This technology is a prophylactic treatment for stress-induced maladaptive behaviors, including fear, depression, and anxiety.
Mental illnesses affect over 20-30% of adults in the United States, and women are twice as likely than men to develop depression or post-traumatic stress disorder. Current methods for treating stress-induced psychiatric disorders involve the use of medications or therapy after the onset of the disease to mitigate symptoms. Enhancing resilience can prevent these disorders from developing.
This technology utilizes a vasoactive intestinal peptide receptor 2 (VPAC2) agonist to prevent or delay stress-induced maladaptive behavior. Administration of the VPAC2-specific agonist, Bay 55-9837, suppressed learned fear, behavioral despair, and food anxiety in female mice when administered one week prior to stress exposure. As such, this technology has the potential to enhance resilience and prevent stress-induced psychiatric disorders.
This technology has been validated in mice.
Patent Pending (US20240238379)
IR CU21050
Licensing Contact: Cynthia Lang
