Increased Drug Options for Mental Health

A cooperation agreement which has made national investing headlines may also bring good news for schizophrenia sufferers. 

A billion dollar agreement between Danish company H. Lundbeck A/S and Japanese-born Otsuka Pharmaceutical Company, Ltd. announced an agreement to produce up to five psychiatric products, including a drug to treat schizophrenia, bipolar disorder and depression.  

Speak with your doctor regarding emerging treatment options.

The new alliance created global excitement between these extremely complementary companies. An upcoming project from Otsuka together with Lundbeck's current portfolio regarding the early stages of psychiatric disorder are set to provide additional medical offerings from both companies.

Providing hope to the families of individuals with schizophrenia, the collaboration will increase focus and speed up the development of Lundbeck's advanced schizophrenia projects.

Dr. Taro Iwamoto, president and director of Otsuka, said, "Lundbeck's expertise in developing depression and anxiety treatments and Otsuka's expertise in developing anti-psychotics...will enable us to establish a strong platform to deliver these compounds to patients who need them in...countries around the world."

OPC-34712 is the title of Lundbeck's proposed psychotherapeutic compound. This compound increases activity among monoamine neurotransmitters, such as dopamine, serotonin, norepinephrine, etc. This compound also improves dopamine efficiency by reducing a brain agent responsible for inhibiting efficiency, while simultaneously promoting serotonin production.

Otsuka's marketed drug Abilify is also proposed to be created in a monthly, injectable form. A Phase III study was successfully completed in the United States under the generic drug name aripiprazole. Currently the drug comes as a tablet, solution, and an oral, disintegrating tablet and is used as a maintenance drug in schizophrenia, mania manager in bipolar depression, and also as an antidepressant.

Company heads are excited to get the projects on their way, Dr. Iwamoto stating, "...our collaboration will lead to the next generation of innovation."