Novartis to develop Servier’s antidepressant for US
pharmafile | March 30, 2006 | News story | Research and Development |Â Â Â
Novartis has signed a deal to develop and market Servier's new antidepressant and agomelatine for the US market.
The drug has a novel mechanism of action and is currently in phase III clinical trials for the treatment of major depressive disorder, a condition estimated to affect one in ten adults in the US alone.
A once-daily treatment, agomelatine acts as an agonist at melatonin (MT1 and MT2) receptors with additional 5-HT2c antagonist properties. Servier says the drug's unique profile could make it an exciting and innovative product, but it will face stiff competition from top-selling antidepressants already established in the market, such as Wyeth's Efexor.
As well as treating the main symptoms of depression, the drug also helps to improve daytime alertness by normalising the timing and continuity of sleep, a problem that Servier says is common in patients.






