Servier and Sanofi join hand fighting depression in China

Pharmaceutical companies of Servier China and Sanofi China have signed an exclusive strategic cooperation agreement for the new antidepressant marketed as Valdoxan.

Sanofi China is fully responsible for the marketing and medical information promotion of the unique adult depression treatment developed by Servier.

Both companies will work with China's leading experts in the field of mental health to launch an awareness-raising campaign known as "Hand in Hand to Cure Depression, Lighting Up the Future," which aims to integrate the advantages of the two sides' resources to further enhance awareness of the disease and its treatment.

According to the World Health Organization, more than 300 million people worldwide suffer depression .

In China, the prevalence of depression stands at 6.8%, with more than 95 million people suffering other conditions like anxiety.

"A lack of joy and happiness is the most typical symptom of depression. Worse, Asian people mostly being conservative and restrained people are less likely to seek mental treatment for fear of potential discrimination and social stigma," said Professor Wu Wenyuan of Tongji Hospital, affiliated with Tongji University.

According to her, more than 90% of the patients in China are left untreated.

"Many with initial symptoms are reluctant to receive professional treatment. That, however, would affect the patient's work and social ability. Without intervention, the state of pleasure loss will continue regardless of the degree of the severity. A proper understanding of the problem is the first step for the patients to seek professional help and get back to a normal life," she added.

In addition to the lack of pleasure and low mood, people with depression often suffer abnormalities in body weight, appetite, sleep and behavioral activities, experts said.

In severe cases, they even cause self-harm and suicide. Depression not only brings mental pain to the patient, but also causes a heavy financial burden on the patient, and the patient feels no sense of happiness.

International studies showed depression is expected to be the second-largest disease burden after cardiovascular disease by 2020.

Servier China and Sanofi China together are bringing to China the new antidepressant, which can help alleviate depressive symptoms, significantly improve the lack of pleasure, directly hitting the core of depression.

Since being approved by the European Medicines Agency in 2009, the innovative drug has been approved in 99 countries worldwide and listed as a first-line antidepressant by several domestic and foreign guidelines.

Fang Yiru, a senior mental health specialist with Shanghai Mental Health Center affiliated with Tongji University said: "Following the whole process of standardized treatment, and good drug compliance can effectively reduce the probability of recurrence, effectively reduce problems such as sexual dysfunction, gastrointestinal side effects and weight gain, and help patients return to normal life as soon as possible."