FDA approves first oral medication for postpartum depression after initial rejection for broader use

The FDA approved zuranolone, the first oral pill specifically for treating postpartum depression, which affects about one in eight new mothers.
Zuranolone provides relief of symptoms within days, unlike current treatments that can take weeks, but was rejected for treating major depressive disorder.
Zuranolone works by restoring levels of the neurosteroid allopregnanolone, which is known to help regulate mood and decreases after giving birth.
While hopes were high for zuranolone to be a potential blockbuster with over $1 billion in sales, revenues are now expected to be much lower without the depression indication.
Experts say the new pill offers faster relief but caution it has only been tested for severe cases so far and recommend a multifaceted approach to postpartum depression treatment.