We glean insights from Andy Hodge, CEO of Otsuka Europe, on the Otsuka Pharmaceutical Europe and Otsuka Pharmaceuticals (UK) collaboration with Health Innovation Oxford & Thames Valley (Oxford HIN) to evaluate the implementation and integration of a new digital therapeutic (DTx), CARE for MDD, intended to support the treatment of major depressive disorder (MDD), more commonly referred to as clinical depression or depressive disorder.
This collaboration aims to support patients living with depressive disorder by developing solutions beyond the medication and will combine Oxford HIN’s network and expertise in mental health treatment, with Otsuka’s experience in developing therapies for patients living with mental illness.
Together, Otsuka and Oxford HIN intend to evaluate patient and healthcare practitioner feedback on real-world implementation of this innovative DTx through a pilot that will initially run across four Primary Care sites in England. Insights gathered from this collaboration will inform plans for expanding access to CARE for MDDmore widely across Great Britain, accompanied by a report by Oxford HIN to help facilitate NHS adoption of this type of therapy within other sites.
CARE for MDDis a regulated medical device delivered as a smartphone app and was co-developed by Otsuka and Click Therapeutics. CARE for MDDcomprises of three key components, a novel cognitive-emotional training method known as Emotional Faces Memory Task (EFMT) cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) lessons and personalised SMS notifications.
Andy Hodge, CEO, of Otsuka Europe, said: “Otsuka is committed to supporting patients living with depressive disorder and we are delighted to collaborate with Health Innovation Oxford & Thames Valley. With the World Health Organization projecting depressive disorder to become the leading cause of global disease burden by 2030, there is a substantial need for new solutions and digital therapeutics are well placed to complement existing approaches to care.”
Tim Cooper, GP and Primary Care Champion, added: “Around one in four presentations to primary care are for mental health problems, yet there remain many barriers to accessing rapid high-quality mental health care. With primary care facing increasing demand, it’s exciting to be part of the team exploring the potential of digital therapeutics to offer an additional support option for patients and clinicians.”
James Rose, Director of Strategic and Industry Partnerships, Oxford HIN, commented: “Depression is a significant challenge for the NHS in England, representing a substantial portion of the overall disease burden and affecting millions. At Health Innovation Oxford and Thames Valley, our mission is to support health and social care innovation, which is critical to improving both the health outcomes and economic prosperity of the population. Collaborating with Otsuka enables us to pioneer new treatments and approaches that have the potential to improve the landscape of care for those living with depressive disorders.”
INSIGHTS FROM ANDY HODGE, CEO OF OTSUKA EUROPE
How does the CARE for MDD digital therapeutics (DTx) differentiate itself from other digital solutions currently available for treating major depressive disorder, and what distinguished benefits do you anticipate it will bring to patients and healthcare practitioners?
Many current digital solutions are based on digitising traditional cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) approaches, where the novelty primarily lies in the use of technology to enhance patient engagement and support patients to embed these concepts into everyday life.
The core therapy element in CARE for MDD is not only digitised CBT content. While CBT content, in the form of short lessons, is part of the product, the main feature is a novel cognitive-emotional training exercise called Emotional Faces Memory Task (EFMT). EFMT is specifically designed to target key brain regions associated with depressive disorder symptoms. The idea is that with regular use, these exercises will strengthen the connections between these brain regions, acting like physiotherapy for the brain, to help alleviate depressive symptoms.
Considering the pilot will initially run across four Primary Care sites in England, what specific metrics and feedback will you be evaluating to measure the success and effectiveness of CARE for MDD’s implementation in real-world settings?
Given the lack of a standardised approach for integrating a DTx like CARE for MDD into primary care practices, it is important that we can hear directly from everyone involved in this process to understand what the best approach would be. Hence our evaluation will include assessing feedback from patients, GPs and other primary care staff involved in the pilot, with a focus on what is needed for effective implementation, such as the steps required for a patient to access CARE for MDD, the effectiveness of the support we provide, and what training and resources are needed.
Given the projection by the World Health Organization that depressive disorder will become the leading cause of global disease burden by 2030, how do you see the integration of digital therapeutics like CARE for MDD transforming the landscape of mental health treatment in the long term, and what role will Otsuka play in this transformation?
We believe that DTx is well-positioned to help address challenges in accessing mental health care. They can give healthcare professionals another valuable tool, in addition to the range of therapeutic options offered. For patients, it can provide them with privacy and empower them to self-manage their symptoms, and so may improve their quality of life. This is why we are committed to helping support and advance the integration of DTx into mental health services.