Use of neurokinin 3 receptor antagonist, osanetant, for the prevention and treatment of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and other anxiety disorders.
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) occurs in some individuals after witnessing or experiencing extreme traumatic events. Currently those suffering from PTSD are prescribed antidepressants, which have limited success in clinical trials. There are no treatments for specific PTSD symptoms and no effective method for the prevention of PTSD. There are currently only a few clinical and preclinical studies for potential treatments of PTSD.
The neurokinin 3 receptor (Nk3R) pathway is involved in the abnormal fear response associated with PTSD. Inhibiting this pathway may serve as a powerful treatment for PTSD and other anxiety disorders. Fear-conditioned mice treated with osanetant, an Nk3R antagonist, showed a decrease in fear expression. Osanetant may also provide a preventative treatment for PTSD wherein osanetant given shortly after a traumatic event could decrease the likelihood of developing PTSD. This treatment has the potential to be applicable in multiple anxiety disorders such as panic disorder, phobias, and PTSD.
Mouse models of PTSD treated with osanetant show a decrease in fear response.