A new drug in late-stage development by Marlborough’s Sunovion Pharmaceuticals Inc. has cleared a test to evaluate its potential abuse by patients.
The drug dasotraline is being tested to potentially treat symptoms of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and binge-eating disorder. This latest study is required to evaluate the abuse potential associated with drugs that affect the central nervous system, according to Sunovion.
“Assessing abuse potential is critically important in the clinical development process for any therapy affecting the central nervous system, especially those that may act on dopamine and norepinephrine neurotransmitter systems,” said Antony Loebel, M.D., executive vice president and chief medical officer at Sunovion, and head of global clinical development for Sumitomo Dainippon Pharma Group.
