EP18 - Bench-to-Bedside: NIMH Research Leading to Brexanolone, First-Ever Drug Specifically for Postpartum Depression

Brexanolone, the first FDA-approved drug specifically for postpartum depression, emerged from decades of NIMH-supported research. It was developed based on understanding how allopregnanolone, a hormone that decreases after childbirth, influences mood. Brexanolone restores this hormone’s levels, offering rapid relief from postpartum depression symptoms.