The future of MDD treatment: A comparative table highlighting the emergence of fast-acting therapies

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The treatment landscape for major depressive disorder (MDD) continues to diversify, and in the coming years, psychedelic options may be available, including COMPASS Pathways COMP360 and the deuterated psilocybin analog CYB003 from Cybin. CYB003 demonstrated a significant -14.08 point reduction in MADRS score, a 53.3% response rate, and a 20% remission rate at a 12mg dose in interim results from its phase 2 study.

The potential of faster-acting more effective therapies

While it is difficult to compare the results from disparate clinical trials, some broad patterns emerge when viewing data from current treatment options and drugs now in clinical development for MDD (see table below). In contrast, newer treatment options, especially psychedelic therapies such as CYB003 and COMP360, demonstrate potentially faster onset and greater magnitude of symptom reduction.

The promise of NMDA and dopamine rec…
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How effective is ketamine for depression? 

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First synthesized in 1962, the dissociative anesthetic ketamine is rapidly growing in popularity for its off-label use in treating depression and mood disorders. In recent years, hundreds of clinics across the U.S. have begun offering ketamine for depression, anxiety and other mood disorders.  

The surge in interest has also attracted startups such as Mindbloom and Field Trip Health. At the same time, Janssen (NYSE:JNJ) scored FDA approval for the ketamine enantiomer Spravato (esketamine) for depression in 2019. 

Impressive but limited data

While evidence is building that indicates that ketamine is effective against depression, the level of evidence is frequently limited to small clinical trials, case reports and anecdotes. “It’s really difficult to tease apart what’s happening in these [ketamine] studies because there’s no standard protocol,&…

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What the ketamine boom could mean for pharma

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The demand for ketamine has surged in recent years as interest in its off-label use for treating depression, anxiety and PTSD has grown.

Ketamine has been “shown to be very effective,” said Linnea Butler, founder and CEO of Bay Area Mental Health (Campbell, California), which recently began offering ketamine-assisted psychotherapy.

Also this week, Earlier this week, Pasithea Therapeutics Corp. (NSDQ:KTTA), announced the launch of the first U.K.-based ketamine infusion clinic.

And separately, Delic Holdings (CSE: DELC) announced two new alliances between Ketamine Wellness Centers (KWC) and the Veterans Administration Community Care Networks of Illinois and Minnesota. KWC plans to provide ketamine for PTSD, depression and chronic pain to veterans at no out-of-pocket cost at their locations in Naperville, Illinois, and Burnsville, Minnesota.

Parke-Davis, now …

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