RESEARCH MONOGRAPH · KDC-MN-143

Reboxetine

May 9, 2026 Kodiac biolabs Research Revised May 30, 2026 2 min read

Our opinion on this compound

61/100

An NRI with a fascinating pharmacology and a depressing meta-analytic story

Reboxetine is the European NRI, approved in Europe in the late 90s for major depression and never approved by the FDA. Single-digit nanomolar at NET, very selective, similar profile in principle to atomoxetine but marketed first as an antidepressant. The story of reboxetine's clinical decline is more interesting than its current marketing position suggests.

Eyding's 2010 BMJ meta-analysis was the big one. They pulled together published and unpublished trial data and showed that reboxetine's antidepressant efficacy in the published literature was substantially better than what the unpublished trials showed, with the combined picture being essentially non-superiority over placebo. This was one of the cleanest illustrations of publication bias in psychiatric drug development that we've ever seen, and it largely killed reboxetine clinically. Some European countries delisted it from reimbursement.

What we like: the receptor pharmacology is genuinely clean. As a research tool for NET-selective inhibition reboxetine is one of the better options, with even higher selectivity than atomoxetine on some panels. The publication-bias story is also pedagogically important; this is the kind of case study that should be required reading.

What we dont like: clinical antidepressant efficacy is the question reboxetine was developed to answer, and the honest answer based on full data appears to be "not much." That doesnt invalidate it as a research tool but it does inform how seriously to take "NRIs are an antidepressant class" claims in general. The norepinephrine-depression hypothesis isnt as straightforward as the early SNRI marketing made it sound.

Mechanism: well-mapped at the NET level. The translation to clinical effect on mood is, charitably, complicated.

What's interesting from a tool perspective: the comparison between reboxetine and atomoxetine is informative because they're pharmacologically similar but reboxetine never got the ADHD indication, partly for development-strategy reasons. So you have two molecules with similar primary pharmacology but different clinical positioning.

Sourcing: synthetic small molecule, established quality from research-chemical suppliers, but the European supply chain has been disrupted by delistings, so availability has gotten tighter than for atomoxetine. Verify enantiomeric purity if you care about the active S,S isomer specifically.

Useful tool, complicated history.

Evidence: 55
Mechanism: 85
Reliability: 60
Safety: 75
Sourcing: 60
Value: 55
Signal: 50
Staying power: 50

Plain-language summary Intrigue 55 / 100

Reboxetine, sold as Edronax in Europe (not FDA-approved), is a selective norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor (NRI). It was developed as an antidepressant; clinical evidence has been mixed. Not stocked by Kodiac. This monograph is provided for research and educational reference.

Intrigue 0–100 blends mechanism novelty, evidence strength, and translational potential. Kodiac editorial, not peer-reviewed.

Selective norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor

A selective NRI marketed in Europe as Edronax for depression but rejected by the FDA for inadequate efficacy.

Abstract

Reboxetine (Edronax; CAS 71620-89-8; molecular formula C19H23NO3; molecular weight 313.39) is a selective norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor approved in Europe (1997) for major depressive disorder. The FDA rejected the compound's NDA for inadequate efficacy demonstration. The compound is marketed as the racemate; the (S,S)-enantiomer carries the majority of NET inhibition activity. Pharmacokinetics: plasma half-life 13 hours. Reported research dose ranges in the literature are described in the source publications. The compound is sold as a research chemical in jurisdictions where it is not specifically scheduled.

Mechanism of action

Selective norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor; NET-selective.

Reported research dose ranges

Reported research dose ranges in the literature.

References

Eyding D, et al. Reboxetine for acute treatment of major depression: systematic review and meta-analysis. BMJ 2010.

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The full reference document is available as a research-use-only PDF download. Note: PDFs for newly added compounds may take a few hours to propagate after this article was published.

KDC-MN-143

The full reference document is provided strictly for research use only. It reports research dose ranges from the published literature, not instructions for use in humans or animals.

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FOR RESEARCH USE ONLY. Not for medical, diagnostic, or therapeutic purposes. Not for human consumption. All information is provided for research and educational purposes only.

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Reboxetine

Abstract

Mechanism of action

Reported research dose ranges

References

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Abstract

Mechanism of action

Reported research dose ranges

References

Read the full monograph

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