The U.S. FDA granted Neuronetics Inc. clearance for use of its Neurostar advanced therapy as an adjunctive treatment of major depressive disorder in patients aged 15 to 21, making it the first transcranial magnetic stimulation treatment (TMS) cleared for this age group, the company said.
A partnership between Gate Neurosciences Inc. and Beacon Biosignals Inc. promises to advance the field of precision psychiatry by using electroencephalogram (EEG) biomarkers to diagnose depression and rapidly assess response to medications. The collaboration will first use Beacon’s U.S. FDA-cleared Dreem 3S headband device and neurobiomarker platform to conduct EEGs in participants in Gate’s phase II trial of zelquistinel, a small-molecule NMDA receptor modulator under development as an antidepressant.
ABVC Biopharma Inc. entered a multiyear, global licensing agreement for its CNS drugs to treat major depressive disorder and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. The license deal with Aibtl Biopharma Inc. would cover clinical trial, registration, manufacturing, supply and distribution rights. The products were valued at $667 million by a third party, according to ABVC.
The first participants are being treated in a clinical trial assessing a neuromodulation system developed by Magnus Medical Inc. to treat depression. The system employs the recently FDA-cleared Saint neuromodulation technology that saw remarkable results in a clinical trial for treating major depressive disorder (MDD). The new Open Label Optimization (OLO) clinical trial is evaluating the effectiveness of this platform in conjunction with the medtech’s Magnus Neuromodulation System.
The burgeoning psychedelic therapeutics market experienced a boost Jan. 25 as Small Pharma Inc. announced its synthetic, intravenous formulation of N,N-dimethyltryptamine (DMT), SPL-026, led to a statistically significantly, rapid reduction in depression symptoms in patients with major depressive disorder in a phase IIa trial, thus meeting its primary endpoint. DMT is a powerful hallucinogenic tryptamine substance which works as a 5-HT receptor agonist. It is found naturally in various plants, and is a schedule I controlled substance in the U.S. Although lesser known than other psychedelics such as magic mushrooms and LSD, it produces short-lived but intense auditory and visual hallucinogenic effects.
Magstim Inc. received U.S. FDA clearance for use of its Horizon 3.0 and E-z Cool Coil to treat adult patients diagnosed with both obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) and major depressive disorder (MDD). The company’s non-invasive transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) therapy offers an option for patients who do not find adequate relief from the often life-disrupting symptoms of OCD with exposure therapy or medication.
Luye Pharma Group has received marketing approval from China’s NMPA for the triple monoamine reuptake inhibitor Ruoxinlin (toludesvenlafaxine hydrochloride) to treat patients with major depressive disorder, a condition that “has become one of the most prevalent mental disorders in China, causing a heavy burden on patients, their families and the entire society,” said Luye President Yang Rongbing.
Magnus Medical Inc. received FDA clearance for a neuromodulation platform to treat major depressive disorder (MDD) in adults for whom antidepressant medication has been ineffective.
The mutual recognition agreement between Switzerland and the EU for medical devices lapsed in 2021, a development that was expected to add a significant amount of drag on Swiss device exports to EU nations.
Shares of Axsome Therapeutics Inc. (NASDAQ:AXSM) hit a 52-week low on Aug. 9, falling 46.5% to close at $24.37, after the FDA said deficiencies in an NDA in major depressive disorder for its drug, AXS-05 (dextromethorphan + bupropion), would "preclude labeling discussions" for now.