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ADDICTION
Clinical
A NIDA
study prepared in 1992 estimated the total economic cost
of alcohol and drug abuse to be
$295 billion,
in the US alone. The 1992 estimate had risen by over 50
per cent from the 1985 estimate and is likely to be proportionately
higher now.
A considerable amount is known about the biology of addiction.
There is a strong genetic predisposition to addictive behaviour,
with the dopaminergic system strongly implicated through
candidate gene studies. To some extent the general addictive
behaviour is genetic, with the way the addiction is actually
manifested being more dependent on social circumstances,
although there are clear internal drivers pushing patients
towards specific addictions. Despite the enormity of the
need, there are few effective therapies. NIDA highlight
in their most recent report the complete absence of any
medications for treating addiction to cocaine, LSD, PCP,
marijuana, metamphetamine and other stimulants, inhalants
and anabolic steroids.
DanioLabs approach
Drug addiction and substance abuse are major markets for
which the product pipeline is very weak. DanioLabs technologies
are particularly well suited to addressing complex behavioural
states, placing it in a strong position to identify new
therapies which prevent the underlying addictive tendency.
Such therapies may show efficacy not only across a whole
range of addictions, but possibly also some psychiatric
states as well.
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