In a late-stage trial, Johnson & Johnson’s experimental medication helped patients with major depressive disorder (MDD) experience less sleeplessness and depression symptoms, the firm stated in a statement.

Seltorexant was the medication being tested in this research on individuals who suffered from both sleeplessness and depression. Even with the usage of widely prescribed antidepressant medications, depression is frequently accompanied with sleep disruptions.

Seltorexant improved patient outcomes related to sleep disruption and shown improvement in depression symptoms as measured on a scale used to gauge the severity of depressive episodes. The study’s main and secondary trial goals were fulfilled.

J&J stated that the findings will be presented at a future meeting, but they would not say how many patients were included in the trial.

The New Jersey-based pharmaceutical company is betting on 15 assets, including seltorexant, to fuel its future expansion. This is in anticipation of biosimilars to its popular psoriasis therapy Stelara, which are expected to hit the market in 2025.

In an email comment, Morningstar analyst Damien Conover stated, “These preliminary findings are encouraging and are supportive of J&J’s peak annual sales guidance of $1-$5 billion for the drug, though we are still waiting for the detailed data for the drug.”

The National Institutes of Health estimates that 21 million adult Americans experienced at least one episode of Major Depressive Disorder (MDD), which is one of the most prevalent chronic mental illnesses marked by a recurrent sense of melancholy, in 2021.

By the early 2030s, weight loss medication sales are expected to reach $150 billion annually, according to some healthcare analysts, an increase of about 50%.

The business claimed that 280 million individuals worldwide suffer from the illness, with around 60% reporting symptoms of sleeplessness.

The mechanism of action of seltorexant is to specifically target proteins called orexin-2 receptors, which are essential for maintaining the body’s circadian rhythm.

Prolonged stimulation of these receptors might result in an overabundance of the stress hormone cortisol being released, which can aggravate depression and sleeplessness.

(Adapted from BioPharmaDive.com)