Pharmaceutical giant Johnson & Johnson announced Thursday it will discontinue development of aticaprant for major depressive disorder (MDD), dealing a significant blow to what was once considered a potential blockbuster medication. The company had previously estimated the drug could generate annual sales between $1 billion and $5 billion at its peak.
The decision came after late-stage clinical trials revealed
insufficient effectiveness in treating patients with
difficult-to-treat MDD and moderate-to-severe anhedonia, a key depression symptom characterized by the inability to feel pleasure or interest. While safety and tolerability profiles remained favorable, the drug failed to demonstrate adequate efficacy in the target population.
Despite this setback, J&J maintains it will explore other potential applications for aticaprant in areas with significant unmet medical needs. The company also reaffirmed its commitment to neuroscience research, highlighting its recent $15 billion acquisition of Intra-Cellular Therapies, which produces the mental health medication Caplyta.
The pharmaceutical company assured investors that its medicines division is still on track to achieve its projected 5% to 7% compound annual growth rate. The division reported $57 billion in revenue last year, representing a 4% increase from 2023.
Wall Street analysts, including David Risinger from Leerink Partners, had projected aticaprant would reach approximately $1 billion in annual sales by 2032. The news had minimal impact on J&J’s stock, which actually rose more than 1% on Friday.
However, the announcement sent ripples through the biotech sector, particularly affecting Neumora Therapeutics, whose shares declined nearly 5%. Neumora, which went public in 2023 after securing $250 million in funding, is developing a similar drug targeting kappa opioid receptors – proteins involved in mood regulation, stress response, and pain perception.
The news follows Neumora’s own setback earlier this year when its drug navacaprant failed to outperform placebo in treating
moderate-to-severe MDD. Since its initial public offering, Neumora’s stock has plummeted more than 90%, trading at approximately $1.45 per share by late Friday morning.
Industry analysts have expressed growing skepticism about the future of kappa opioid receptor drugs in depression treatment. RBC Capital Markets analyst Brian Abrahams suggested J&J’s decision could eliminate remaining optimism for these compounds in depression therapy. Similarly, Stifel analyst Paul Matteis downgraded Neumora’s stock to “Hold,” describing J&J’s announcement as a “big blow” to the therapeutic approach.
The development also raises questions about similar drugs in development, including AbbVie’s kappa opioid antagonist, currently in Phase 1 testing, which the company acquired through its Cerevel Therapeutics purchase.
J&J’s decision to halt aticaprant’s development for depression represents just one project within its extensive pipeline, which includes nearly 20 other potential blockbuster drug candidates. The company continues to pursue its ambitious goal of becoming the leading neuroscience company by 2030, though this setback may complicate that journey.
The situation highlights the ongoing challenges in developing effective treatments for depression and other mental health
conditions, even as major pharmaceutical companies increase their investment in neuroscience research and development.