This week, Johnson & Johnson made headlines by revealing its $14.6 billion acquisition of Intra-Cellular Therapies. The New York City-based biotech company specializes in developing products for the central nervous system. It is most well-known for its FDA-approved drug, Caplyta.
The medication is utilized for schizophrenia and bipolar depression types I and II, both of which are harmful brain disorders. In the previous year, Caplyta generated sales ranging from $665 million to $685 million.
Caplyta delivers promising data for the two major mental health conditions. It’s also aiming to receive approval for treating major depressive disorder. This condition affects 10 times the amount of people with schizophrenia and 3 times as many with bipolar depression.
Intra-Cellular CEO Sharon Mates said “J&J has a commitment to neuroscience, and can reach even more patients around the world.”
J&J CEO Joaquin Duato said the deal “[transforms] care and [advances] research in today’s most devastating neuropsychiatric and neurodegenerative disorders.”
J&J currently sells various formulations of Invega, another medication for schizophrenia, and Spravato, a ketamine derivative cleared for treatment-resistant depression.
What Is Caplyta?
Caplyta, known as lumateperone, works by regulating dopamine, but not in the usual way that mood-stabilizing medicines work. Most mood stabilizers are older versions of antipsychotics, known for blocking only dopamine D2 receptors. Caplyta does the same, but it also modulates dopaminergic, serotonergic, and glutamatergic activity.
The medication:
- blocks serotonin 5-HT2A receptors, thereby improving mood and cognitive function
- acts as a partial agonist and postsynaptic antagonist at dopamine D2 receptors, in turn regulating movement, emotions, and the brain’s “feel-good chemical”
- may directly influence how glutamate is made and/or used in the brain, which can improve mental health conditions
Caplyta also causes less side effects than other antipsychotics.
J&J and Intra-Cellular Therapies intend to close the deal later this year.
For more information on treatment for schizophrenia and bipolar depression, visit www.mayoclinic.org.
