Scott Alexander examines Zulresso and Zuranolone, two neurosteroid drugs for postpartum depression, discussing their efficacy, challenges, and potential future applications. Longer summary

Scott Alexander discusses Zulresso (allopregnanolone) and Zuranolone, two related drugs for treating postpartum depression. He explains their mechanisms, efficacy, and the challenges in their development and usage. The post covers the history of allopregnanolone research, its connection to GABA and hormones, clinical trials, and potential future applications. Scott also discusses the high cost of Zulresso, its limited availability, and the mixed results of Zuranolone in treating regular depression and anxiety. The post ends with predictions about the future of these drugs and related research. Shorter summary

Scott provides updates on efforts to get FDA approval for fluvoxamine as a COVID-19 treatment and reports on the early approval of Paxlovid. Longer summary

This post is an addendum to a previous article about Luvox and COVID-19 treatment. It updates readers on recent developments in the effort to get FDA approval for fluvoxamine (Luvox) as a COVID-19 treatment. Scott reports that Dr. Ed Mills and colleagues have found a way to submit an Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) application to the FDA for fluvoxamine, despite the initial hurdle of not having a sponsoring drug company. The post also mentions the FDA's approval of Paxlovid, another COVID-19 drug, which happened earlier than expected according to prediction markets. Shorter summary

Scott Alexander critiques the FDA's slow approval process for Paxlovid, a promising COVID-19 treatment, despite its proven effectiveness. Longer summary

Scott Alexander discusses the FDA's delay in approving Paxlovid, a highly effective COVID-19 treatment. He criticizes the FDA for taking an estimated six weeks to approve the drug despite stopping trials early due to its effectiveness. The post explores the inconsistency in the FDA's approach, questions potential reasons for the delay, and emphasizes the urgency of approval given the ongoing COVID-19 deaths. Scott also addresses potential criticisms by comparing the situation to ivermectin and acknowledging the risk of unforeseen issues with Paxlovid. Shorter summary

Scott Alexander examines the treatment for progeria and its potential implications for understanding and treating normal aging processes. Longer summary

This post discusses the implications of progeria treatments for understanding normal aging. Scott Alexander explores the recent FDA approval of lornafarnib for Hutchinson-Gilford Progeria Syndrome and its potential relevance to normal aging processes. He explains the cellular mechanisms behind progeria, involving defective lamin A protein production, and how this leads to accelerated aging through DNA damage accumulation. While initially concluding that lornafarnib might not help prevent normal aging, Scott then presents research suggesting that similar protein defects might play a role in normal aging processes. The post ends with uncertainty about the extent to which these mechanisms contribute to regular aging. Shorter summary

Scott Alexander critiques the FDA approval of esketamine for depression, discussing issues with drug development, efficacy, cost, and administration requirements. Longer summary

This post discusses the FDA's approval of esketamine for treatment-resistant depression, highlighting the issues with the pharmaceutical industry's approach to drug development and approval. Scott Alexander explains how companies often make minor changes to existing chemicals to patent them, as in the case of esketamine (a left-handed version of ketamine). He critiques the high cost of esketamine compared to regular ketamine and the FDA's stringent requirements for its administration. The post also questions the efficacy of esketamine based on clinical trials and discusses the inconvenience of the approved delivery method. Scott expresses disappointment that this approval may set a precedent for future psychedelic medicines, making them equally inconvenient and bureaucratic to access. Shorter summary