Major depressive disorder (MDD) is a common mental disorder characterized by high incidence, high recurrence, and high disability. It is the leading cause of disability worldwide and a major factor in the global disease burden. According to statistics, about 350 million people in the world suffer from MDD, of which 1/3 to half of MDD patients have very limited improvement in symptoms after receiving two or more different antidepressant drugs in a sufficient and full course of treatment, and develop treatment-resistant depression (TRD). 

2022 MDD Drug Progress

January: Johnson & Johnson's "Janssen's Esketamine Hydrochloride Nasal Spray" was reported for domestic production

February: AbbVie announces that it has submitted a supplemental New Drug Application (sNDA) to the FDA for cariprazine (Vraylar) for the adjunctive treatment of patients with major depressive disorder who are receiving antidepressant therapy; AbbVie announces A supplemental New Drug Application (sNDA) has been submitted to the FDA for cariprazine (Vraylar) for the adjunctive treatment of patients with major depressive disorder who are receiving antidepressant therapy;

June: Luye Pharma announced the results of the Phase 3 clinical study of LY03005 at the 2022 American Psychiatric Association Annual Meeting Biogen/Sage announced that the Phase 3 clinical study (SKYLARK) of zuranolone in the treatment of postpartum depression also met the primary study endpoint and all secondary study endpoint

August: Relmada Ther apeutics announced that the FDA granted Fast Track designation to its novel NMDA receptor antagonist REL-1017 (dexmethadone) as a monotherapy for the treatment of major depressive disorder (MDD);

Axsome's Auvelity is FDA-approved for the treatment of major depressive disorder in adults;

September: Tengsheng Biopharma announced top-line results from its Phase 1 clinical trial of BRII-296 for postpartum depression (PPD).