Zurich researchers are working on a drug to combat stress reactions
Published: Monday, Jan 22nd 2024, 12:30
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Swiss researchers have developed a new active substance to combat stress reactions. However, even in the best-case scenario, it will still be several years before the first applications in patients, as ETH Zurich announced.
The Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Zurich (ETH Zurich) announced on Monday that harmful stress reactions have so far been treated with a drug that has numerous undesirable side effects. The only drug approved to date was originally developed as an abortifacient.
The treatment of chronic stress therefore focuses almost exclusively on the symptoms. These include cardiovascular diseases, the development of depression and obesity.
Eliminates stress switch
Researchers at ETH Zurich have now developed a substance that has a more targeted effect against stress reactions in the body. In cell cultures and animal models, this substance eliminated the so-called glucocorticoid receptor. The researchers published the results of these tests in the journal "Nature Communications".
This receptor acts as a switch for the body's reaction to the stress hormone cortisol. If cortisol is bound to it, it can switch on the genes that are responsible for the stress response, as explained by ETH Zurich.
In contrast to the abortion drug, the new active ingredient acts almost exclusively on the glucocorticoid receptor, according to the university. According to ETH Zurich, stress-related illnesses could therefore be treated much more specifically and with fewer side effects in the future. However, before this can be used in humans, the researchers need to understand the details of the molecule's mode of action.
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