Picture: Prof Brian Harvey and Prof. Stanislav Gobec who lead the respective research groups at the NWU and the University of Ljubljana, Slovenia/Supplied
By REGINALD KANYANE
29 October 2026 – For millions of people living with depression, finding the right treatment can be a long and difficult journey. Some medicines fail to ease symptoms, while others have side effects.
Now, researchers at the North West University (NWU) and the University of Ljubljana in Slovenia are testing a new compound that could offer another way to treat the illness. Early laboratory results show that the compound may work as well as some leading antidepressants.
Prof Brian Harvey, who represents the research team said depression remains a major health concern because available treatments do not work for everyone. Harvey said, however, it may also address other problems that current treatments do not always address.
“Unlike existing antidepressants, the compound targets different pathways in the brain to help control mood, stress and the way people respond to rewards. The findings offer hope for better treatment options, especially for patients who do not respond well to current medicines. However, the research is still at an early stage, and scientists must conduct more tests before they can study the compound in humans.
“Depression is a complex condition, plagued by poor response to current treatments, side effects and a high risk of relapse and treatment resistance. Depression involves several brain pathways. Current medicines may not target all of them, especially those that regulate concentration, motivation and the ability to experience pleasure, leaving some patients with enduring symptoms that are hard to treat,” he said.
Harvey further said the early findings of the research are encouraging, but researchers still need to establish how safe and effective the compound could be. He added that the compound has reached technology readiness level 4.
“This means researchers have tested it in laboratory and preclinical studies, but it is not yet ready for use in patients. The next phase will focus on improving the compound’s formulation, studying how the body processes it and testing its safety. These steps will help researchers decide whether the research can move towards early clinical trials.
“The NWU and the University of Ljubljana have also filed a joint international patent application under the Patent Cooperation Treaty, resulting in a positive International Search Report,” said Harvey.
Senior Specialist in Commercialisation at the NWU’s Technology Transfer and Innovation Support (TTIS) team, Ntiyiso Shabangu said the project shows how university research could help address real health challenges. Shabangu said this innovation presents an exciting opportunity to explore a new approach in an area where there is a need for improved treatment options.
“Working with industry partners will help the researchers develop and test the compound further. Specifically, the two universities are seeking pharmaceutical and biotechnology partners to support the next stages of research. This could entail licensing or joint development.
“Although the compound is still far from becoming an approved medicine, the research could open a new path towards treating depression, particularly for people who have found little relief from existing treatments,” he said.
