New Johnson & Johnson Anti-Depressant Related to “Special K” Party Drug

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Johnson & Johnson said it plans to seek approvals for 11 new drugs by 2017, including a treatment for patients with depression who have failed to benefit from standard medications. The intranasal drug, called esketamine, is closely related to a pediatric anesthetic called ketamine that has been shown in academic studies to ease symptoms rapidly in such patients, including a reduction in suicidal thoughts. Ketamine is also the active ingredient of the mood-altering party drug known as “Special K.” J&J, which is testing its tweaked version of ketamine in mid-stage trials, on Thursday said initial findings have been promising.

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