Serotonin News and Research

Latest Serotonin News and Research

Regulation of neurotransmitters may help treat depression

New research clarifies how neurotransmitters like norepinephrine, serotonin, and dopamine, are regulated - a finding that may help fine-tune therapies for depression.

19 Oct 2009

Vanda Pharmaceuticals announces its agreement with Novartis Pharma AG

Vanda Pharmaceuticals Inc. announced today that it has entered into an agreement with Novartis Pharma AG to commercialize and develop Fanapt(TM) (iloperidone), Vanda's anti-psychotic, in the U.S. and Canada. Fanapt(TM) was approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration on May 6, 2009 for the acute treatment of schizophrenia in adults.

14 Oct 2009

The latest medication to treat schizophrenia "ABILIFY" launched in Canada

A new treatment option for Canadians with schizophrenia, ABILIFY(TM) (aripiprazole), is now available in Canada. For those living with this lifelong disease who may be struggling with a treatment that doesn't work for them or with side effects that are difficult to tolerate, ABILIFY offers efficacy and good safety and tolerability with limited impact on weight, blood sugar and lipids - significant clinical benefits that may help patients stay on treatment longer.

6 Oct 2009

New study sheds light on memory formation

A new study from the Montreal Neurological Institute and Hospital (The Neuro) of McGill University reveals that different patterns of training and learning lead to different types of memory formation.

5 Oct 2009

Jean-Pol Tassin honored with the ECNP Neuropsychopharmacology Award

The European College of Neuropsychopharmacology (ECNP) is pleased to announce Jean-Pol Tassin as the recipient of the 2009 ECNP Neuropsychopharmacology Award in Basic Science Research in recognition of his pioneering and innovative research into the neurochemical basis of substance addiction.

24 Sep 2009

Hormone leptin can regulate bone mass and suppress appetite

Contrary to the prevailing view, the hormone leptin, which is critical for normal food intake and metabolism, appears to regulate bone mass and suppress appetite by acting mainly through serotonin pathways in the brain, according to a recent study published in Cell by Yale School of Medicine researchers and colleagues at Columbia University. This new finding contradicts the view that leptin acts primarily in the hypothalamus.

24 Sep 2009

Winner of the 2009 ECNP Neuropsychopharmacology Award

23 Sep 2009

Next Generation Waters wins "Best New Functional Drink" award

In a category that seems to be expanding by the second, Next Generation Waters is pleased to announce that it has won "Best New Functional Drink" at the 2009 Beverage Innovation Awards, the academy awards of the Beverage Industry. NGW beat out 38 other competitors from 12 different countries including PepsiCo's Lipton Linea, Gatorade's No Artificials, and SoBe's Pure Rush to name a few.

22 Sep 2009

Alcoholism in Hispanics dependent on gene/environment interaction

Hispanics with alcohol-induced problems - especially male Mexican Americans - have significantly worse health and welfare than those with other ethnic backgrounds. This study examined the influence of gene/environment interaction on alcoholism among Mexican Americans. Researchers have found that interaction between education and a polymorphism of the reward gene contribute to severe alcoholism among Mexican Americans.

21 Sep 2009

Paralyzed rats can walk and run: UCLA scientists

UCLA researchers have discovered that a combination of drugs, electrical stimulation and regular exercise can enable paralyzed rats to walk and even run again while supporting their full weight on a treadmill.

21 Sep 2009

Results from the BLOSSOM trial announced by Arena Pharmaceuticals

Arena Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (Nasdaq: ARNA) reported today positive, highly significant top-line results from the BLOSSOM (Behavioral modification and LOrcaserin Second Study for Obesity Management) trial.

18 Sep 2009

UPV provides new model to recognize postnatal depression

Worldwide, 13% of women who give birth suffer from postnatal depression, which causes a significant deterioration in a mother's quality of life and her ability to care for her baby. Now, Spanish researchers have developed a model to diagnose this illness with a predictive power of 80% - the best result to date for this kind of depression.

17 Sep 2009

FDA issues a complete response letter for Sanofi-aventis' eplivanserin NDA

Sanofi-aventis (EURONEXT: SAN and NYSE: SNY) announced today that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has issued a complete response letter regarding the company's New Drug Application (NDA) for eplivanserin (Ciltyri(R)). Eplivanserin was reviewed as a potential treatment for patients with chronic insomnia characterized by difficulties with sleep maintenance.

17 Sep 2009

Newly developed model helps early diagnosis of postnatal depression

16 Sep 2009

Phase 1 results of CTP-347 presented

Concert Pharmaceuticals, Inc. announced today the presentation of Phase 1 data on CTP-347, a deuterium-modified analog of paroxetine for the treatment of hot flashes. Concert presented the results during a poster session at the American College of Clinical Pharmacology’s 38th Annual Meeting.

14 Sep 2009

Monoamine oxidases responsible for personality and behaviour

Antisocial and aggressive behaviours represent a widespread and expensive social problem. Recent research has convincingly shown that there is a strong interaction between genetic inheritance and environment for development of personality and behaviour.

14 Sep 2009

Results from the BRITE-MD trials published in Psychiatry Research: Aspect Medical Systems

Aspect Medical Systems, Inc. (NASDAQ: ASPM) today announced that two companion articles highlighting results from the BRITE-MD (Biomarkers for Rapid Identification of Treatment Effectiveness trial in Major Depression) were published in the September issue of the journal Psychiatry Research.

11 Sep 2009

Cymbalta maintains reduction in pain for patients with chronic low back pain

New data show patients with chronic low back pain on Cymbalta(R) (duloxetine HCl) maintained reductions in pain for 41 weeks. In patients who initially responded to duloxetine, this maintenance of pain reduction was accompanied by further reduction in pain that was statistically significant as measured by the Brief Pain Inventory (BPI) average pain rating.

11 Sep 2009

Merck update on the status of telcagepant clinical development programs

Merck & Co., Inc. today updated the status of the clinical development programs for telcagepant (MK-0974) and MK-3207, the Company's investigational oral calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) receptor antagonists for the intermittent treatment of acute migraine.

11 Sep 2009

Biomarkers for rapid identification of treatment effectiveness in major depression

Now, based on the final results of a nationwide study led by UCLA, clinicians may be able to accurately predict within a week whether a particular drug will be effective by using a non-invasive test that takes less than 15 minutes to administer. The test will allow physicians to quickly switch patients to a more effective treatment, if necessary.

11 Sep 2009