MIAMI--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Segal Institute for Clinical Research’s Dr. Rishi Kakar helped to author the research paper, “A Selective Nociceptin Receptor Antagonist to Treat Depression: Evidence from Preclinical and Clinical Studies,” recently published in Neuropsychopharmacology.
Nociceptin/Orphanin FQ (N/OFQ) is an endogenous ligand of the N/OFQ peptide (NOP) receptor, which is a G protein-coupled receptor in brain regions associated with mood disorders. Dr. Kakar and study authors used a selective orally bioavailable antagonist LY2940094, to test the hypothesis that blockade of NOP receptors would induce antidepressant effects.
The study demonstrated that NOP receptors with LY2940094 translates to antidepressant-like effects in rodent models and, importantly, to antidepressant efficacy in patients with major depressive disorder (MDD).
Overall, the study findings are the first human data providing evidence that the blockade of NOP receptor signaling represents a promising strategy for the treatment of MDD.
For more information on this release please contact Bonnie Segal at 305-722-8444 ext. 2260 or via email at bsegal@segalinstitute.com.
About Segal Institute for Clinical Research
Segal Institute
for Clinical Research is a consortium of research sites specializing in
psychiatric, neurological, addiction, medical and women’s health
clinical trials. A 60-plus staff of full-time Principal Investigators,
Sub-Investigators, coordinators, research assistants and Master’s- and
Doctorate-level raters conducts clinical trials in outpatient,
inpatient, nursing homes, and sleep laboratories. Segal Institute is
currently conducting Phase I-IV research trials in 9 different sites in
South Florida and South Carolina. Integral to Segal Institute’s success
is its centralized operations consisting of quality assurance and
improvement managers, rater calibration specialists, recruiters,
advertising coordinators, contract managers and call-center.
