Discontinued anxiolytic drugs (2009 – 2014)

Abstract

Introduction: Anxiety is a complex psychiatric disorder with an unknown aetiology and involving several neurotransmitter systems. These constraints have meant that researchers have looked to develop drugs, which target a variety of molecular targets, with the aim of creating safer and more effective anxiolytic drugs. Apart from the ‘traditional’ GABAergic and serotonergic systems, the endocannabinoid, opioidergic, glutamatergic, neurokinin, and even cholinergic systems have been (and are being) considered as preferred targets for prospective new drugs.

Areas covered: This review presents candidate drugs that were investigated for the treatment of anxiety-spectrum disorders and then discontinued between the 2009 and 2014 period.

Expert opinion: Despite the large variety of molecular targets, and the considerable financial and R&D resources dedicated to finding treatment solutions for anxiety-spectrum disorders, a great number of candidates have failed to reach the market. Indeed, there is still an unmet need for more effective anxiolytics that give patients a better quality of life. Although there are inherent problems with psychiatric drug development, it is thought that repurposed drugs may provide some benefit in the future.

Keywords:

• anxiety
• benzodiazepine
• discontinued drugs
• mechanism of action
• prospective new drug
• serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor
• selective-serotonin reuptake inhibitor

Declaration of interest

The authors acknowledge financial support from the Regione Emilia-Romagna (POR-FESR funds), Italy, and UniRimini – Società Consortile per l’Università nel Riminese, Rimini, Italy. The authors have no other relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript apart from those disclosed.

Notes

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