A New Kind of MAO Inhibitor on the Horizon

Monoamine oxidase (MAO) inhibitors are used in atypical and bipolar depressions and might have cognitive-enhancing and antioxidant properties, but interactions with foods and other medications have limited drug acceptance. In this manufacturer-supported, 1-week validation study, investigators examined binding of EVT 301, a reversible and selective inhibitor of MAO-B, to the MAO-B enzyme. MAO-B is the predominant form of MAO in the brain.

Four patients with Alzheimer disease (mean age, 71) received EVT 301 at 75 mg/day, and 16 healthy controls (mean age, 61) received EVT 301 at various doses (25–150 mg/day) or selegiline (10 mg/day), an irreversible, selective MAO-B inhibitor used for depression and Parkinson disease. After 1 week, PET scans …