title: Redesigning antidepressant drug discovery.
abstract: Antidepressant drug discovery and development have been put on hold by many pharmaceutical companies. The main reason for this is the negative efficacy studies with novel specific drugs. Here I argue that the main obstacles are the absence of gene tests and biomarkers as an integral part of a diagnostic process. Further, too much emphasis has been put on validating drug candidates in animal models of psychiatric disorders. A more rapid transfer of drug candidates into human research is necessary to overcome current obstacles that prevent the discovery of next-generation antidepressants.
authors.affiliation: Max Planck Institute of Psychiatry, Munich, Germany.
authors.forename: Florian
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Holsboer
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000928:Antidepressive Agents; D055808:Drug Discovery; D006801:Humans
chemical_list: D000928:Antidepressive Agents
keywords: animal model; antidepressant; controversial diagnostics; stress hormone target
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