PARIS — Two clinical trials have found agomelatine, an investigational drug that affects circadian rhythm, to be as effective as venlafaxine in treating major depressive disorder but with fewer side effects.

Sexual dysfunction, in particular, occurred at significantly lower rates in patients who achieved remission on agomelatine, compared with those who remitted on venlafaxine (Effexor), Dr. Sidney H. Kennedy reported at the annual congress of the European College of Neuropsychopharmacology.

He also presented a pooled analysis from three placebo-controlled trials that showed agomelatine's sexual side effect profile to be similar to placebo and better than that of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs).

http://www.clinicalpsychiatrynews.co...19403/fulltext