Professor Reddy honored with lifetime achievement award

 Samba Reddy, PhD, RPh, professor at the Texas A&M College of Medicine, was recognized with the Lifetime Achievement Award at the 13th annual Association of Biotechnology and Pharmacy (ABAP) & International Biotechnology Conference Dec. 20, 2019, in Vijayawada, India.

Every year, ABAP, an international scientific organization involved in promoting the biotechnological and pharmaceutical fields in Asia, Europe and United States, selects one member worldwide for the award.

Reddy, a registered pharmacist, received this honor in recognition of his scientific research and service to the pharmacy profession. His work over the past two decades has laid the groundwork for understanding neurobiology of neurosteroids in brain disorders, especially epilepsy. This research has demonstrated the pivotal role of neurosteroids in the brain, leading to the discovery of neurosteroid replacement therapy for perimenstrual epilepsy and postpartum depression. His research contributed to development of two medicines for brain disorders: brexanolone and ganaxolone.

In March 2019, the first neurosteroid, allopregnanolone (brexanolone), was approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for clinical use in postpartum depression, which affects about one in nine new mothers. Meanwhile, ganaxolone is in advanced trials for treating seizure disorders that affect 50 million people worldwide.

Reddy has trained more than 50 students and postdoctoral fellows, authored five textbooks, and published more than 190 scientific papers. He also serves as an expert member on many national and international scientific panels in the United States and participates in charitable service in India.

“I am humbled to win this honor and delighted for such great opportunities to contribute to the fields of neurotherapeutics, epilepsy and pharmacology at Texas A&M,” Reddy said. “I’m grateful to many colleagues, students and mentors who helped shape our research endeavors, especially translating innovative concepts into discovery of drugs useful in the treatment of brain diseases.”

Reddy’s research has been funded by the U.S. National Institutes of Health (NIH) and the U.S. Department of Defense (DOD).