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Posted by: Robert123 Jun 20 2009, 01:31 AM

I found this article while surfing the web. We might have a new antidepressant soon.

New Antidepressant, Vilazodone, Shows Promise, No Sexual Side Effects
By Psych Central News Editor
Reviewed by John M. Grohol, Psy.D. on June 2, 2009
Clinical Data Inc. has found an antidepressant drug candidate that has met the main goal in a second late-stage study. The new drug candidate is called vilazodone.

Clinical Data this week announced positive results from the second of two Phase 3 clinical trials of its product candidate vilazodone. The new drug will be used to treat major depression if approved by the FDA. Phase 3 clinical trials are the final phase of research required by the FDA before it can consider a drug for approval.

Vilazodone has a new dual approach as a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor and a partial agonist of the 5-1a receptor.

In the study, vilazodone offered statistically significant results on the primary endpoint and secondary efficacy endpoints, said Clinical Data in its news release.

Moreover, the effects of vilazodone on sexual function were comparable to that of a placebo.

The sexual side effects of the new drug are important because many antidepressants cause or worsen sexual dysfunction.

However, the study failed to replicate a proprietary lead biomarker. This is a test that predicts response to treatment which had been identified in the first late-stage trial as potentially associated with response to vilazodone.

The company also noted that the new drug was “well tolerated” by patients, with only one patient out of the 240 subjects in the study discontinuing the drug because of diarrhea. Three additional patients stopped taking the drug because of nausea.

Doctors and patients alike are looking for treatments for major depressive disorder, noted Carol Reed, executive vice president and chief medical officer of Clinical Data. The positive results from this study, along with the results of the prior Phase 3 and long-term safety studies, will provide a basis for the company’s New Drug Application (NDA) filing with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration by the end of 2009.

Source: Clinical Data Inc. news release

Posted by: PRT Jun 20 2009, 05:40 AM

Excellent - I'm sure it'll make it to the UK sometime within the next 30 years then!!

Posted by: Robert123 Jun 20 2009, 08:13 PM

QUOTE (PRT @ Jun 20 2009, 05:40 AM)

Posted by: PRT Jun 21 2009, 03:25 AM

I'm just being a bit flippant, sorry. It's just that we don't seem to have access to the range of anti-depressants that the US does. Everyone I know that is on anti-depressants is on the same ones that I am and some of them aren't approved over here. xx

Posted by: Cotnbaugh Jul 20 2009, 06:45 PM

That sounds great. I hope it makes it through. It really sounds like it's an improved drug for helping. I wonder if it can be used for panic disorder/severe anxiety? I need one that includes that.