Sepracor starts Phase I study for depression drug

By Jennifer Chiou

New York, Oct. 19 - Sepracor Inc. announced the start of a Phase I study for its SEP-225289 drug for the treatment of major depression.

It is a single-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled safety, tolerability and pharmacokinetic study.

Based on preclinical data, SEP-225289 has the potential to be a leading drug candidate in triple reuptake inhibitors field, Sepracor said. The drug has shown to be an inhibitor of serotonin, norepinephrine and dopamine, which are neurotransmitters associated with depression.

"We believe that a triple reuptake inhibitor may exhibit greater efficacy and faster onset of action than currently marketed antidepressants," executive vice president of research and development Mark H.N. Corrigan said in a news release.

"This novel combination of properties in a single compound, if verified in our planned clinical research program, may provide a breakthrough in the treatment for depression and could have the potential to address a number of related maladies, including substance abuse and other central nervous system conditions."

Sepracor, a research-based pharmaceutical company, has headquarters in Marlborough, Mass. It focuses on respiratory and central nervous system disorders.

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