...

nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (nAChR), a target involved in mood regulation and cognitive function. Ropanicant has been shown to increase levels of

serotonin Serotonin (), also known as 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT), is a monoamine neurotransmitter with a wide range of functions in both the central nervous system (CNS) and also peripheral tissues. It is involved in mood, cognition, reward, learning, ...

and

brain-derived neurotrophic factor Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), or abrineurin, is a protein found in the and the periphery. that, in humans, is encoded by the ''BDNF'' gene. BDNF is a member of the neurotrophin family of growth factors, which are related to the can ...

(BDNF) in the

cortex Cortex or cortical may refer to: Biology * Cortex (anatomy), the outermost layer of an organ ** Cerebral cortex, the outer layer of the vertebrate cerebrum, part of which is the ''forebrain'' *** Motor cortex, the regions of the cerebral cortex i ...

, which may contribute to its antidepressant effects. By modulating

neurotransmitter A neurotransmitter is a signaling molecule secreted by a neuron to affect another cell across a Chemical synapse, synapse. The cell receiving the signal, or target cell, may be another neuron, but could also be a gland or muscle cell. Neurotra ...

levels—particularly serotonin—it is intended to produce rapid antidepressant effects while minimizing the side effects commonly associated with traditional

antidepressant Antidepressants are a class of medications used to treat major depressive disorder, anxiety disorders, chronic pain, and addiction. Common side effects of antidepressants include Xerostomia, dry mouth, weight gain, dizziness, headaches, akathi ...

Clinical trials

The compound has completed Phase 1 and Phase 2 clinical trials for moderate to severe

. Preliminary studies have explored its potential for a faster onset of action compared to conventional antidepressants. In addition to its investigation in depression, ongoing research is examining its possible use in treating neurodegenerative disorders such as

Alzheimer’s disease Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a neurodegenerative disease and the cause of 60–70% of cases of dementia. The most common early symptom is difficulty in remembering recent events. As the disease advances, symptoms can include problems wit ...

References

Analgesics Nicotinic agonists Stimulants Bicyclic compounds Chloroarenes Phenol ethers Pyridines Pyrrolidines Cyclopentyl compounds {{Pharma-stub

Clinical trials

See also

References