Allergan Inc (NYSE:AGN) is to push ahead with a final trial for Botox as a depression treatment even though a dosing trial missed its targets.
Research head David Nicholson said Allergan was encouraged by the data and the potential impact on adults with major depressive disorder even though the lower dose just failed to make a statistically significant improvement compared to a placebo.
Results were were close to those achieved from antidepressants on the market and consistent with earlier, smaller Botox depression trials.
"We plan to move forward and develop a Phase 3 program for a potential new treatment option for patients," said Nicholson.
Botox is one of Allergan’s best selling drugs.
As a wrinkle removal treatment it generated half of the firm’s US$2.78bn sales in 2016, but the company is keen to broaden its use into other indications.
Allergan has already received approval for its use to treat chronic migraine, overactive bladder and limb spasticity.
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