FDA approves Clinical Data's Viibryd for major depressive disorder

Jan 24 2011

Clinical Data, Inc. (NASDAQ: CLDA), today announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved vilazodone HCl tablets, to be marketed under the brand name Viibryd™, for the treatment of adults with major depressive disorder (MDD). Viibryd is a new molecular entity and the first and only selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor and 5HT_1A receptor partial agonist. Clinical Data plans to make Viibryd available in U.S. pharmacies in the second quarter of this year.

“It is also the first drug that the Company has developed, and to have received marketing approval from the FDA on its first review is a significant milestone for Clinical Data.”

"When treating MDD, our goal is to offer treatment options that meet the individual needs of each patient," said Stephen M. Stahl, M.D., Ph.D., Professor of Psychiatry, University of California, San Diego. "Viibryd is an important new treatment option with proven efficacy and a demonstrated safety profile."

The mechanism of the antidepressant effect of Viibryd is not fully understood but is thought to be related to its enhancement of serotonergic activity in the central nervous system (CNS) through selective inhibition of serotonin reuptake. Viibryd is also a partial agonist at serotonergic 5HT_1A receptors; however, the net result of this action on serotonergic transmission and its role in Viibryd's antidepressant effect are unknown.

The efficacy of Viibryd as a treatment for MDD was established in two 8-week, multicenter, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled studies in adults who met the criteria for MDD. In these studies, patients were titrated over two weeks to a dose of 40 mg of Viibryd once daily. Viibryd was superior to placebo in the improvement of depressive symptoms as measured by the mean change from baseline to week 8 in the Montgomery-Asberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS) total score.

Viibryd was demonstrated to be safe in clinical studies. In the placebo-controlled, Phase III studies, the most commonly observed adverse reactions in Viibryd-treated patients were diarrhea, nausea, vomiting and insomnia. No single adverse event led to discontinuation of treatment in greater than 1% of patients. Overall, 7.1% of the patients who received Viibryd discontinued treatment due to an adverse reaction, compared to 3.2% of placebo-treated patients. Viibryd has not been associated with any clinically important changes in laboratory test parameters including liver function tests, ECG including QT interval, or vital signs. In addition, Viibryd had no effect on body weight as measured by mean change from baseline in the 8-week studies. Among the common adverse reactions (≥2%) related to sexual function with Viibryd compared to placebo were decreased libido (4% vs. <1%), abnormal orgasm (3% vs. 0%), delayed ejaculation (2% vs. 0%, males only), and erectile dysfunction (2% vs. 1%, males only).

"While there are currently available treatments for MDD, no one therapy works for every patient and side effect profiles vary, which may impact both compliance and treatment success," said Carol R. Reed M.D., Executive Vice President and Chief Medical Officer of Clinical Data. "Viibryd will be a new choice for healthcare providers and their patients who are suffering from depression."

"Viibryd is the only antidepressant that is a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor and 5HT_1A receptor partial agonist," said Drew Fromkin, President and CEO of Clinical Data. "It is also the first drug that the Company has developed, and to have received marketing approval from the FDA on its first review is a significant milestone for Clinical Data."