The bipolar disorder (BD) market is highly genericized, consisting of antipsychotics, anticonvulsants, and mood stabilizers such as lithium. The atypical antipsychotic market is the most dominant of the drug classes indicated for BD, and the oral atypical antipsychotic market is highly competitive with many generic alternatives available. The atypical long-acting injectable (LAI) antipsychotic market currently sees little competition and is therefore one of the key areas to target for growth, along with the development of drugs focusing on other underserved BD patient segments. 

One of the most impactful recent events to have occurred in the BD space is the FDA approval (in April 2022) of BioXcel’s Igalmi for the acute treatment of agitation associated with type I or II BD. In the Phase III trial, treatment with Igalmi led to rapid and durable improvements in acute agitation, superior to placebo. Its sublingual film formulation means it is easy to administer, avoiding the invasive administration of antipsychotics or benzodiazepines currently used for severe agitation in acute psychiatric facilities. 

This Datamonitor Healthcare report contains a Disease Analysis module.