CHIR-110

CHIR-110 is a novel, rapid-acting antidepressant candidate being developed by Chiral Biotech Pharma for the treatment of treatment-resistant depression (TRD). It is designed to provide the therapeutic benefits of ketamine-like rapid symptom relief while minimizing the dissociative and addictive side effects typically associated with NMDA receptor antagonism. While the exact chemical structure is proprietary, CHIR-110 is part of a class of compounds hypothesized to act through the activation of α-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazolepropionic acid (AMPA) receptors, a mechanism shared by ketamine metabolites such as (2R,6R)-hydroxynorketamine (HNK). By promoting synaptic plasticity and synaptogenesis in brain regions associated with mood regulation, CHIR-110 aims to offer a safer alternative to existing rapid-acting antidepressants. As of 2024, the drug is undergoing Phase 1 clinical evaluation to assess its safety, tolerability, and pharmacokinetics in healthy adult participants.