Psychiatric Agents
Zulresso (brexanolone)
Brexanolone is the first drug to be approved by the FDA for treatment of postpartum depression (PPD). The mechanism by which brexanolone works for PDD is not fully understood, but it is believed to be related to positive allosteric modulation of both synaptic and extrasynaptic GABA-A receptors.
The drug is available only through a restricted program called the Zulresso Risk Evaluation and Mitigation Strategy (REMS) Program that requires the drug be administered by a healthcare provider in a certified healthcare facility. The REMS requires that patients be enrolled in the program prior to administration of the drug. Brexanolone is administered as a continuous intravenous infusion over a total of 60 hours (2.5 days). Because of the risk of serious harm owing to the sudden loss of consciousness, patients must be monitored for excessive sedation and sudden loss of consciousness and have continuous pulse oximetry monitoring.
Approval was based on 2 randomized, placebo-controlled phase 3 clinical trials that investigated the efficacy and safety of brexanolone injection in 246 women with moderate-to-severe PPD at 30 US centers.
In study 1, Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression (HAM-D) total scores decreased to a significantly greater extent at the end of the 60-hour infusion in the group receiving brexanolone 60 mcg/kg/hour (mean reduction, 19.5 points; P=.0013) and in the group on brexanolone 90 mcg/kg/hour (17.7 points; P = .0252) than in the placebo group (14 points). Similarly, in study 2, HAM-D scores improved significantly more in the higher-dose group (mean, 14.6 points; P = .016) compared with the placebo group (12.1 points).[19]
Depression scores had not returned to baseline by day 30 in any of the brexanolone groups and remained significantly lower in both treatment groups than in the placebo group of study 1 at day 30.
Data from a lactation study in 12 women indicate that brexanolone is transferred to breastmilk in nursing mothers; however, the relative infant dose is low, 1-2% of the maternal weight-adjusted dosage. Available data do not suggest a significant risk of adverse reactions to breastfed infants from exposure.[20]
Spravato (esketamine intranasal)
Esketamine intranasal is indicated in conjunction with an oral antidepressant for treatment-resistant depression (TRD). It is administered in a physician’s office, and the patient must be carefully monitored for at least 2 hours because of the risk of sedation, dissociation, and elevated blood pressure following the dose. Esketamine, the S-enantiomer of racemic ketamine, is a nonselective, noncompetitive N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor antagonist (NMDA is an ionotropic glutamate receptor). The mechanism by which esketamine exerts its antidepressant effect is not fully understood.
Efficacy of esketamine was evaluated in 3 short-term (4-week) clinical trials and 1 longer-term maintenance-of-effect trial. In the short-term studies, patients were randomized to receive esketamine intranasal or a placebo nasal spray. Because of the serious nature of TRD and the need for patients to receive some form of treatment, all patients started a new oral antidepressant at the time of randomization, and the new antidepressant was continued throughout the trials. Primary efficacy was measured by the change from baseline on the Montgomery-Asberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS) used to assess the severity of depressive symptoms. In one of the short-term studies, esketamine nasal spray demonstrated statistically significant effect compared to placebo on the severity of depression, and some effect was seen within 2 days. The 2 other short-term trials did not meet the prespecified statistical tests for demonstrating effectiveness. In the longer-term maintenance-of-effect trial, patients in stable remission or with stable response who continued treatment with esketamine intranasal plus an oral antidepressant experienced a statistically significantly longer time to relapse of depressive symptoms than patients on placebo nasal spray plus an oral antidepressant.[21,22]
Other notable psychiatry approval
Vraylar (cariprazine) has gained an expanded indication for bipolar 1 disorder that includes depressive episodes, in addition to its previously approved indication for manic or mixed episodes.
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Any views expressed above are the author's own and do not necessarily reflect the views of WebMD or Medscape.
Cite this: Mary L Windle. FDA Drug Approvals — 2019 Midyear Review - Medscape - Aug 09, 2019.
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