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Sci. Signal., 28 July 2009
Vol. 2, Issue 81, p. ec255
[DOI: 10.1126/scisignal.281ec255]

EDITORS' CHOICE

Neurobiology Keeping Calm

Stella M. Hurtley

Science, AAAS, Cambridge CB2 1LQ, UK

Benzodiazepines are the most prescribed anxiolytics and are used by a broad population. However, benzodiazepines can cause unwanted side effects, including sedation, development of tolerance, and withdrawal symptoms after long-term administration. Rupprecht et al. now find that a translocator protein (18 kD) ligand, XBD173, is a fast-acting anxiolytic agent, both in animals and humans, which lacks the unwanted side effects of benzodiazepines and provides a promising target for novel clinically effective anxiolytic drugs.

R. Rupprecht, G. Rammes, D. Eser, T. C. Baghai, C. Schüle, C. Nothdurfter, T. Troxler, C. Gentsch, H. O. Kalkman, F. Chaperon, V. Uzunov, K. H. McAllister, V. Bertaina-Anglade, C. Drieu La Rochelle, D. Tuerck, A. Floesser, B. Kiese, M. Schumacher, R. Landgraf, F. Holsboer, K. Kucher, Translocator protein (18 kD) as target for anxiolytics without benzodiazepine-like side effects. Science 325, 490–493 (2009).[Abstract] [Full Text]

Citation: S. M. Hurtley, Keeping Calm. Sci. Signal. 2, ec255 (2009).

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