Novamind Inc. announced it has been selected to host a clinical trial for the acute treatment of social anxiety disorder (SAD), an understudied and common mental health condition that affects nearly 15 million American adults.1 The phase II randomized clinical study for the acute treatment of SAD is sponsored by Bionomics Limited, a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company and is currently enrolling patients at Novamind's Draper, Utah, research site. The PREVAIL Trial will examine the safety and efficacy of Bionomics' propriety drug candidate, BNC210, versus a placebo in reducing self-reported anxiety severity when participants take part in an anxiety-provoking behavioral task involving a speaking challenge. People with SAD experience extreme fear in social situations, when meeting new people or speaking in front of others, which can severely and negatively impact relationships, work and daily life.

Current medical interventions include SSRIs, beta-blockers and anti-anxiety medications such as benzodiazepines. The PREVAIL Trial is the second Bionomics study hosted by Novamind. In 2021, the Company announced it was selected to host a phase IIb randomized clinical trial investigating BNC210 as a treatment for PTSD.

BNC210 has Fast Track designations from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for the treatment of both PTSD and SAD, a process designed to facilitate development and expedite the review of drugs that address an unmet medical need for serious conditions.