Suicides Drop by 3% in 2020; CBT Pioneer Dies; Mixed Bag for Vraylar Phase III Data

While suicides decreased by 3% last year in the U.S. compared with 2019 (45,855 vs 47,511), rates increased among certain groups: Black, American Indian/Alaska Native, and Hispanic men. (National Center for Health Statistics)

Among children ages 6 to 12 with ADHD, once-daily treatment with serdexmethylphenidate/dexmethylphenidate capsules (Azstarys) led to symptom improvement within 30 minutes, with sustained efficacy for 13 hours. (Journal of Child and Adolescent Psychopharmacology)

Renowned psychiatrist Aaron T. Beck, MD, best known for developing cognitive behavioral therapy, passed away earlier this week at age 100. (New York Times)

In a phase III study, patients with depression on 1.5 mg/day of cariprazine (Vraylar) showed significant improvement in Montgomery-Åsberg Depression Rating Scale total score within 6 weeks, though the same was not true for the 3.0 mg/day dose. And in a second phase III study, both doses flopped. Despite this, AbbVie still plans to forge ahead with a supplemental new drug application to the FDA for the expanded use of cariprazine in the adjunctive treatment of major depressive disorder; the treatment is already approved for bipolar I disorder and schizophrenia.

A new type of non-invasive brain stimulation therapy — dubbed the Stanford neuromodulation therapy — achieved depression remission in 79% of 32 patients after 5 days of treatment. (American Journal of Psychiatry)

Minerva Neurosciences said the FDA denied its request for a pre-new drug application meeting regarding its drug roluperidone — a monotherapy candidate for negative symptoms of schizophrenia — and instead offered feedback in a Type C guidance meeting.

Findings from a small phase IIa trial on RL-007 for schizophrenia-associated cognitive impairment were positive, atai Life Sciences reported; the investigational compound acts as a cholinergic, glutamatergic, and GABA type B receptor modulator.

COMPASS Pathways announced plans to initiate a phase II study testing its investigational psilocybin therapy for post-traumatic stress disorder.