Depression is a serious medical illness and a global public health concern that can occur at any time over a person's life. According to the World Health Organization, depression is the leading cause of disability worldwide, affecting over 280 million people.¹ Statistics reported by the U.S. National Institute of Health indicate that approximately 21 million adults in the U.S., or approximately 8.3% of all adults in the U.S., had at least one major depressive episode in 2021.² While most people will experience a depressed mood at some point during their lifetime, major depressive disorder (MDD) is different. MDD is the chronic, pervasive feeling of utter unhappiness and suffering, which impairs daily functioning. Symptoms of MDD include diminished pleasure in activities, changes in appetite that result in weight changes, insomnia or oversleeping, psychomotor agitation, loss of energy or increased fatigue, feelings of worthlessness or inappropriate guilt, difficulty thinking, concentrating or making decisions, and thoughts of death or suicide and attempts at suicide. Currently available FDA-approved medications available in the multi-billion-dollar global antidepressant market often fall far short of satisfying the unmet medical needs of millions suffering from the debilitating effects of depression.