Ben Comer

Chief Editor at Life Science Leader

[Lykos Therapeutics @Lykos_PBC]

MAPS PBC announces submission of a new drug application to the @US_FDA for MDMA-assisted therapy for PTSD. Read the full announcement here: https://t.co/PMum0QCcfj #PTSD #mentalhealth

[Andrew Pannu @andrewpannu]

A deep dive into neuropsychiatric therapeutics

• Competitive landscape
• Emerging treatments
• Key concerns
& more

Exhibit 1: late-stage competitive landscape across key indications

The global disease burden for these indications is immense, with >50M total patients & >$900B in lost productivity in the US alone – figures that are expected to rise over the coming decades.

Current treatment for most indications centers around SSRIs and similar antipsychotic agents. These work by increasing intrasynaptic levels of monoamine neurotransmitters such as serotonin, norepinephrine and dopamine.

However, these drugs have multiple issues:
• Not fast acting (can take months to kick in)
• Non-responder rates vary from 40-85% depending on the indication
• High treatment-discontinuation rates
• Array of side effects including loss of motivation, trouble focusing and various bodily dysfunctions

These outcomes are driven by a poor understanding of the underlying disease biology, which has inhibited a more personalized treatment approach. There is immense heterogeneity in these diseases, but we lack the biomarkers to properly stratify patients. Running effective clinical trials has thus been a challenge in this space, exacerbated by the subjective nature of endpoint measurement.

That all feeds into a huge unmet need:

Exhibit 2: Unmet need by indication

For the vast majority of patients, we must do a lot better.

Luckily, novel MoAs and therapies are emerging that offer a multi-modal treatment approach that better aligns with how the underlying diseases function.

Among these are a variety of psychedelic approaches, where investment has accelerated following the 2019 approval of $JNJ Spravato, a more potent form of ketamine. The market map below illustrates the size of this space - notable late-stage assets include Compass Pathway’s COMP360 for TRD and MAPS MDMA for PTSD

Exhibit 3: Psychedelic Market Map

Beyond psychedelics, there are also non-drug therapies such as electroconvulsive therapy and novel traditional drugs such as muscarinic acetylcholine receptors (i.e. $KRTX KarXT). In general, these therapies target non-monoaminergic mechanisms (notably different than SSRIs).

Commercial uptake of these novel therapies will be a key focus point moving forward, particularly in indications such as depression where SSRIs are the dominant frontline therapy. Nearly all of these have gone generic, which means payors usually require patients to fail multiple SSRIs before considering more expensive, novel treatments. Coupled with provider & patient unfamiliarity and the absence of long-term or H2H data, near-term novel launches may see limited early adoption, as we saw with Spravato. With that said, there are still many treatment-refractory patients for whom these therapies would benefit immediately. For psychedelics specifically, a CPT III code will go live on Jan 1, 2024, which will help track reimbursement and build up usage data.

That's all - follow me @andrewpannu for more biotech analyses like this in the future!

[David Sinclair @davidasinclair]

Proud of Jerry & the ⁦@lifebiosciences⁩ team, working to reverse blindness 👏 https://t.co/15gFKKE5Wq

[Ben Comer @BenMComer]

Check out the January 2023 issue of Life Science Leader, including interviews with Verve Therapeutics founder and CEO Sekar Kathiresan and #CBER director Peter Marks. Happy New Year! https://t.co/BpO3G68Lzy

[Ron Cohen, M.D. @DrRon81]

My thoughts on the impact of the Inflation Reduction Act’s Medicare “negotiation” provisions on #drug #innovation. #pricecontrols @LifeSciLeader1 @BenMComer

https://t.co/D0zPT5V7k0

[Ben Comer @BenMComer]

With a growing number of irons in the fire, the possibility for a #T1D cure is getting closer: https://t.co/NciGOL8czi

[Ben Comer @BenMComer]

"What to expect at #BioFuture22: Join us for 600+ Life Sciences Leaders and Investors, 80+ Innovative Presenting Companies, Plenaries, Workshops, Networking Events, & One-to-One Meetings with Investors. Visit our website for more info! #BioFuture2022 https://t.co/wYXIIJfMuO"

[Wayne Koberstein @WayneKoberstein]

I’ve not yet learned what will happen to GBT’s community outreach or the GBT Foundation after the Pfizer acquisition but will be keeping an eye on it. My column last April:

Companies To Watch: Global Blood Therapeutics https://t.co/vBuZhNvDqV

[Kris Mamula @kmamula1]

From organ transplants to nutraceuticals: welcome to Dr. Ngoc Thai's new Uptown lab. https://t.co/j7362wPqJ0

[SCOTUSblog @SCOTUSblog]

THE SUPREME COURT HAS OVERTURNED ROE V. WADE, ELIMINATING THE CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHT TO ABORTION.
https://t.co/ZNYRs3QnpJ

[OnQuality Pharmaceuticals Ltd. @onquality_rx]

We had a wonderful time speaking with @BenMComer of @LifeSciLeader1 at #BIO2022! Looking forward to more conversations!

@IAMBiotech #limitlesstogether

[Ignacio Guerrero-Ros, Ph.D. @ItachoGR]

At #BIO2022 in San Diego. Finally back to “in-person” mode and meeting with @NPR @biotechnation @LifeSciLeader1 @BenMComer @NatureBiotech Lisa Melton and more! How I missed this! 😊

[Ben Comer @BenMComer]

@MAPSPBC's CEO Amy Emerson talks about working toward the near-term potential of an FDA approved MDMA-assisted therapy for #PTSD patients in our May cover story (free with sign-up): https://t.co/6NCUGOB4mp

[Ben Comer @BenMComer]

Semaglutide moves forward in obesity -- check out In Vivo's 'sema' brand spotlight (sub req.) on a drug with big ambitions, from obesity to NASH and Alzheimer's disease: https://t.co/7dtvNhhFru

[Novo Nordisk @novonordisk]

#PRESS: Novo Nordisk to initiate phase 3a development in obesity

[Ben Comer @BenMComer]

@ToddSnider 2014, Cat's Cradle, Carrboro, NC. Wrote some beat up, copy-edit needing sentences as a preview for the show https://t.co/BmZfUtfZcB)

[In Vivo, Citeline Commercial @INVIVOnow]

After Aducanumab: Finding New Treatments For Neurodegenerative Diseases
https://t.co/yax6hySFgg

[Ben Comer @BenMComer]

Can Pharma Rebuild Its Reputation? COVID-19 Means A Big Responsibility, And Opportunity https://t.co/4T0t2gaJmr

[Lucie Ellis-Taitt @LucieLEllis]

In a recent @demycolton virtual salon, industry experts discussed the “rapid growth” of women’s health, a traditionally “underserved” market. https://t.co/6xnTAukqsO

[Sarah Karlin-Smith @SarahKarlin]

In a move that shows you how much independence the FDA has these days....or not...they told me to reach out to WH in response to questions as to whether they signed off on an expanded access request for Trump to get $REGN antibody.

[Denise Peterson @PinkSheetDenise]

@BenMComer joins Melanie Senior, Harvard Pilgrim’s Michael Sherman, Boehringer Ingelheim’s Paolo Casarosa & Healogix CEO Harris Kaplan to explore how #COVID19 is driving changes in health delivery that impact biopharma (Tue 11am ET) #InformaCOVID19webevent https://t.co/PV6ccKg5Xv