Agomelatine

Agomelatine has been used:

• to study its effects on adult neurogenesis and hippocampus apoptosis using the stress-induced depression model of rats
• to explore its effects on tau protein phosphorylation and to study its neuroprotective mechanism
• to study its effects on intracellular calcium ([Ca²⁺]i) signaling in peripheral neurons of rat dorsal root ganglion (DRG) neurons

Agomelatine is an extremely potent agonist at both melatonin receptors (MT1 and MT2), with additional antagonism at 5HT2C. It is a novel antidepressant with many desired in vivo properties, including neuroprotection and neurogenesis in depression-sensitive brain areas. Agomelatine′s efficacy appears to be due to both melatonergic and serotonergic properties. In neurogenesis assays, both in vitro and in vivo, the compound effects were differentially affected by antagonists for MT1/MT2 and 5HT2C, demonstrating actions through all three receptors.

Agomelatine modulates the sleep-wake cycle through its chronobiotic activity. It normalizes the sleep pattern in patients suffering from depression and seasonal mood disorder.

This compound is featured on the Melatonin Receptors page of the Handbook of Receptor Classification and Signal Transduction. To browse other handbook pages, click here.

This compound was developed by Servier. To browse the list of other pharma-developed compounds and Approved Drugs/Drug Candidates, click here.