US giant Johnson & Johnson (J&J; NYSE: JNJ) officially launched Spravato (esketamine) nasal spray in China to alleviate depressive symptoms in adult depression patients. The announcement comes after a swift approval by China’s National Medical Products Administration (NMPA) in April 2023.
Spravato’s novel mechanism and rapid results
Spravato is the first antidepressant in China to utilize a unique mechanism. Exisiting antidepressants mainly target the monoamine pathway and typically require 4-6 weeks to show full efficacy. In contrast, Spravato, with its nasal spray delivery method, works by antagonizing the N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor. This enables the drug to exert its antidepressant effects more quickly than conventional treatments.
Clinical Evidence of Efficacy and Safety
Results from the pivotal global Phase III ASPIRE I and II studies demonstrated that in adult patients with depression accompanied by acute suicidal ideation or behavior, patients given Spravato combined with standard of care experienced significant relief. Spravato’s safety profile is also noteworthy. Most of the drug’s associated adverse events are mild to moderate and resolve on the day of administration.-Fineline Info & Tech
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