Separation Anxiety Disorder (SAD) and Avoidant Personality Disorder (APD) are prevalent anxiety disorders that significantly impact individuals’ ability to form relationships and engage in daily activities. Current treatments for SAD primarily involve behavioral therapy and antidepressants, such as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, or general anxiety medications like benzodiazepines. For patients suffering from APD, treatments are based on psychotherapy and medications like antidepressants to help manage anxiety, offering limited relief. There are no medications specifically approved by regulatory agencies like the FDA or EMA for these conditions.
To address this, researchers at the Institute for Neurosciences CSIC-UMH, in Spain, are exploring the potential of a CRHR1 agonist as a novel approach to treating or preventing social anxiety disorders, including both SAD and APD. Additionally, this new therapy could benefit individuals experiencing exaggerated introspection.
Researchers have found that the release of corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH) by a population of neurons in the prefrontal cortex favors social novelty by suppressing social interactions with familiar mice. This neural circuit regulates the familiarization process, decreasing interaction as a novel rodent becomes familiar, and supports the preference for social novelty in adult mice. Thus, the maturation of this circuit induces a change in social preference in young mice. Furthermore, the increased density of CRH-expressing neurons in the prefrontal cortex during the second postnatal week shifts the social preference of young mice from familiar to novel conspecifics.
Therefore, the use of CRHR1 agonists is proposed as a new strategy for the treatment and prevention of social anxiety disorders, such as SAD and APD.
Benefits:
- This is the first medication capable of rescuing altered social interactions associated with social anxiety disorders.
- The treatment has completed several phase 1 clinical trials using CRH for other diseases.
- It allows for safe administration of the endogenous hormone intravenously or intranasally in adults, children, and pregnant women.
- By utilizing an endogenous hormone, the treatment avoids the use of synthetic drugs.
- Patients experience fewer minor adverse side effects compared to existing medications like SSRIs or benzodiazepines.
- The therapy can be adapted to each patient’s needs.
- The production process is both easy and efficient.
The represented institution is looking for a collaboration that leads to a commercial exploitation of the presented invention. The institution’s preferred scenario involves reaching an agreement for technology transfer through either sale or licensing (exclusive or non-exclusive) and collaborating in the development of the technology for practical applications.
Institution: The Cellular and Systems Neurobiology Department at the Institute for Neuroscience (IN), a joint centre of the Spanish National Research Council (CSIC) and the Miguel Hernández University of Elche (UMH).
TRL: 3-4
Protection status: Patent Application
Contact: Elisa Sáenz / tech@viromii.com
