H. Lundbeck A/S (Lundbeck) and Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Limited (Takeda) have jointly announced that the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved Brintellix™ (vortioxetine) for the treatment of adults with major depressive disorder (MDD), a debilitating mental health illness affecting approximately 14 million adult Americans in a given year.[1]
The mechanism of the antidepressant effect of Brintellix is not fully understood. It is an inhibitor of serotonin (5-HT) reuptake and that is thought to be a mechanism of its action.
It is also an agonist at 5-HT1A receptors, a partial agonist at 5-HT1B receptors and an antagonist at 5-HT3, 5-HT1D and 5-HT7 receptors. The contribution of each of these activities to Brintellix’s antidepressant effect has not been established. It is considered to be the first and only compound with this combination of pharmacodynamic activity. The clinical relevance of this is unknown.
“MDD is a multifaceted disorder that encompasses emotional, physical and cognitive symptoms that may make it challenging to treat,” said Michael Thase, MD, Professor of Psychiatry at the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania. “Because patients respond to treatments differently, it is important to have additional new options available to help address the overall symptoms of major depression.”
The efficacy and safety of Brintellix were established across a comprehensive global clinical trial program, including six positive 6-8 week short-term studies – one of which was a dedicated study in the elderly that demonstrated statistically significant improvements in overall symptoms of depression. The primary efficacy measure was the mean change from baseline to endpoint in the Hamilton Depression Scale (HAMD-24) total score in two short-term studies, including the elderly study, and the Montgomery-Asberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS) total score in the other studies.
In addition, the clinical trial program included a positive 24-64 week long-term maintenance study in which Brintellix treatment resulted in a statistically significant longer time to recurrence of depressive episodes (defined as a MADRS total score ≥ 22 or as judged by the investigator) compared to placebo. Studies evaluated for safety included more than 4,700 patients aged 18 to 88 years. It is expected that Brintellix will be available to patients by year end 2013.
“We are pleased that the FDA has approved Brintellix for the treatment of MDD, a serious and complex condition,” said Charlie Baum, MD, vice president and head, US Medical and Scientific Affairs at Takeda Pharmaceuticals International. “Together with our partner Lundbeck, we have been committed to applying our collective expertise to develop new medicines that may help people with depression.”
According to The World Health Organization, fewer than half of people with depression worldwide are receiving treatment,[2] and the burden of depression is expected to continue to rise globally.[3] For those who do seek treatment, discontinuation is not uncommon.[4–5] MDD is a heterogeneous disorder that does not consistently respond to therapy, thus it’s important for patients to work with a healthcare provider to help find a treatment plan that works for them.[6]
“There are very few new antidepressant drugs currently in development even though so many patients still struggle with depression. We are excited about the approval of Brintellix and being able to offer a new option for patients,” said Anders Gersel Pedersen, executive vice president and head, Research and Development at Lundbeck. “This approval continues our six-decade history of innovation in research and treatments for brain disorders, and underscores the commitment of the Takeda and Lundbeck partnership to bring forward new treatments for depression.”
References
- Kessler RC, Berglund, P., Demler, O., et al. (2003). The Epidemiology of Major Depressive Disorder Results From the National Comorbidity Survey Replication (NCS-R). Journal of the American Medical Association; 289 (23): 3196-3105.
- Depression. Retrieved August 2 from: http://www.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/fs369/en/index.html.
- The World Health Organization (2008). The Global Burden of Disease: 2004 Update.
- Hunot, V., Horne, R., Leese, M., Churchill, R. (2007). A Cohort Study of Adherence to Antidepressants in Primary Care: The Influence of Antidepressant Concerns and Treatment Preferences. Primary Care Companion, Journal of Clinical Psychiatry; 9(2):91-99.
- Bull, S., et al (2002). Discontinuing or Switching Selective Serotonin-Reuptake lnhibitors. The Annals of Pharmacotherapy; 36: 578-584.
- Gotto, J., Rapaport, M. (2005). Treatment Options in Treatment-Resistant Depression. Primary Psychiatry; 12(2):42-50.
