Depression Treatments Reviewed By NeuroInvestment

Main Category: Depression
Also Included In: Mental Health;  Psychology / Psychiatry
Article Date: 08 May 2008 - 3:00 PDT

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NeuroInvestment announced the release of its May issue, which reviews novel treatments being developed for depression. Even though depression can be argued to be the success story of psychopharmacology, the current array of largely similar monoamine-targeting drugs leave 30% of patients without adequate relief, and incur significantly aversive side effects for the majority. With millions of patients going untreated or not complying with treatment due to side effects, depression remains an undertreated disorder of enormous magnitude and societal cost. While major pharmaceutical companies have and continue to devote major resources to the development of drugs which are in fact just minor variations on well-trodden themes, the real promise of genuinely accelerated and impactful antidepressant therapies is more likely to be found in the numerous novel targets that are being explored. None of these have proven to be an easy target: CRF antagonism, as was pioneered by Neurocrine Biosciences has made painfully little progress since its early signs of promise nearly ten years ago.

The same is true for NK-1 antagonism, which in 1998 was cited as the new revolution in depression therapy. These strategies have been joined by other novel approaches, including neurogenesis-enhancement (BrainCells Inc.); melatonin-modulation (Servier and Novartis); mGluR modulation (Addex, JNJ, Merck, Lilly); vasopressin modulation (Schering-Plough, Sanofi-Aventis) and AMPA-modulation (Schering-Plough, Cortex (AMEX: COR), Lilly) as possible new strategies for depression treatment, while CeNeRx is bringing forward a selective MAO-A inhibitor. Other intriguing programs include those from Affectis, Lundbeck, NeuroSearch, Karo AB, and Targacept (NASDAQ: TRGT), amongst several.

The May issue also includes commentary regarding the major partnership between Astellas Pharma and CoMentis; the acquisitions of Sirtis by GSK and CeNeS by Paion; the StemCells Inc. claim that they control all uses of neural stem cells; additional commentary regarding the Catalyst Pharmaceuticals vigabatrin program; prospects for the GSK/Pozen migraine drug; and an overview of Japan's M's Science.

NeuroInvestment is the independent, monthly review of the neurotherapeutics area. A one-year corporate subscription is $1600, email or hardcopy. Add $250 for dual delivery, add $50 for airmail delivery outside North America. A three month trial subscription is US$600. Individual investor information is available upon request.

NI Research is the leading publisher of independent research on the neuropharmaceutical/therapeutic industry. NI Research has published NeuroInvestment since 1995, the Private CNS Company Review since 2003, and CNS Disorders/Therapeutics since 2007. NI Research also provides inlicensing consultation and custom research for large and small pharmaceutical firms. NI Research has developed an unmatched information base regarding both publicly and privately-held neuro-oriented companies.

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