Solvonis’ Novel Compound SVN-015 Accepted into US NIDA-Funded Addiction Treatment Discovery Program for Methamphetamine and Cocaine Addiction
Solvonis Therapeutics plc (LON: SVNS), an emerging biopharmaceutical company developing novel medicines for high-burden central nervous system (CNS) disorders, announces that its novel AI-discovered compound, SVN-015, targeting methamphetamine and cocaine use disorders, has been accepted into the US National Institute on Drug Abuse’s (“NIDA”) Addiction Treatment Discovery Program (“ATDP”). Under the programme, NIDA, part of the US National Institutes of Health (“NIH”), will fund and conduct early preclinical evaluation of SVN-015.
Programme Overview
In the first stage of the programme, NIDA will fund and carry out in vitro predictive safety studies on SVN-015 to assess potential cardiovascular risks. These tests are the normal first step in the development of any new medicine. If the results are supportive, SVN-015 could advance into ATDP efficacy studies in validated preclinical models of methamphetamine and cocaine addiction.
If the efficacy studies are successful, Solvonis would be well positioned to compete for a non-dilutive NIH research grant, which can provide up to US$3 million per year for as long as five years. These grants are competitive, but completion of early preclinical studies would provide the type of safety and efficacy data needed to support Solvonis’ grant application. This creates a potential pathway from funded NIDA preclinical work through to potential NIH-funded clinical trials in humans.
Strategic Significance
Acceptance of SVN-015 into the ATDP marks an important milestone for Solvonis as it expands the Company’s research in addiction beyond alcohol use disorder (“AUD”) into stimulant addictions – specifically methamphetamine and cocaine – which remain among the most severe psychiatric conditions with no approved drug treatments.
Professor David Nutt, Solvonis Chief Scientific Officer, commented “Being accepted into NIDA’s ATDP for SVN-015 is a major step forward for Solvonis. ATDP provides a pathway for evaluating the therapeutic potential of SVN-015, starting with early preclinical testing and, if successful, creating the opportunity to progress towards NIH clinical development funding through the UG3/UH3 programme. For methamphetamine and cocaine addiction – where no approved drug treatments exist – this represents an important advance.”
Enquiries:
Solvonis Therapeutics plc
Via Walbrook
Anthony Tennyson, CEO & Executive Director
