David says ketamine has been a ‘lifesaver’ for his treatment-resistant depression after decades of trying other therapies. But it costs him $14,000 a year.
“I had a number of very significant bouts of suicidal ideation and I think without ketamine, I would have probably acted on those impulses at some stage,” David said. In 2021, Australia’s Therapeutics Goods Administration approved Spravato, the patented ketamine nasal spray developed by Janssen Pharmaceuticals that costs between $600 and $900 a dose. Applications to have Spravato subsidised by the government under the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme have failed, leaving researchers looking for more affordable alternatives.
But he said there is a lack of commercial incentives to run the large trials needed for the TGA to approve the drug for treatment-resistant depression.that already exist – like ketamine – cannot be patented, meaning it is hard for companies to make money from them. Spravato managed to get a patent because it was adapted into a nasal spray.
Market exclusivity would allow the company that trialled the drug to market it for a period of time without direct competition from other manufacturers creating cheaper, duplicated products. Companies could also be offered tax credits for research and development into exisiting drugs, the article said.