As a Gold Sponsor of WMIF25, Otsuka will support the panel titled ‘Current state of Digital Therapies in the treatment of Depression‘, which will take place on 26 November from 11:30 to 12:30 in the main plenary under the ‘Digital Transformation’ vertical. Through this participation, the company reinforces its commitment to promoting open debate and evidence-based reflection on the clinical, regulatory and evaluative frameworks shaping the future of mental health innovation.
The session will explore the evolving role of digital therapeutics (DTx) in mental health, the challenges, and opportunities around their clinical adoption, and the potential for scaling these interventions within European health systems.
A high-level discussion with clinical and policy leaders
The session will be moderated by Prof. Benedicto Crespo, psychiatrist and researcher at Hospital Universitario Virgen del Rocío (Seville), and currently Director of the Andalusian Mental Health Strategy. He will lead a dialogue that bridges clinical experience, academic research, and health system evaluation.
The panel includes:
- Prof. Allan Young, Chair of Mood Disorders at Imperial College London, with extensive expertise in psychopharmacology and digital mental health innovation.
- Prof. Miquel Roca, Professor of Psychiatry at Universitat de les Illes Balears, a key figure in Spanish psychiatric research and digital health implementation.
- Dr. Diego Palao, psychiatrist and Medical Director at Parc Taulí University Hospital in Barcelona, recognised for his work on clinical pathways and care innovation.
- Dr. Rosa Maria Vivanco, Director of the Evaluation Area at the Catalan Agency for Health Quality and Assessment (AQUAS), specialising in health technology assessment and digital innovation frameworks.
Topics to be explored
The panel will explore how digital therapies are perceived by both patients and clinicians, and how this perception influences their acceptance and use in clinical practice. It will also examine the regulatory and evaluative frameworks currently in place in Spain and across Europe, as well as the level of clinical evidence supporting digital therapeutics—highlighting examples such as the MIRAI trial and CT-152 digital therapeutics as an add-on treatment for mayor depressive disorder already approved by the FDA, and available in the UK from June 2025.
Panelists will discuss the necessary criteria to assess efficacy, safety, and cost-effectiveness, and will address the main barriers for the implementation and integration within public and private healthcare systems. Lastly, the conversation will touch on strategies to ensure safety, adaptability across age groups and mental health conditions, and the long-term viability of digital therapies as part of standard clinical care.
This session reflects Otsuka’s commitment to driving innovation in mental health care and facilitating open, evidence-based dialogue between stakeholders.
Explore the full WMIF programme here!
