An emerging treatment for clinical depression has reached an important milestone. This week, the Food and Drug Administration approved Johnson & Johnson’s ketamine-based nasal spray, Spravato, as a standalone therapy for cases of depression that haven’t responded to other options.

Johnson & Johnson's ketamine-derived nasal spray has been approved as a standalone treatment to fight depression for those who had an inadequate response to oral antidepressants.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration expanded approval for Johnson & Johnson’s nasal spray, Spravato, to allow it to be used as a standalone treatment for patients with severe depression, the company said on Tuesday.