Vortioxetine is a new antidepressant, which mechanism of action is multimodal, 
targeting the 5-HT1A, 5-HT1B, 5-HT1D, 5-HT3, 5-HT7 receptors and the serotonin 
transporter (5-HTT). Its efficacy and safety were assessed in fourteen studies 
including more than 3700 patients with a major depressive episode and treated 
with vortioxetine. In short-term studies (8 weeks), vortioxetine is more 
efficacious than placebo in decreasing depressive symptoms as measured by the 
MADRS total score, response rate (vortioxetine: 53.2% vs placebo: 35.2%) and 
remission rate (vortioxetine: 29.2% vs placebo: 19.3%). In a long-term study 
(52 weeks), vortioxetine is also superior to placebo in preventing relapses and 
recurrences. Moreover, in second line treatment, after failure of a first line 
selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) or serotonin norepinephrin 
reuptake inhibitor (SNRI), vortioxetine is superior to agomelatine in improving 
depressive symptoms and achieving response and remission. Furthermore, the 
positive effects of vortioxetine on improvement of cognitive symptoms of major 
depressive episodes are particularly well established in several clinical 
trials. The tolerability profile of vortioxetine is favourable. The recommended 
daily posology of vortioxetine is 10mg/d. Vortioxetine is a new antidepressant 
drug with a multimodal mechanism of action, well-documented efficacy and safety 
profiles.