Praxis Bioresearch, a biopharmaceutical company focused on the discovery and development of novel therapeutics for chronic neuropsychiatric and neurodegenerative disorders, today announced that it has been awarded a Fast-Track Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) grant from the National Institutes of Health (NIH). The $1.5 million award will support the ongoing development of the company’s lead product candidate, PRX-P4-003, a prodrug stimulant with abuse deterrent properties.
PRXP4003 is a novel, abuse-deterrent dopamine norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor incorporating an active isomer of fencamfamine (FCF), a well-tolerated Schedule IV stimulant. Fencamfamine has a long-established clinical profile following decades of therapeutic use in Europe and other countries, where it was primarily prescribed for depressive daytime fatigue, lack of concentration, and lethargy.