On September 30th 2013, FDA approved Vortioxetine (as the hydrobromide salt; tradename: Britellix; research code: Lu AA21004 (Lu AA21004 (HBR) for the hydrobromide salt); ChEMBL: CHEMBL2104993), a multimodal antidepressant indicated for the treatment of major depressive disorder (MDD).
MDD is a mental disorder characterised by low mood and/or loss of pleasure in most activities, and by symptoms or signs such as increased fatigue, change in appetite or weight, insomnia or excessive sleeping and suicide attempts or thoughts of suicide. MDD is believed to arise from low levels of neurotransmitters (primarily serotonin (5-HT), norepinepherine (NE) and dopamine(DA)) in the synaptic cleft between neurons in the brain. Several antidepressants for the treatment of MDD are already available in the market and its choice depends on which symptoms need to be tackled. The most important classes of antidepressants include the Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRIs) such as Fluoxetine (ChEMBL: CHEMBL41), Sertraline (ChEMBL: CHEMBL809), Paroxetine (ChEMBL: CHEMBL490), Fluvoxamine (ChEMBL: CHEMBL814) and Escitalopram (ChEMBL: CHEMBL1508), which are believed to maintain the levels of 5-HT high in the synapse; and the Serotonin-Norepinephrine Reuptake Inhibitors (SNRIs) such as Venlafaxine (ChEMBL: CHEMBL637), Duloxetine (ChEMBL: CHEMBL1175), Desvenlafaxine (ChEMBL: CHEMBL1118) and Milnacipran (ChEMBL: CHEMBL259209), which in turn are thought to maintain higher levels of 5-HT and NE in the synapse. Vortioxetine is a novel multimodal serotonergic compound, which displays antagonistic properties at serotonin receptors 5-HT3A (ChEMBL: CHEMBL1899; Ki=3.7nM) and 5-HT7 (ChEMBL: CHEMBL3155; Ki=19nM), partial agonist properties at 5-HT1B receptors (ChEMBL: CHEMBL1898; Ki=33nM), agonistic properties at 5-HT1A receptors (ChEMBL: CHEMBL214; Ki=15nM) and potent inhibition at the serotonin transporter (SERT) (ChEMBL: CHEMBL228; Ki=1.6nM). The contribution of these activities to the antidepressant action of Vortioxetine is not fully understood, however Vortioxetine is believed to be the first compound with this combination of pharmacodynamic activity.
Vortioxetine is a synthetic small molecule with a molecular weight of 298.5 g.mol-1 (379.4 g.mol-1 for the hydrobromide salt), an ALogP of 4.5, 3 hydrogen bond acceptors, 1 hydrogen bond donor, and therefore fully compliant with Lipinski's rule of five.
IUPAC: 1-[2-(2,4-Dimethyl-phenylsulfanyl)-phenyl]-piperazine, hydrobromide
Canonical Smiles: Cc1ccc(Sc2ccccc2N3CCNCC3)c(C)c1
InCHI: InChI=1S/C18H22N2S/c1-14-7-8-17(15(2)13-14)21-18-6-4-3-5-16(18)20-11-9-19-10-12-20/h3-8,13,19H,9-12H2,1-2H3
The recommended starting dose of Vortioxetine is 10 mg administrated orally once daily. The dose should then be increased to 20 mg/day, as tolerated. For patients who do not tolerate higher doses, a dose of 5 mg/day should be considered. Vortioxetine is 75% orally bioavailable, with an apparent volume of distribution of 2600L, a plasma protein binding of 98% and a terminal half-life of ca. 66 hours. Vortioxetine is extensively metabolised primarily through oxidation via cytrochrome P450 enzymes CYP2D6, CYP3A4/5, CYP2C19, CYP2C9, CYP2A6, CYP2C8 and CYP2B6 and subsequent glucuronic acid conjugation. CYP2D6 is the primary enzyme catalysing Vortioxetine to its major, pharmacologically inactive, carboxylic acid metabolite. Poor metabolisers of CYP2D6 have approximately twice the Vortioxetine plasma concentration of extensive metabolisers and therefore the maximum recommended dose in known CYP2D6 poor metabolisers is 10 mg/day. Vortioxetine is excreted in the urine (59%) and feces (26%) as metabolites, with a negligible amount of unchanged compound being excreted in the urine up to 48 hours.
