Do Karuna, Cerevel Deals Signal Renewed Neuropsychiatric Interest From Big Pharma?

While large pharmaceutical companies turn their attention to neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer’s and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, the business case for neuropsychiatric R&D doesn’t appear to fit as neatly with their objectives.

Blockbuster drugs like Prozac and Zoloft for depression and atypical antipsychotics like Risperdal and Abilify are all products of the big pharma engine from the 1980s and 1990s, said Graig Suvannavejh, senior biopharmaceuticals and biotechnology equity research analyst at Mizuho Americas. “Large pharma liked these diseases because there are lots of patients,” he told BioSpace.