Serdaxin works in the pre-synaptic area and targets key proteins involved in the machinery of vesicle release to increase the availability of serotonin and dopamine. This mechanism of action is a significant departure from SSRI and SNRI anti-depressants that inhibit the re-uptake of serotonin and do not affect dopamine levels.
Serdaxin is a dual enhancer of serotonin and dopamine (the “SERDA” mechanism)
In contrast to anti-depressants on the market that block re-uptake of neurotransmitters, Serdaxin directly increases the concentration of neurotransmitters –both serotonin and dopamine — by interacting with proteins that are important for neurotransmitter vesicle trafficking and fusion.
The SERDA mechanism at work in treating depression.
Studies establishing Serdaxin’s novel MOA:
* Published data [http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.neulet.2011.09.032]
Importance of dual enhancement in the treatment of depression
There are two mood states in humans: positive and negative mood. Recent body of research strongly suggests that the loss of positive mood, negative mood or a combination of both results in depression. Depression resulting from a negative mood state may be treated with serotonin-based anti-depressants, whereas depression resulting from a loss of positive mood may be treated with a dopamine-based regimen. However, due to the complicated nature of depression, it would be optimal to employ a therapeutic that effects both serotonin and dopamine activities, addressing the causes of negative mood as well as the causes of loss of positive mood. This would lead to increased response/remission and improvement in patient compliance.
Caption: Serdaxin is positioned to be the first therapeutic that enhances the release of both serotonin and dopamine simultaneously in the brain, and address the significant un-met medical needs in the treatment of depression.
