It looks like the very first medication for postpartum depression is underway. According to the New York Post, Zuranolone will possibly be available by August. The medication is supposed to only be taken for two weeks and is a part of the drug
“that target GABA receptors — which control signaling in the central nervous system — in the brain using a substance called neurosteroid,”
reports The Post.
The drug can be approved by the FDA by Aug. 6, according to Sage Therapeutics and Biogen. Biogen’s executive vice president and head of research, Dr. Priya Singhal, said,
“We see potential for zuranolone, if approved, to be a meaningful new option that can help address the serious unmet need faced by the diverse populations struggling with [major depressive disorder] MDD and PPD.”
The test trials on the medication produced great results. The Post reports,
“In the Phase 3 SKYLARK randomized study, the scientists measured women with OOD based on the 17-item Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression (HAMD-17).”
A score of 20 or more showed moderate to intense depression; however, a score of zero to seven was “normal.” The woman who took a 50mg dosage of Zuranolone each evening for two weeks showed a lower HAMD score than women who took the placebo pill. Zuranolone is created to realign brain networks that are responsible for arousal, behavior, mood, and cognition.
The chief medical officer at Sage, Dr. Laura Gault,
“We feel a tremendous responsibility to patients with MDD and PPD to deliver a potential new treatment option, which is so desperately needed. Most current approved therapies may take weeks or months to work. We are committed to advancing treatments that could help physicians and patients by addressing depression symptoms quickly.”
#Clique, what are your thoughts?
