JNJ Halts Development of Depression Drug Over Efficacy Concerns

Johnson & Johnson (JNJ) decided to discontinue the Phase 3 VENTURA development program, which is evaluating aticaprant as an adjunctive treatment for major depressive disorder (MDD).Though data from the VENTURA program did confirm that the J&J drug was safe and well-tolerated in study participants, the decision to stop developing it for MDD indication is due to ‘insufficient efficacy in the target patient population.’ However, the pharma giant still intends to explore aticaprant’s potential ‘in other areas ...