Sage Therapeutics’ (NSDQ:SAGE) and Biogen’s (NSDQ:BIIB) experimental depression drug zuranolone fared well in a Phase 3 clinical trial comparing it to placebo in the treatment of postpartum depression.
The investigational drug demonstrated meaningful improvements in terms of the baseline 17-item Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression (HAMD-17) score, the most common clinician-administered depression assessment scoring system.
After a 15-day treatment period, the zuranolone group had a mean change in HAM-D score of −17.8, resulting in a final mean score of 11.0, which is the normal range. Meanwhile, the −13.6 change in the placebo group results in a final mean score of 14.8, indicating mild-to-moderate depression.
For context, in the HAM-D system, a score of 10–13 indicates mild depression. The range of 14–17 represents mild to moderate depression. A score higher than 17 indicates severe depression.
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