new Research Points to Potential Fast-Acting Antidepressant with Fewer side Effects
Freiburg,Germany – November 28,2025 – Researchers at the University Hospital of Freiburg have identified a promising new mechanism for developing rapidly effective antidepressants. A study published November 26, 2025, in Nature Communications details the effects of a compound, NAB-14, which selectively blocks a specific receptor in the brain linked to depression.
The research team, from the Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, found that NAB-14 targets the GluN2D subunit of the NMDA receptor - a key component in nerve cell communication. Unlike ketamine, another fast-acting antidepressant, NAB-14 demonstrated a highly targeted action, influencing the balance of brain signals without inducing the intoxicating side effects associated with ketamine.
“In animal experiments, NAB-14 exhibited a rapid antidepressant effect lasting up to two days,” explained Professor Dr. Claus Normann, head of section at the Clinic for Psychiatry and Psychotherapy at the University Hospital of Freiburg, and lead author of the study. “This offers a possibly significant advancement for patients who haven’t responded adequately to existing treatments.”
Ketamine’s rapid action is often hampered by side effects like restlessness and altered perception, limiting its management to controlled clinical settings.NAB-14, however, showed considerably fewer of these undesirable effects in animal models.
The growth of NAB-14 as a potential clinical drug is already underway, supported by funding from the Federal Ministry of Research, Technology and Space and the Else Kröner Fresenius Foundation. this research is part of a broader translational research program at the University Hospital of Freiburg, specifically dedicated to the development of novel treatment strategies for depression. The team is now preparing for human trials to assess the compound’s efficacy and safety.
