Experimental Drug BNC210 Shows Early Promise in PTSD Treatment

Summary
Bionomics Limited’s experimental drug BNC210 has shown early promise in treating PTSD, reducing symptom severity in a Phase IIb trial. The study revealed modest improvements in symptoms after 12 weeks of treatment, with benefits seen as early as four weeks. However, adverse events were more frequent in the BNC210 group compared to the placebo. The results support the need for larger trials to further evaluate BNC210’s effectiveness in PTSD treatment.

Bionomics Limited has announced that its experimental drug, BNC210, a novel α7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptor modulator, has shown significant potential in reducing the severity of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms. PTSD is a widespread and debilitating psychiatric disorder often resulting from traumatic events, with current treatments proving inadequate for many patients. BNC210 targets α7 nicotinic receptors, a key pathway involved in PTSD, offering a new approach to treatment.

The Phase IIb ATTUNE trial, published in *NEJM Evidence*, involved 182 participants aged 18-75, all with a PTSD diagnosis and significant symptom severity. The double-blind, placebo-controlled study found that after 12 weeks, those on BNC210 experienced modest improvements in PTSD symptoms, with noticeable relief appearing as early as four weeks. While depressive symptoms showed clinical improvement, sleep-related symptoms did not show significant changes.

However, the BNC210 group experienced a higher rate of adverse events (66.7%) compared to the placebo group (53.8%), with headaches, nausea, fatigue, and liver enzyme increases being the most common. Treatment discontinuation due to adverse effects was also higher in the BNC210 group. No serious adverse events or deaths occurred during the study.

The results indicate that BNC210 could effectively reduce PTSD symptoms, warranting further research through larger trials to assess its full clinical potential.