A New Hope for Motion Sickness Sufferers

The U. S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has given the green light to a new drug called Nereus, designed to tackle motion sickness. This approval is a big deal because it's the first new treatment for this condition in over 40 years. The drug, also known as tradipitant, works by blocking a specific brain receptor that triggers nausea and vomiting. Motion sickness is a common issue that happens when the brain gets mixed signals from the eyes, inner ear, and body sensors. It can occur during activities like boating, driving, or flying. The FDA's decision was based on two large studies involving 681 patients, which showed that tradipitant significantly reduced vomiting. Vanda Pharmaceuticals, the company behind Nereus, plans to launch the drug in the coming months. Analysts predict that sales of tradipitant for motion sickness alone could reach over $100 million annually in the U. S. at its peak.This isn't the only treatment available for motion sickness. Other options include the scopolamine patch, Bonine, and Dramamine. However, Nereus is the first new drug in this category in decades. The road to approval wasn't smooth. The FDA initially placed a partial clinical hold on tradipitant in 2018, requiring additional toxicity studies in dogs. But in December 2023, the agency lifted this hold, reclassifying motion sickness as an acute condition and dropping the study requirement. Vanda Pharmaceuticals licensed tradipitant from Eli Lilly in 2012 and has been testing it for various uses, including motion sickness, gastroparesis, and nausea caused by certain diabetes drugs. The company has not yet disclosed the pricing for Nereus.