The licensed holder of Vortioxetine is H. Lundbeck A/S and the full prescribing information can be found here.
MDD is a mental disorder characterised by low mood and/or loss of pleasure in most activities, and by symptoms or signs such as increased fatigue, change in appetite or weight, insomnia or excessive sleeping and suicide attempts or thoughts of suicide. MDD is believed to arise from low levels of neurotransmitters (primarily serotonin (5-HT), norepinepherine (NE) and dopamine(DA)) in the synaptic cleft between neurons in the brain. Several antidepressants for the treatment of MDD are already available in the market and its choice depends on which symptoms need to be tackled. The most important classes of antidepressants include the Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRIs) such as Fluoxetine (ChEMBL: CHEMBL41), Sertraline (ChEMBL: CHEMBL809), Paroxetine (ChEMBL: CHEMBL490), Fluvoxamine (ChEMBL: CHEMBL814) and Escitalopram (ChEMBL: CHEMBL1508), which are believed to maintain the levels of 5-HT high in the synapse; and the Serotonin-Norepinephrine Reuptake Inhibitors (SNRIs) such as Venlafaxine (ChEMBL: CHEMBL637), Duloxetine (ChEMBL: CHEMBL1175), Desvenlafaxine (ChEMBL: CHEMBL1118) and Milnacipran (ChEMBL: CHEMBL259209), which in turn are thought to maintain higher levels of 5-HT and NE in the synapse. Vortioxetine is a novel multimodal serotonergic compound, which displays antagonistic properties at serotonin receptors 5-HT3A (ChEMBL: CHEMBL1899; Ki=3.7nM) and 5-HT7 (ChEMBL: CHEMBL3155; Ki=19nM), partial agonist properties at 5-HT1B receptors (ChEMBL: CHEMBL1898; Ki=33nM), agonistic properties at 5-HT1A receptors (ChEMBL: CHEMBL214; Ki=15nM) and potent inhibition at the serotonin transporter (SERT) (ChEMBL: CHEMBL228; Ki=1.6nM). The contribution of these activities to the antidepressant action of Vortioxetine is not fully understood, however Vortioxetine is believed to be the first compound with this combination of pharmacodynamic activity.
Vortioxetine is a synthetic small molecule with a molecular weight of 298.5 g.mol-1 (379.4 g.mol-1 for the hydrobromide salt), an ALogP of 4.5, 3 hydrogen bond acceptors, 1 hydrogen bond donor, and therefore fully compliant with Lipinski's rule of five.
IUPAC: 1-[2-(2,4-Dimethyl-phenylsulfanyl)-phenyl]-piperazine, hydrobromide
Canonical Smiles: Cc1ccc(Sc2ccccc2N3CCNCC3)c(C)c1
InCHI: InChI=1S/C18H22N2S/c1-14-7-8-17(15(2)13-14)21-18-6-4-3-5-16(18)20-11-9-19-10-12-20/h3-8,13,19H,9-12H2,1-2H3
The recommended starting dose of Vortioxetine is 10 mg administrated orally once daily. The dose should then be increased to 20 mg/day, as tolerated. For patients who do not tolerate higher doses, a dose of 5 mg/day should be considered. Vortioxetine is 75% orally bioavailable, with an apparent volume of distribution of 2600L, a plasma protein binding of 98% and a terminal half-life of ca. 66 hours. Vortioxetine is extensively metabolised primarily through oxidation via cytrochrome P450 enzymes CYP2D6, CYP3A4/5, CYP2C19, CYP2C9, CYP2A6, CYP2C8 and CYP2B6 and subsequent glucuronic acid conjugation. CYP2D6 is the primary enzyme catalysing Vortioxetine to its major, pharmacologically inactive, carboxylic acid metabolite. Poor metabolisers of CYP2D6 have approximately twice the Vortioxetine plasma concentration of extensive metabolisers and therefore the maximum recommended dose in known CYP2D6 poor metabolisers is 10 mg/day. Vortioxetine is excreted in the urine (59%) and feces (26%) as metabolites, with a negligible amount of unchanged compound being excreted in the urine up to 48 hours.
The licensed holder of Vortioxetine is H. Lundbeck A/S and the full prescribing information can be found here.
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