The whopper deal between Biogen Inc. and Sage Therapeutics Inc. – a global collaboration and licensing deal involving the latter’s zuranolone (also known as SAGE-217) for major depressive disorder (MDD), postpartum depression (PPD) and other psychiatric disorders, as well as SAGE-324 for essential tremor (ET) and neurological disorders – drew mixed reviews from Wall Street. And, for Biogen investors, the would-be Alzheimer’s disease (AD) therapy aducanumab remains front of mind.
Despite some encouraging top-line data from Sage Therapeutics Inc.’s phase III Mountain study of SAGE-217 on depressive symptoms in adults with major depressive disorder (MDD), the company, the market and analysts were taken aback at the trial’s failure to hit its primary endpoint.