Anti-depressants are a multi-billion-dollar market in the United States, but a full half of patients do not respond to existing drugs. Nor are there any approved medications for a host of other stress, mood, and behavioral disorders. But what of other alternate methods of improving positivity?
Marijuana may be a potential albeit temporary solution to problems relating to stress, and it has the plus side of being easily procurable from online stores selling thc oils or weed canada products. However, a more suitable solution would be one that is stable; has long term benefits; and more importantly is accepted within the medical domain.
But, people considering such above-mentioned solutions, might want to consult a doctor or a professional at the earliest before opting for any cannabis-related products. Also, ensure that these products are legalized in the state in which you reside. Smoking or vaping cannabis, using cbd vape oil, and consuming edibles could have their own benefits and side effects. But knowing when to use and how much to consume is all that matters. Because, when used in excess, it could cause damage to your other body parts or affect your normal day-to-day activities. Nevertheless, a large number of people seem to be opting for cannabis-based medication for their conditions.
Bethlehem’s Azevan Pharmaceuticals is aiming squarely at those markets by targeting a different neurochemical system than the conventional SSRI drugs that dominate the market. “We’re developing medications that target the vasopressin receptor antagonist system, which is widely recognized for its role in social and emotional behaviors,” says CEO and co-founder Neal Simon.
The company’s most advanced compound, SRX246, a treatment for intermittent explosive disorder, will begin phase-two, clinical trials in the first quarter of 2014 and are expected to take about 18 months, says Simon. At present, he adds, there is no such pharmaceutical treatment.
Azevan is also developing treatment for anger, aggression and impulse control disorders, which often spring from traumatic brain injury, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and personality disorders. Again, no treatments.
PTSD itself is the most rapidly growing psychiatric diagnosis in the United States and a major issue in military medicine. Yet, says Simon, most of the drug treatments available are repurposed anti-depressants that are “minimally if at all effective.” He is cautiously optimistic that a clinical trial for Azevan’s PTSD treatment will get underway in 2014.
Founded in 2005, Azevan has raised about $9 million overall from the National Institutes of Health. Other funders are Ascent Biomedical Ventures, Scientific Health Development, the National Institutes of Mental Health, the Life Sciences Greenhouse of Central PA and Ben Franklin Technology Partners of Northeastern PA.
Azevan is in ongoing discussions to partner with a large, pharmaceutical maker to ultimately commercialize its drug treatments. For now, the company employs seven, and Simon hopes to add more jobs as clinical trials proceed.
Source: Neal Simon, Azevan Pharmaceuticals
Writer: Elise Vider