The Psychiatric Times (5/17) reported, “A novel approach to modulating brain cortisol levels is showing clinical potential in both major depressive disorder (MDD) and Alzheimer disease, according to Dana Hilt, MD, PhD.” Dr. Hilt “shared details of…recent clinical findings in an interview with Psychiatric Times ahead of his presentation at the 2025 American Psychiatric Association Annual Meeting.” Xanamem (emestedastat), an “investigational drug, is a selective inhibitor of 11β-HSD1 (hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 1), an enzyme that facilitates cortisol synthesis in the brain.” The article adds, “This selective targeting allows the body’s systemic stress response to remain intact while addressing the elevated brain cortisol implicated in neuropsychiatric conditions.” A recent study investigated “Xanamem in patients with residual depression who after at least 6 weeks of treatment with an antidepressant medication.” Dr. Hilt said, “At the end of 10 weeks, there was a statistically significant separation with the treated patients doing better as compared to the placebo.” (SOURCE: APA Headlines)