Cognitive and Neural Effects of ARA290

Summary

Studies on the hormone Erythropoietin (EPO) have indicated that EPO may have antidepressant properties. However, EPO may cause serious side-effects with repeated administration (thrombosis), which limits its usefulness as an antidepressant. ARA290 is a peptide that does not have the effects of EPO on blood cells but may still have its effect on brain function. In an attempt to replicate previous findings with (a single dose of) EPO in healthy volunteers, we study the effects of ARA290 on the cognitive and neural processing of emotions in healthy volunteers. We hypothesize that a single dose of ARA290 will lead to a positive shift in information processing compared to placebo, 7 days post-administration.

Timeline

Start

2012-02

Primary completion

2013-02

Completion

2014-02

Publications

• Background Brines M, Cerami A. Erythropoietin-mediated tissue protection: reducing collateral damage from the primary injury response. J Intern Med. 2008 Nov;264(5):405-32. doi: 10.1111/j.1365-2796.2008.02024.x.
• Background Miskowiak KW, Vinberg M, Harmer CJ, Ehrenreich H, Kessing LV. Erythropoietin: a candidate treatment for mood symptoms and memory dysfunction in depression. Psychopharmacology (Berl). 2012 Feb;219(3):687-98. doi: 10.1007/s00213-011-2511-1. Epub 2011 Sep 23.
• Cerit H, Veer IM, Dahan A, Niesters M, Harmer CJ, Miskowiak KW, Rombouts SA, Van der Does W. Testing the antidepressant properties of the peptide ARA290 in a human neuropsychological model of drug action. Eur Neuropsychopharmacol. 2015 Dec;25(12):2289-99. doi: 10.1016/j.euroneuro.2015.09.005. Epub 2015 Sep 18.

Drugs

Indications