A new postpartum depression oral treatment, developed by researchers at Monash University in Australia in partnership with PureTech Health in Boston, may soon be in the market for easier accessibility for patients.
The medical experts developed LYT-300, the pill form of allopregnanolone, the only approved treatment for postpartum depression by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Currently, allopregnanolone is administered as an intravenous (IV) infusion for up to 60 hours, making it harder and more expensive for moms to access. Having the pill form, on the other hand, will make postpartum depression treatment more practical, useful, and accessible to many patients.
Professor Chris Porter and his team came up with LYT-300 using Glyph technology, licensed to PureTech Health. During the clinical stage of the drug development, LYT-300 proved to be more absorbent in the person's lipid pathways, allowing moms with neurological and neuropsychiatric conditions, including anxiety, depression, and sleep disorders, to gain more benefits from taking allopregnanolone orally.
With this innovation, the medical experts are hopeful that LYT-300 will be the first of many drugs to be developed using Glyph.
The research is still in its first phase. According to Monash University, the experts will explore additional doses and the effects of the oral treatment's absorption when combined with food. They will also look for the pill's safest and most tolerable doses.
Allopregnanolone Approved in 2019
In March 2019, the FDA signed off on allopregnanolone, brand name Zulresso, as a specialized IV treatment for moms with postpartum depression following a thorough Risk Evaluation and Mitigation Strategy (REMS). Dr. Tiffany Farchione said in the press release that this drug must be given only through a restricted program at health care facilities as the wrong dose and injection of Zulresso could lead to serious risks like excessive sedation or loss of consciousness.
The FDA recognizes, however, that postpartum depression can be life-threatening for some women and their babies to the point that it can impact their bond. In the U.S., approximately one in seven new moms may experience postpartum depression within three to six months after giving birth. Statistics also show that mothers who have had a miscarriage or a stillborn baby are at risk for this mental health issue.
The severity of the depression may vary based on other factors, but it is believed that more than 80 percent will recover from the condition if they are properly monitored and supported by those around them. However, many mothers with postnatal depression cases are not adequately screened nor supported.
Celebrities like Brooke Shield, Chrissy Teigen, Alyssa Milano, Reese Witherspoon, and Adele have talked about having their struggles postpartum. Witherspoon, who has three kids, said she had a different experience with every child after birth. She had mild postpartum and no postpartum for two of her kids, but she took heavy medication after another child because she could not think straight.
Dads Go Through Postpartum Depression, Too
Recently, well-known medical resources have stated that even the dads may get postpartum depression. Daniel Singley, a San Diego psychologist, told BBC that 10 percent of new dads might feel depressed or have anxiety or post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms in the first year after the baby's birth.
However, many fathers are falling through the cracks with their issues undetected because men do not generally reach out, seek professional help or get the treatment they need. While many women are working to erase the stigma of postpartum depression, it's a different area for men who feel that they should be the rock of the family and can't be seen breaking down or getting IV treatments because of their depression. Soon, a drug that can be readily available might change all of that.
