Major depressive disorder (MDD) is one of the most common mental health disorders and a leading cause of disability worldwide, impacting an estimated 280 million people—or about 5 percent of the population. While depression is typically treated with a “one-size-fits-all” approach, no two cases are the same. MDD is a complex, heterogeneous disorder involving multiple regions of the brain and presenting with many distinct symptom combinations. As a result, responses to treatment vary widely.
With current standard-of-care, more than 70 percent of MDD patients experience residual or persistent symptoms, and about one in three patients are considered to have treatment-resistant depression (TRD)—meaning they do not respond to two or more oral antidepressants.
Major depressive disorder (MDD) impacts an estimated 280 million people.
J&J’s approach to MDD
Our approach reflects the complexity of this condition. We’re advancing a pipeline of mechanistically distinct therapies aimed at addressing the biological drivers of MDD, including the residual symptoms that conventional treatments often leave unresolved. We’re committed to exploring new mechanisms of actions to treat MDD, and we are investigating novel adjunctive treatments designed to improve outcomes for patients whose symptoms persist despite treatment with currently available antidepressant treatments.
