Federal health officials have approved the first pill specifically intended to treat severe depression after childbirth, a condition that affects thousands of new mothers in the U.S. each year.
The new pill is from Cambridge-based Sage Therapeutics, which has a similar infused drug that’s given intravenously over three days in a medical facility. The FDAin 2019, though it isn’t widely used because of its $34,000 price tag and the logistics of administering it. “I planned my pregnancies, I knew I wanted those kids but I didn’t want to interact with them,” said McMahon, who lives in New York City. She says her mood and outlook started improving within days of taking the first pills.Dr. Kimberly Yonkers of Yale University said the Zurzuvae effect is “strong” and the drug likely will be prescribed for women who haven’t responded to antidepressants. She wasn't involved in testing the drug.
Sage did not immediately announce how it would price the pill, and Yonkers said that'll be a key factor in how widely its prescribed.