KUALA LUMPUR, August 11 – The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recently approved Zurzuvae (zuranolone), the first oral medication indicated to treat postpartum depression (PPD) in adults.
PPD is a major depressive episode that typically occurs after childbirth, but can also begin during the later stages of pregnancy.
Until now, treatment for PPD was only available as an IV injection given by a health care provider in certain health care facilities.
“Postpartum depression is a serious and potentially life-threatening condition in which women experience sadness, guilt, worthlessness — even, in severe cases, thoughts of harming themselves or their child.
“And, because postpartum depression can disrupt the maternal-infant bond, it can also have consequences for the child’s physical and emotional development,” said Tiffany R. Farchione, director of the Division of Psychiatry in the FDA’s Center for Drug Evaluation and Research in a statement.
“Having access to an oral medication will be a beneficial option for many of these women coping with extreme, and sometimes life-threatening, feelings.”
As with other forms of depression, PPD is characterised by sadness and/or loss of interest in activities that a person used to enjoy and a decreased ability to feel pleasure.
It can present with symptoms such as cognitive impairment, feelings of sadness or inadequacy, loss of energy or suicidal ideation.
The efficacy of Zurzuvae for the treatment of PPD in adults was demonstrated in two randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled, multi-centre studies.
The trial participants were women with PPD who met the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders criteria for a major depressive episode and whose symptoms began in the third trimester or within four weeks of delivery.
In Study 1, patients received 50 mg of Zurzuvae or placebo once daily in the evening for 14 days. In Study 2, patients received another zuranolone product that was approximately equal to 40 mg of Zurzuvae or placebo, also for 14 days.
Patients in both studies were monitored for at least four weeks after the 14-day treatment. The primary endpoint of both studies was the change in depressive symptoms using the total score from the 17-item Hamilton depression rating scale (HAMD-17), measured at day 15.
The HDRS (also known as the HAMD) is the most widely used clinician-administered depression assessment scale. The original version contains 17 items (HDRS17) pertaining to symptoms of depression experienced over the last week.
Patients in the Zurzuvae groups showed significantly more improvement in their symptoms compared to those in the placebo groups. The treatment effect was maintained at Day 42, which was four weeks after the last dose of Zurzuvae.
The labelling contains a boxed warning noting that Zurzuvae can impact a person’s ability to drive and perform other potentially hazardous activities. Patients also may not be able to assess their degree of impairment.
To reduce the risk of harm, patients should not drive or operate heavy machinery for at least 12 hours after taking Zurzuvae.
The most common side effects of Zurzuvae include drowsiness, dizziness, diarrhoea, fatigue, nasopharyngitis (the common cold), and urinary tract infection. Use of Zurzuvae may also cause suicidal thoughts and behaviour.
As Zurzuvae may cause foetal harm, women should use effective contraception while taking, and for one week after taking, Zurzuvae.
Zurzuvae is manufactured by Biogen and Sage Therapeutics.
