Three targets in the same brain region could alleviate depression

A Zhejiang University team published a pair of papers in Nature suggesting ketamine works by modulating the firing of neurons in the lateral habenula, a brain region that controls reward signaling. The studies point to three different targets in the brain structure that could be used to create a more selective therapy.

Ketamine, an NMDA receptor antagonist, has been shown to alleviate depression symptoms more quickly than marketed therapies, and Johnson & Johnson (NYSE:JNJ) has a version of the drug, esketamine, in Phase III for the indication. However, ketamine binds to multiple receptors in the brain and has undesirable psychological side effects...