Drug Discovery and Development

  • Home Drug Discovery and Development
  • Drug Discovery
  • Women in Pharma and Biotech
  • Oncology
  • Neurological Disease
  • Infectious Disease
  • Resources
    • Video features
    • Podcast
    • Voices
    • Webinars
  • Pharma 50
    • 2025 Pharma 50
    • 2024 Pharma 50
    • 2023 Pharma 50
    • 2022 Pharma 50
    • 2021 Pharma 50
  • Advertise
  • SUBSCRIBE

Report: Drug Trial Shows Promise For Treating Postpartum Depression

By Andy Szal | July 14, 2016

The results of a recent small clinical trial could eventually offer hope to women suffering from postpartum depression.

Fortune reports that Massachusetts-based Sage Therapeutics’ experimental drug — called SAGE-547 — led to remission in seven of 10 patients.

A placebo group, by contrast, saw remission in just one of 11 cases, while the drug also reduced depression symptoms at a larger rate than conventional antidepressants.

A previous study eased depression in all four enrolled patients, and the drug also shows promise as a treatment for a rare form of epilepsy.

SAGE-547 is a synthetic version of the hormone allopregnanolone, which is believed to trigger postpartum depression when its levels drop sharply following childbirth. It is given intravenously and would only be given to women whose symptoms prompt hospitalization.

One analyst estimated that 200,000 to 600,000 patients could receive the drug each year.

“The rapid onset of action of this drug observed in the trial is unlike anything else available in the field to date,” Samantha Meltzer-Brody of the University of North Carolina School of Medicine said in a statement. “The data show the potential of the drug to provide relief from the debilitating symptoms of PPD, and to markedly decrease suffering in women who are severely affected.”

The results of the latest study led to a sharp increase in Sage’s stock price, but the Fortune report noted that treatments for depression often falter as clinical trials become larger.

Sage executives hope to conduct a bigger trial to confirm the drug’s dosage before filing with the Food and Drug Administration.


Filed Under: Drug Discovery

 

Related Articles Read More >

Sanders, King target DTC pharma ads but the industry worries more about threats to its $2B R&D model
Zoliflodacin wins FDA nod for treatment of gonorrhea
FDA approved ENFLONSIA for the prevention of RSV in Infants
First clinical study results of Dupixent for atopic dermatitis in patients with darker skin tones 
“ddd
EXPAND YOUR KNOWLEDGE AND STAY CONNECTED
Get the latest news and trends happening now in the drug discovery and development industry.

MEDTECH 100 INDEX

Medtech 100 logo
Market Summary > Current Price
The MedTech 100 is a financial index calculated using the BIG100 companies covered in Medical Design and Outsourcing.
Drug Discovery and Development
  • MassDevice
  • DeviceTalks
  • Medtech100 Index
  • Medical Design Sourcing
  • Medical Design & Outsourcing
  • Medical Tubing + Extrusion
  • Subscribe to our E-Newsletter
  • Contact Us
  • About Us
  • R&D World
  • Drug Delivery Business News
  • Pharmaceutical Processing World

Copyright © 2025 WTWH Media LLC. All Rights Reserved. The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of WTWH Media
Privacy Policy | Advertising | About Us

Search Drug Discovery & Development

  • Home Drug Discovery and Development
  • Drug Discovery
  • Women in Pharma and Biotech
  • Oncology
  • Neurological Disease
  • Infectious Disease
  • Resources
    • Video features
    • Podcast
    • Voices
    • Webinars
  • Pharma 50
    • 2025 Pharma 50
    • 2024 Pharma 50
    • 2023 Pharma 50
    • 2022 Pharma 50
    • 2021 Pharma 50
  • Advertise
  • SUBSCRIBE