Amygdala Neurosciences

Palo Alto, CA

Amygdala Neurosciences is developing ANS-6637 a new chemical entity with a novel MOA for treating substance use disorder. Based on a mechanism of action in the brain (published in Nature Medicine) that prevents pathophysiologic dopamine surge without changes to basal dopamine, ANS-6637 has the potential to prevent drug seeking behavior, craving and relapse. In pre-clinical studies, ALDH2 inhibition reduced self-administration, cue- and drug-primed relapse in nicotine, alcohol, cocaine, heroin, methamphetamine and binge eating models and also demonstrated anxiolytic properties in models of stress. ANS-6637 has completed extensive Phase 1 studies and is ready for Phase 2 efficacy studies. Their initial development focus is for smoking cessation with parallel development efforts for cocaine, opioid and alcohol use disorders.