Javitt’s work began with an attempt to explain the mechanism of drug-induced psychosis, a condition where people’s thoughts race out of control and hallucinations are common. Over the subsequent 25 years, it has become apparent that the NMDA receptor also has a major effect on depression and, particularly, thoughts of suicide. NRx is on a mission to bring hope to people who suffer from suicidal depression and PTSD through a new generation of NMDA-modulating medicines.

D-cycloserine, patented by Javitt as an antidepressant and antisuicidal drug, is approved worldwide as an anti-infective, primarily used for the treatment of tuberculosis. Although its anti-infective activity is based on its ability to disrupt bacterial cell walls, it also acts as an NMDA antagonist when used at high doses (> 500 mg). By targeting the NMDA receptor and modulating NMDA activity, D-cycloserine seems to foster a normal pace of thought generation. Multiple exploratory clinical studies have demonstrated that administration of D-cycloserine can trigger an antidepressant effect, as well as maintain a reduced level of suicidality.