NIH Seeks Partner to Develop Safer Ketamine Treatment for Depression

The federal government is looking for a partner to collaborate on developing a new treatment for anxiety and depression based on a chemical by-product produced when the body breaks down the drug ketamine.

Researchers from the National Institutes of Health and the University of Maryland at Baltimore are seeking a partner with expertise in preclinical development, IND filings and the ability to support clinical trials aimed at regulatory approval.

Ketamine has been clinically available for over 40 years as a general anesthetic; however, it can also be highly addictive and can cause severe side effects. In low, intravenous doses, ketamine has shown strong, rapid efficacy in treating the symptoms of depression.