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The most severe form among depressive disorders is melancholic depression. It is more prevalent among hospitalized depression patients than among those in the community. Affected persons lack pleasure in almost all activities and do not react to pleasurable stimulation. They may experience extreme slowness of movement or agitation. However, treatment options for these patients are very limited.

The University of Valencia ’s Department of Pharmaceutics () headed by Professor MV Bermejo conducted an investigation, showing that Miraxion® (ultra-pure ethyl-eicosapentaenoic acid (E-EPA)) may improve stress hormone (such as cortisol) transport through the blood brain barrier as reported by Amarin Corporation plc.

While increased plasma levels of cortisol and over-activity of the hypothalamus-pituitary adrenocortical axis (HPA) are considered to be a cause of melancholic depression, the ability of Miraxion® to improve blood brain barrier transport of cortisol may lead to a normalisation of cortisol levels and of HPA axis activity resulting in an alleviation of the symptoms of melancholic depression.

Source: Amarin Corp plc News Release