Freiburg Researchers Discover potential for Rapidly Acting Antidepressant
FREIBURG, Germany – November 26, 2025 - Scientists at the Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy at the University Hospital of Freiburg have identified a novel mechanism that could lead to the growth of fast-acting antidepressants. Published today in Nature Communications, the research centers on the active ingredient NAB-14, which selectively blocks a specific receptor in the brain involved in nerve signal transmission and implicated in depression.
unlike the current fast-acting antidepressant ketamine, NAB-14 does not produce intoxicating side effects. In animal studies, NAB-14 demonstrated a rapid antidepressant effect lasting up to two days.
“In animal experiments, the active ingredient NAB-14 has shown a rapid antidepressant effect that lasted up to two days. This is a promising approach for patients for whom conventional therapies have not yet helped sufficiently,” said study leader Prof. Dr. Claus Normann, head of section in the Clinic for Psychiatry and Psychotherapy at the University Hospital of Freiburg.
NAB-14 targets the GluN2D subunit of the NMDA receptor, influencing the balance of activating and inhibitory signals in the brain. This targeted approach resulted in improved depression-like behavior in animal models with fewer undesirable side effects than ketamine, which can cause restlessness or altered perception and requires administration in controlled clinical settings.
The research, funded by the Federal Ministry of Research, Technology and Space and the Else Kröner Fresenius Foundation, is part of a translational research program at the University hospital of Freiburg focused on developing new depression treatments. Researchers are currently preparing to initiate human trials with NAB-14.
Further facts and the full study are available at: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-025-66774-w.
Contact: kommunikation@uniklinik-freiburg.de
