No new antidepressants likely in next decade, say scientists

Reluctance of healthcare providers such as NHS to pay for expensive drugs is behind lack of research, says Oxford professor

No new drugs for depression are likely in the next decade, even though those such as Prozac work for little more than half of those treated and there have been concerns over their side-effects, say scientists.

Leading psychiatrists, some of whom have been involved in drug development, say criticism of the antidepressants of the Prozac class, called the SSRIs (selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors), is partly responsible for the pharmaceutical industry's reluctance to invest in new drugs - even though demand is steadily rising.