Esketamine is a NMDA receptor antagonist used for treatment-resistant depression. Major depressive disorder (MDD) is a significant cause of disability worldwide and the most common illness preceding suicide.
- Mechanism
- Curator reviewed · 1 reference
Esketamine, the S-enantiomer of racemic ketamine, is a non-selective, non-competitive antagonist of the N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor, an ionotropic glutamate receptor. The exact mechanism by which esketamine acts as an antidepressant is unknown. The primary circulating metabolite of esketamine (noresketamine) shows activity at the same receptor with a weaker affinity.
- Primary indication
- Esketamine is indicated in combination with an oral antidepressant or as a monotherapy for the treatment of treatment-resistant depression in adults.Curator reviewed · 6 structured indications
- Formula / weight
- C13H16ClNO · 237.73 g/mol (avg)
- First approval
- Canada, 2020 · United States, 2019 · European Union, 2020
- Also known as
- (S)-ketamine · Esketamina · L-ketamine · S-ketamine · s(+)ketamine
- Code names
- JNJ-54135419
- Brand names
Resolves to
YQEZLKZALYSWHR-ZDUSSCGKSA-NSMILESCN[C@@]1(CCCCC1=O)C1=CC=CC=C1ClWhat you can answer from here — as of September 23, 2026
Which drugs share a target with Esketamine, and which of those have an active Phase 3 trial?
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