Praeventix, LLC — Department of Health and Human Services SBIR Phase I: NIDA

Description

Drug addiction is a majorunmet medical condition with a global impactAccording to theNational Survey on Drug Use and Healthovermillion people over the age ofin the U Shad reported using an illicit drug in the pastdaysand andgtmillion people were addicted to illicit drugsThe annual cost of dealing with this issue exceeds $billionand the impact of individual health and wellness is significantDrug abuse is linked to increased risks of cardiovascular diseasestrokecancerlung diseaseas well as HIV and hepatitis infectionCocaine is one of the most commonly abused illicit drugsand the negative impact of this drug is apparent in theDrug Abuse Warning NetworkDAWNreport which revealed that overpatients required hospital emergency department services as a result of cocaine useDespite the clear and compelling needthere are no FDA approved medications for the treatment of cocaine addictionIt ishoweverknown that cocaine exerts its effects via the mesocorticolimbic dopamineMCL DAsystemalso known as the reward systemDopamine release and reabsorption systems within the MCL DA are altered by both acute and chronic exposure to cocaineIt has been previously demonstrated that there is substantial interplay between MCL DA activity and serotonergic neurons that extend into this region of the brainIn additionseveral studies have demonstrated that serotoninHTreleasing serotonergic neurons regulate the activity of dopaminergic neurons in these regions of the MCL DA system under both normal conditions and in the presence of cocaineThe apparent link between dopaminergic and serotonergic signaling suggests that modulatingHT signaling may be a viable approach to cocaine addictionWe have identified a series of noveldrug likeHTantagonists that include a lead compoundPRACwhich produces a statistically significant in cocaine reinstatement rat model of addiction in our preliminary studiesIn this programwe will generate dose dependency data in the rat reinstatement model of cocaine addictionThis data will support our continued advancement of this compound into pre clinical IND enabling studies as a treatment for cocaine addiction Drug addiction is a majorunmet medical condition with a global impactAccording to theNational Survey on Drug Use and Healthovermillion people over the age ofin the U Shad reported using an illicit drug in the pastdaysand andgtmillion people were addicted to illicit drugsCocaine is one of the most commonly abused illicit drugsDespite the clear and compelling needthere are no FDA approved medications for the treatment of cocaine addictionWe have identified a series of noveldrug likeHTantagonists that include a lead compoundPRACwhich produces a statistically significant in cocaine reinstatement rat model of addiction in our preliminary studiesIn this programwe will generate dose dependency data in the rat reinstatement model of cocaine addictionThis data will support our continued advancement of this compound into pre clinical IND enabling studies as a treatment for cocaine addiction