Effects of the high-affinity corticotropin-releasing hormone receptor 1 antagonist R121919 in major depression: the first 20 patients treated

What Was Tested

Researchers studied ACTH (Corticotropin) and CRH (Corticotropin-Releasing Hormone) in this controlled clinical trial publication.

This compound was administered to 24 patients with a major depressive episode primarily in order to investigate whether its endocrine mode of action compromises the stress-hormone system or whether other safety and tolerability issues exist.

Why It Was Studied

This led to the development of drugs that selectively antagonize CRH(1) receptors suppressing anxiety-like behavior in rats and also in monkey models of anxiety.

These findings led to a clinical development program exploring the antidepressive potential of R121919, a water-soluble pyrrolopyrimidine that binds with high affinity to human CRH(1) receptors and is well absorbed in humans.

Who Took Part

According to the abstract, 24 patients were involved.

By PubMed's age tags, the people studied were adults and middle-aged adults, both men and women.

How the Study Was Run

A time span of 30 days appears in the methods.

What Was Measured

PubMed files the paper under topics including Adrenocorticotropic Hormone, Analysis of Variance, Anti-Anxiety Agents, Corticotropin-Releasing Hormone, Major Depressive Disorder, Drug Evaluation and Hydrocortisone.

What This Means in Plain Language

This is a controlled clinical trial of ACTH (Corticotropin) and CRH (Corticotropin-Releasing Hormone) in 24 patients over 30 days.

With fewer than 40 people, it is a small study, so it is better read as an early signal for further research than as a settled answer.

The publication is from 2000 (Journal of psychiatric research), a journal based in England.

More context: the ACTH (Corticotropin) compound page and the CRH (Corticotropin-Releasing Hormone) compound page, all human trials.