Johnson & Johnson get some good news
Johnson & Johnson got some good news for a change as its antidepressant drug, called esketamine and branded Spravato, was fast-tracked through the FDA approval process and is now the first antidepressant to get approval since Prozac 30 years ago.
The nasal spray has to be administered by doctors and monitored for a couple of hours afterwards to check for side-effects, but tests have shown that it can have a positive effect very quickly – sometimes within two days.
This could be fantastic news for a third of those who suffer major depressive disorders and who don’t respond to existing therapies and it will only be administered to those for whom the existing treatments don’t work.
On a related note, Allergan, a Dublin-based pharmaceutical company, will soon announce the results of phase III trials of Rapastinel, its antidepressant drug based on similar principles.
Amazon’s latest move in physical stores
The other thing I wanted to talk about today was Amazon’s latest moves in physical stores. The company announced that it was going to close down its 87 US pop-up stores which showcased devices like its Echo, Kindles and other new products.
On the other hand, it plans to expand the number of bookstores and its “4-star stores” which stock products with 4 star ratings and above.
You will also recall that the company announced the other day that it was going to roll out a new line of grocery stores and more Amazon Go cashierless outlets.
Not being content with crushing retailers online, the company is now focusing its attention on the high street.
I am sure that the pop-ups will have been a useful research tool for Amazon, but I think it’s getting serious now about physical stores and retailers should be getting very worried.
