Prescriptions for postpartum depression pill off to "promising" start

By the numbers: Zurzuvae, which Sage markets with Biogen, was approved by the Food and Drug Administration in August but didn't become available until around mid-December.

• 50 prescriptions were shipped and delivered that month, generating $824,000 in revenue in the fourth quarter of 2023, Sage said.
• The drug was prescribed by a range of providers, including psychiatrists, primary care doctors, and OB/GYNs, company officials said on an earnings call.
• Sage CEO Barry Greene told analysts the company is optimistic as payers have picked up the tab for a majority of prescriptions.
• The company is also "starting to see [postpartum depression] recognized as an urgent medical condition," including by women asking providers about it and providers willing to prescribe the drug, he said.

What they're saying: These are "solid early patient numbers" wrote RBC Capital analyst Brian Abrahams and senior associate Joe Kim in a note. Early metrics around who's prescribing the drug, insurer coverage, and anecdotal experiences are "promising," they said.

• RBC raised its forecast for Zurzuvae sales this year from about $20 million to $37 million, though the analysts cautioned there's still limited data. Insurers may still be figuring out how they're covering the drug, RBC mentioned in a previous note.