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No Ace For J&J’s VENTURA Studies Of Aticaprant In Depression

 
• By Alexandra Shimmings

The future of kappa opioid receptor antagonism as a therapeutic strategy in major depressive disorder is looking increasingly bleak after J&J dropped aticaprant from development, but rival Neumora is pressing on with navacaprant.

Depression concept
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Key Takeaways

Johnson & Johnson has discontinued its Phase III program for aticaprant in major depressive disorder for lack of efficacy

Rival Neumora is continuing with its similar KOR antagonist’s Phase III program despite modest results from the first of its trials earlier this year

The chance of success in other indications is keeping some remnant of hope for the mechanism alive

Johnson & Johnson is discontinuing the Phase III VENTURA development program of its kappa opioid receptor (KOR) antagonist, aticaprant, as an adjunctive treatment for major

J&J attributed the decision to insufficient efficacy in the target patient population, and it follows

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