7. A novel atypical antidepressant drug: Agomelatine - A review

Agomelatine, a synthetic analog of hormone melatonin belongs to a new class of atypical antidepressant with a novel mechanism of action at melatoninergic and serotoninergic receptors which distinguishes it from the other currently available antidepressants. It acts on MT1 and MT2 receptors normalizing the disturbed circadian rhythms and disrupted sleep-wake cycles, apart from inhibiting 5HT-2C receptor involved in the mood, motor and cognitive deficits associated with depressive states. It is an effective alternative for patients who do not respond to or cannot tolerate currently available antidepressant agents. Subsequent comprehensive pharmacological evaluation and extensive clinical trials, agomelatine was granted marketing authorization in 2009 for the treatment of major depression in Europe, thereby becoming the first approved antidepressant to incorporate a non-monoaminergic mechanism of action. This article reviews the significance and pharmacological aspects of a novel atypical antidepressant drug, agomelatine.