On Tuesday, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved Johnson & Johnson's hallucinogenic drug esketamine (brand name Spravato) nasal spray as a "monotherapy" treatment for major depressive disorder.

The expanded indication allows esketamine nasal spray to be used as a standalone treatment in adults with MDD who have not responded to at least two oral antidepressants.

Esketamine (Spravato; Johnson & Johnson) is now the first and only monotherapy for adults with major depressive disorder (MDD) with inadequate response to at least 2 oral antidepressants.