Current and Future Perspectives on the Major Depressive Disorder: Focus on Vortioxetine

What is it about?

In the light of the recent marketing of Vortioxetine (VRX), the present systematic review aims at providing a complete and updated overview on current state-of-the-art preclinical and clinical studies on VRX in the treatment of Major Depressive Disorder (MDD). Firstly, the present paper deals with VRX’s pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamics features, by deepening and explaining the pharmacology and neurotransmitters implicated in the antidepressant effects of VRX. Secondly, it discusses preclinical and clinical data on its efficacy, safety and tolerability in MDD patients, also by comparing them with those exerted by other antidepressants (SSRIs/SNRIs, when head-to-head comparison studies were available). Finally, a further objective is evaluating its procognitive efficacy in MDD.

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Why is it important?

Expectations from this new antidepressant go beyond its well demonstrated efficacy in the treatment of MDD. VRX was specifically designed to combine 5HT reuptake inhibition and a number of receptor activities that have been thought to be associated with an antidepressant effect. It appears to be safe and effective for MDD. Its antidepressant efficacy appears to be well accompanied with its pro-cognitive activities. Furthermore, preliminary evidence also suggests its efficacy and tolerability for the treatment of anxiety symptomatology associated with MDD

Perspectives