Video
Unmet Needs in Treatment of MDD
Michael Rothrock, MBA, MHA, and H. Eric Cannon, PharmD, FAMCP, open a discussion surrounding payer considerations relating to the treatment of major depressive disorder (MDD).
Michael Rothrock, MBA, MHA: When we talk about the biggest unmet needs among the treatment options for MDD [major depressive disorder], a few things stick out. We’re looking for new mechanisms of action and, more important, quicker onsets of action. We want patients to get a high response in the shortest time possible. Even though most drugs are generic and very inexpensive, they could take up to 8 weeks to show benefit. We’re looking for higher response rates, a shorter onset of action, and a longer durability of benefit, with improved tolerability and adverse effects.
H. Eric Cannon, PharmD, FAMCP: The reality is that patients are waiting. With COVID-19, we had all kinds of delays, so we need to have treatments that quickly start to show some benefit. The full benefit won’t happen immediately, but patients are in a bad way right now. The faster we can get the onset, the easier it is for us to identify appropriate treatments. Those are the 2 big unmet needs.
Transcript edited for clarity.
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