Investigational therapy shows promise in treating PTSD symptoms

December 10, 2024

Study design: The randomized, double-blind, phase 2b, placebo-controlled ATTUNE trial included 182 patients ages 18 to 75 years with a current PTSD diagnosis and a Clinician-Administered PTSD Scale for DSM-5 (CAPS-5) score of 30 or more. Participants were randomly assigned to receive either 900 mg of BNC210, a novel α7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptor-negative allosteric modulator, twice daily or placebo for 12 weeks.

Results: BNC210 significantly improved PTSD symptom severity compared with placebo, with a least squares mean difference in CAPS-5 score of -4.03 at week 12. Improvements were observed as early as week 4. Secondary outcomes showed reductions in depressive symptoms (MADRS score) and sleep disturbances (Insomnia Severity Index). Treatment-emergent adverse events were more common in the BNC210 group, including headache, nausea, and fatigue, but no serious adverse events or deaths were reported.

Impact on clinical practice: BNC210 could be a valuable treatment option for PTSD, warranting further investigation in larger trials to confirm its clinical utility and safety profile.

Source:

Papapetropoulos S, et al. (2024, December 8). NEJM Evid. BNC210, an α7 Nicotinic Receptor Modulator, in Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39647171/