Biotie tests drug for cocaine dependence
Biotie Finnish researchers hope nepicastat can also treat post-traumatic stress disorderBiopharmaceutical company Biotie Therapies has signed a deal with the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) in the United States to test a drug which is designed to treat cocaine dependence.
NIDA will fund the 11-week trial in 180 cocaine-dependent subjects using nepicastat supplied by Biotie.
The study will be conducted at about 12 US clinics specialising in the treatment of drug dependence.
The trial, which is designed to test nepicastat’s safety and efficiency, is expected to start before the summer and take about two years to complete.
— There is currently no approved treatment for cocaine dependence, a condition which exacts a heavy toll on individuals, their families and society as a whole, said Timo Veromaa, Chief Executive Officer of Biotie.
Nepicastat, a dopamine inhibitor, is also in an ongoing study, funded by the United States Department of Defense for the treatment of post-traumatic stress disorder.
The trial, which is scheduled to enroll up to 120 patients, is now expected to end before the end of the year instead of 2013 as previously announced.
Turku-based Biotie focuses on the development of drugs for neurodegenerative and psychiatric disorders like Parkinson's disease and Alzheimer's disease and inflammatory diseases like rheumatoid arthritis and psoriasis.
Biotie's most advanced product, nalmefene for alcohol dependence, has completed Phase three clinical development by licensing partner Lundbeck.
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