3 ms·

> Pharma companies don't benefit from getting Ketamine approved (since it's no longer patent protected), so no one is putting it through FDA for depression. Th

by tibuma 8y ago

> Pharma companies don't benefit from getting Ketamine approved (since it's no longer patent protected), so no one is putting it through FDA for depression. This is incorrect. There are ongoing phase 3 clinical trials for nasally applied esketamine that will lead to FDA approval if succesfully reviewed. These trials are conducted worldwide and are very encouraging. The specific application seems to be patentable. First results should be available around 2019ish or 2020. You can find the trials here: https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/results?term=esketamine+depression&Search=Search https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/results?term=esketamine+depre... And one of the patent applications here: https://patents.google.com/patent/US20130236573A1 https://patents.google.com/patent/US20130236573A1

shawnz 8y ago
> This is incorrect. There are ongoing phase 3 clinical trials for nasally applied esketamine that will lead to FDA approval if succesfully reviewed. Specifically esketamine, not ketamine, because focusing on this specific isomer was the only way to get a new patent. What if racemic ketamine performs better than esketamine? We'll never know because they won't test that.
- jeffreyrogers 8y ago
  Do you have a source for that? You can get a patent on a new use for something that already exists if the new use is a non-obvious advance over the prior art.
- TTPrograms 8y ago
  Racemic ketamine is also dirt cheap, while esketamine might be absurdly expensive after being patented.
- tibuma 8y ago
  > What if racemic ketamine performs better than esketamine? We'll never know because they won't test that. It's quite likely some public institutions (e.g., universities, public research labs, etc.) or other countries (e.g., in India, China) will test exactly that. It's also in their interest to pubblish the results. So we'll get to know the differences between racemic ketamine, esketamine and arketamine. The question is if different variants will also be approved, which is much more expensive.

by tibuma 8y ago

shawnz 8y ago

> This is incorrect. There are ongoing phase 3 clinical trials for nasally applied esketamine that will lead to FDA approval if succesfully reviewed. Specifically esketamine, not ketamine, because focusing on this specific isomer was the only way to get a new patent. What if racemic ketamine performs better than esketamine? We'll never know because they won't test that.

jeffreyrogers 8y ago
Do you have a source for that? You can get a patent on a new use for something that already exists if the new use is a non-obvious advance over the prior art.
TTPrograms 8y ago
Racemic ketamine is also dirt cheap, while esketamine might be absurdly expensive after being patented.
tibuma 8y ago
> What if racemic ketamine performs better than esketamine? We'll never know because they won't test that. It's quite likely some public institutions (e.g., universities, public research labs, etc.) or other countries (e.g., in India, China) will test exactly that. It's also in their interest to pubblish the results. So we'll get to know the differences between racemic ketamine, esketamine and arketamine. The question is if different variants will also be approved, which is much more expensive.