September 29, 2023 – The FDA has approved a brand new drug to treat major depressive disorder in adults that doesn't have the common negative effects of other depression medications, Houston-based drugmaker Fabre Kramer said in a press release.
The drug might be “the first and only approved antidepressant with a novel mechanism of action that selectively targets the serotonin 1A receptor, an important regulator of mood and emotions,” the press release said.
Other sorts of antidepression medications are known to have negative effects reminiscent of sexual dysfunction and weight gain. The company said probably the most common negative effects present in a study of 5,000 people were mild and temporary periods of dizziness and nausea.
Exxua must be available in pharmacies in early 2024, the corporate said. The drug, known within the laboratory as gepirone hydrochloride, is sold in tablet form.
The FDA had previously rejected applications for the drug 3 times since the studies had failed.
Michael Pollock, CEO of the Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance, said in the corporate's press release that the variety of Americans with major depressive disorder has increased through the COVID-19 pandemic, with about 30% of U.S. adults experiencing more symptoms of depression would have.
“The need for new treatment options, particularly those with new mechanisms of action, could not be clearer or more urgent for those living with or affected by major depressive disorder,” he said.
“Exxua represents an important milestone in the treatment of MDD, a serious and debilitating disease that affects millions of people worldwide,” said Stephen Kramer, MD, CEO of Fabre-Kramer.