Desvenlafaxine is a new member of the SNRI class of antidepressants.
It is marketed as an extended release tablet for once-daily oral treatment
of MDD in adult patients. Desvenlafaxine (O-desmethylvenlafaxine) is
the major active metabolite of the previously marketed antidepressant
venlafaxine (Effexor). Similar to venlafaxine, desvenlafaxine is a more
potent inhibitor of serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake (IC50＝47 and
531 nM, respectively) than that of dopamine (62% inhibition at 100 mM)
in in vitro studies. It does not have significant in vitro affinity for other
neurotransmitter reporters such as a1-adrenergic, H1-histaminergic,
or muscarine-cholinergic receptors. Desvenlafaxine is marketed as a
racemic mixture. Specific pharmacological properties of the enantiomers
of desvenlafaxine have not been reported.
