NORA-520

NORA-520
Clinical data
Other namesNORA520; NRT-023; NRT023; Brexanolone prodrug
Routes of
administration		Oral
Drug classGABAA receptor positive allosteric modulator; Neurosteroid

NORA-520, also known as NRT-023, is a prodrug of brexanolone (allopregnanolone) and hence GABAA receptor positive allosteric modulator which is under development for the treatment of postpartum depression, major depressive disorder, essential tremor, bipolar disorder, epilepsy, and generalized anxiety disorder. In contrast to brexanolone itself, which must be used parenterally via intravenous infusion, NORA-520 is active and used via oral administration. The drug is under development by Gerbera Therapeutics. As of December 2025, it is in phase 2 clinical trials for postpartum depression, the preclinical research stage of development for major depressive disorder and essential tremor, and the research stage of development for bipolar disorder, epilepsy, and generalized anxiety disorder.

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 "Gerbera Therapeutics". AdisInsight. 3 December 2025. Retrieved 18 May 2026.
  2. 1 2 3 "Delving into the Latest Updates on NRT-023 with Synapse". Synapse. 4 April 2026. Retrieved 18 May 2026.
  3. 1 2 3 Carlini SV, Osborne LM, Deligiannidis KM (December 2023). "Current pharmacotherapy approaches and novel GABAergic antidepressant development in postpartum depression". Dialogues in Clinical Neuroscience. 25 (1): 92–100. doi:10.1080/19585969.2023.2262464. PMC 10557560. PMID 37796239. NORA-520 is an oral prodrug that is hydrolysed to brexanolone. It consists of an active moiety with rapid onset of action as a PAM of the GABAAR as well as two moieties that prolong the half-life and promote oral absorption. It is currently in Phase 2 trials for PPD and is also being investigated in preclinical trials for other disorders including major depressive disorder (MDD), generalised anxiety disorder (GAD), essential tremor, and epilepsy; no results have been posted (Gerbera Therapeutics Inc 2023).
  4. 1 2 Arifunhera J, Mirunalini R (March 2025). "An update on the pharmacotherapy of postpartum depression". International Journal of Gynaecology and Obstetrics. 168 (3): 933–943. doi:10.1002/ijgo.15980. PMID 39495091.