抑郁症精准放射调控疗法在京启动 无创神经调控赛道有望开辟新蓝海

Core Viewpoint - The "Precision Radiotherapy for Depression" project aims to advance clinical research and application breakthroughs in treating depression using new generation precision radiotherapy technology, specifically the ZAP-X system, which is currently in the clinical research phase focusing on safety and efficacy [1] Group 1: Market Overview - Depression is one of the most common mental disorders globally, with approximately 332 million people affected, including over 90 million in China, of which 10 to 12 million require treatment during depressive episodes [1] - The antidepressant market in China is highly competitive, with SSRIs and SNRIs accounting for about 60% of the market share. The sales revenue for antidepressants in sample hospitals is expected to exceed 8 billion yuan in 2024, with SSRIs contributing 3.58 billion yuan (43.44%) and SNRIs 1.42 billion yuan (17.18%) [3][4] - The global antidepressant market was valued at approximately $14.5 billion in 2022 and is projected to reach $17.6 billion by 2030, with China's market expected to grow to 23.8 billion yuan by 2030, reflecting a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 4.2% from 2022 to 2030 [3][4] Group 2: Innovation and Development - There is a significant unmet clinical need as about 30% of patients do not respond to existing antidepressants, highlighting the potential of neuromodulation technologies as a complementary treatment, especially for treatment-resistant depression (TRD) [6] - Non-invasive neuromodulation techniques, such as transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS), are gaining traction in clinical settings. TMS has been FDA-approved for depression treatment since 2008, and several certified TMS systems are available globally [7] - The "Precision Radiotherapy for Depression" project focuses on exploring the clinical efficacy and safety of low-dose radiotherapy for treatment-resistant depression, aiming to establish a new neuromodulation method with high precision targeting [9][10] Group 3: Research and Clinical Trials - The project is part of a broader trend in the development of innovative antidepressant therapies, with numerous new drugs in clinical trials targeting various mechanisms [4][5] - The project aims to investigate the potential of radiotherapy as a neuromodulation method, traditionally used for brain tumors, to treat depression, with initial studies showing promising results [10] - Collaboration among various professionals and addressing regulatory, funding, and resource challenges are crucial for the project's success and eventual commercialization [11]