Mental Health Disorder
May 12, 2006
Currently, there are 197 medicines in development to help an estimated 450 million people worldwide who suffer from a mental health disorder, according to a report released today by the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America. (Click here to see full report.)
An estimated 26 percent of Americans age 18 and older – approximately 57.7 million Americans – suffer from a diagnosable mental disorder in a given year. That’s about 1 in 4 adults, according to the National Institutes of Health. The total yearly cost for untreated and mistreated mental illnesses to U.S. businesses, the government and families has grown to $113 billion; this includes almost $105 billion in lost productivity costs and $8 billion resulting from crime and welfare costs, according to the National Mental Health Association.
Alzheimer’s disease: About 4.5 million Americans suffer from Alzheimer’s disease, according to the Alzheimer’s Association. A potential medicine for Alzheimer’s disease has two mechanisms. It blocks the production of beta amyloid protein, which forms plaques in the brains of Alzheimer’s patients, and it inhibits the degradation of the neurotransmitter acetylcholine. A report by researchers at the National Institutes of Health indicates that the medicine may be able not only to improve the symptoms of Alzheimer’s patients but may also interfere with the progression of the disease. (phenserine tartrate, Axonyx, Phase III)
Insomnia: The National Sleep Foundation estimates that insomnia affects more than 70 million Americans. One potential medicine binds more selectively than currently marketed products at the specific subtype of GABA-A receptors within the brain believed to be responsible for promoting sleep. (indiplon, Neurocrine Biosciences / Pfizer, application submitted)
Cocaine Addiction: The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration estimates that nearly 2 million Americans use cocaine. Currently no medication addresses cocaine addiction, but a therapeutic vaccine in development may prove an effective treatment. The vaccine is designed to induce cocaine-specific antibodies that bind to cocaine in the blood, blocking its uptake into the brain. The physiological response to cocaine is thus altered, reducing the reinforcing properties of cocaine and permitting patients to break the cycle of addiction. (TA-CD, Xenova Group, Phase II).
Anxiety and Panic Attacks: Anxiety disorders affect more than 40 million adults ages 18 and older in the U.S., more than 18 percent of the population in this age group, according to the National Institute of Mental Health. Generalized anxiety disorder is characterized by excessive worry, occurring more days than not for a period of at least six months, accompanied by symptoms such as restlessness, fatigue, difficulty concentrating, irritability, muscle tension and disturbed sleep. Panic disorder is a severe anxiety condition characterized by panic attacks, acute episodes of anxiety with such symptoms as difficulty breathing, sweating, heart palpitations, dizziness, and fear of losing control. A new medicine in development may be able to help both those people with generalized anxiety disorder and those with panic disorder. The new medicine is a member of the cyclopyrrolone class of compounds, which modulate the transmission of gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA). By normalizing the action of GABA in the brain, the medicine may reduce the abnormal neuronal activity associated with anxiety and panic attacks. (Pagoclone, Indevus, Phase III)
Schizophrenia: Schizophrenia affects some 2.4 million American adults. The National Mental Health Association reports that the disorder often first appears earlier in men, usually in their late teens or early 20s, while women are generally affected in their 20s or early 30s. Symptoms of schizophrenia are typically divided into positive and negative because of their impact on diagnosis and treatment. Positive symptoms are those that appear to reflect an excess or distortion of normal functions, while negative symptoms are those that appear to reflect a diminished or loss of normal functions. One potential medicine in development has shown to relate to both the types of symptoms in animal studies. In addition, the medicine may also have a very low potential for neurological side effects associated with some antipsychotic medicines. (YK1358, SK Bio-Pharmaceuticals, Phase I)
