Major Depressive Disorder: Developing Long-Acting Injectables for Treatment
Different health conditions and disorders can require a range of tactics for successful treatment, and mental and emotional issues patients face are no exception. Conditions such as depression, schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, and more require reliable medications paired with other forms of therapy to elicit the best results, which is where the team at Oakwood Labs comes in.
We’re adept at developing long-acting injectables for treating major depressive disorder and other conditions, and we’ve successfully manufactured and scaled up formulations for diverse clients. Read on to learn about our depression pharmaceutical development and other key services.
A Brief History of Depression Pharmaceutical Development
The age of modern antidepressant drugs began in the early 1950s when researchers who were attempting to cure tuberculosis instead noticed that two of the chemicals found in their test batch compounds – isoniazid and iproniazid – improved the mental states of test subjects.
Research continued until the initial phase of depression pharmaceutical development was under way, leading to tricyclic antidepressants and monoamine oxidase inhibitors. Though a step forward for the greater cause, side effects these drugs produced were troublesome, leading to more research and development being necessary in the field. Despite some of their associated issues, drugs of these type are still prescribed in some cases.
The second phase of research focused on key neurotransmitters and divided medication into the categories of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors. SSRIs tended to be much safer than the previous drugs on the market, though they were not always as effective, leading to the development of SNRIs, which covered a larger selection of neurotransmitters.
All of the drugs that fell under these classifications traditionally were administered through the means of oral medication, though that is changing in the modern era. The viability of utilizing injectables for treating depression is becoming more recognized, paving the way for new treatments and advancements.
Our Process for Developing Long-Acting Injectables to Treat Major Depressive Disorder
At Oakwood Labs, when it comes to creating long-acting injectables for depression, schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, and other conditions, we stand out as being one of the few independent companies that can develop these products from concept to FDA approval.
Our facilities utilize proven technology that has shown scalability from 5-10 g starting batch size to 32 kg commercial batch size, and we also have the ability to manufacture our products aseptically within our own GMP facility.
When it comes to injectables for treating depression, Oakwood Labs partners with organizations to work on external projects, and we also have an extensive internal development project pipeline within the CNS space. We are actively looking to partner with organizations, so if you have a project in mind be sure to contact us.
How We Overcome Difficulties
One barrier for using long-acting injectables to treat major depressive disorder is the difficulty in formulating and manufacturing these drugs aseptically. In order to develop and commercialize a product, you need specialized drug delivery technology and an effective process, such as the one used at Oakwood Labs.
Our process allows for a customized release profile for every product, and the ability to scale up that formulation for a commercial batch size.
Benefits of Shifting from Oral Medications to Long-Acting Injectables to Treat Depression
One of the primary advantages to making this change is patient compliance, as patients who suffer from schizophrenia, depression, bipolar disorder and other conditions sometimes do not want to take a prescribed drug, or they forget to. That is why many schizophrenia drugs, for instance, are now available in both oral and long-acting injectable forms.
Other major benefits of using long-acting injectables include:
- Reducing the number of required injections
- Being able to target specific anatomical areas
- Helping to prevent drug abuse
All of these aspects can help contribute to better care, assisting facilities and doctors in providing the best for their patients.
Our Services Beyond Depression Pharmaceutical Development
When you choose to partner with Oakwood Labs, you’ll be working with a global leader in sustained-release drug delivery who can supply a range of services. Some of our offerings beyond injectables for treating depression include:
- Microsphere formulation development
- Formulation optimization and scale-up
- Analytical method development
- GMP aseptic manufacturing
- Contract manufacturing
Please review specifics about each service on their respective pages, and get in touch with us if you are interested in beginning a project.
Contact Oakwood Labs Today
If you’re looking to partner with an experienced team to produce long-acting injectables for major depressive disorder and other conditions, Oakwood Labs is your resource. Get in touch with us and we’ll help you determine a plan of action.
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