Investigation of the effects of dasotraline in a validated rat model of binge-eating disorder

2018 ACNP 2018 BED

Dasotraline is a novel monoamine reuptake inhibitor. Dasotraline acts as a potent inhibitor of the human dopamine reuptake transporter (DAT; dopamine uptake IC50=3nM) and noradrenaline (norepinephrine) transporter (NET; noradrenaline uptake IC50=4nM), and a weaker inhibitor of the human serotonin (5-HT) transporter (SERT; serotonin uptake IC50=15nM). Dasotraline has been shown in clinical trials to be effective in treating ADHD in adults (Koblan et al, 2015; Hopkins et al, 2016) and it is also currently in Phase 3 clinical development as a treatment for the management of binge-eating disorder (BED) in adults.  We have developed a model of binge-eating (BE) in which female rats not only exhibit aberrant bingeing, but also the behavioural traits of compulsivity and impulsivity that are core symptoms of BED in humans (Vickers et al, 2015, 2017; Heal et al, 2016). The effect of dasotraline on BE in this model was investigated.