Monday, March 12, 2012

Experts Focus on Remedies for Medication-Development Slowdown

Concerned about a serious decline in the number of medications being developed to treat psychiatric illnesses, APA on March 8 assembled leaders from academia, the pharmaceutical industry, venture-capital firms, advocacy groups, and government agencies to focus on ways to improve the pipeline for new treatments.

"Collaboration among leaders from these various groups...is the first step in planning for the future of psychiatric research," said Jeffrey Lieberman, M.D., APA's next president-elect and chair of the Department of Psychiatry at Columbia University. Lieberman moderated the summit along with Herbert Pardes, M.D., a former APA president and NIMH director who is president of the Scientific Board of the Brain and Behavior Research Foundation. "Our common goal is translating new science and technology into practice that enhances patient care," Pardes said. APA Medical Director James H. Scully Jr., M.D., emphasized that "Support for research into psychiatric diseases and innovative therapies is crucial for ensuring that physicians have the best tools possible for treating those suffering from mental illnesses." All funding for the "Pipeline Summit" was provided by the American Psychiatric Foundation.

Read more about the slowing of the psychiatric-drug pipeline in the latest issue of Psychiatric News.

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