Definium Therapeutics has shared good news from their first major trial (called Voyage) of a new fast-dissolving tablet called DT120 ODT, designed to help adults with generalized anxiety disorder. The study found that DT120 ODT worked well and met all its main goals. People who took DT120 ODT showed a significant decrease in their anxiety symptoms compared to those who took a placebo (a fake pill with no medicine). The improvement was noticeable as early as two days after starting the medication and continued to get better over the 12-week study period.
Rob Barrow, the CEO of Definium Therapeutics, said: “The strong results from this study set a new standard for how effective treatments for generalized anxiety disorder can be. We believe DT120 ODT has the potential to change how anxiety is treated for the millions of people who need help.”
He also mentioned: “We’ve now seen consistent and large improvements in three separate studies, which shows DT120 ODT could be a game-changer in mental health care.”
Barrow added that the company is working quickly to make this treatment available to patients, with more results expected in September from another study called Panorama.
The new tablet was very easy on the body, with most side effects being mild and short-lived, usually happening only on the day the dose was taken. No new safety concerns were found, including no signs of increased thoughts of self-harm or suicidal behavior.
Participants were checked every hour starting five hours after taking the dose to see how well the medicine was working. On average, people started showing meaningful improvements within 6.4 hours, and 92% of them met the improvement criteria by the 8-hour mark.
Dr. Brian Barnett, a psychiatrist at Cleveland Clinic and a lead researcher in the study, explained: “Generalized anxiety disorder affects about 26 million adults in the United States. If left untreated, it can lead to long-term and serious problems that disrupt daily life.”
He also said: “Having a treatment that works with just one dose and provides benefits for 12 weeks is a big step forward. This is something that isn’t currently available with today’s anxiety medications.”