3Z Pharmaceuticals Reveals Study on Calcium Channel Blocker for ADHD Therapy

3Z Pharmaceuticals has released a groundbreaking study in the journal Neuropsychopharmacology, providing compelling evidence for a new approach to treating ADHD. The research emphasizes the potential of amlodipine, an L-type calcium channel blocker (LTCC), to form the basis of a novel non-stimulant therapy for ADHD. This development also highlights the effectiveness of 3Z's innovative drug discovery platform.

ADHD, a common neurodevelopmental disorder, currently has limited treatment options. Existing stimulant medications like methylphenidate can be beneficial for some individuals; however, they are often linked to side effects, potential misuse, and a significant rate of non-response. 3Z Pharmaceuticals aims to address these challenges by developing alternative treatments that do not rely on stimulants.

In the recent study, 3Z's researchers employed a combination of cross-species behavioral tests, Mendelian Randomization analysis, and human genetic data to explore the therapeutic potential of amlodipine. The study yielded several key findings:

1. Behavioral Improvements in ADHD Models: Amlodipine was shown to significantly reduce hyperactivity in Spontaneously Hypertensive Rats and improve impulsivity in the adgrl3.1-/- zebrafish model of ADHD. These results demonstrate the cross-species efficacy of amlodipine.

2. Blood-Brain Barrier Penetration and Neural Effects:Contrary to previous assumptions, studies confirmed that amlodipine crosses the blood-brain barrier effectively. Once in the brain, it influences neuronal activation, providing new insights into its impact on neurological processes.

3. Genetic Links via Mendelian Randomization:Human genetic analysis revealed a connection between ADHD risk and variations in LTCC genes such as CACNA1C, CACNB1, and CACNA2D3. These genes are direct targets of amlodipine, supporting its potential role in ADHD treatment.

4. Clinical Implications in Human Populations:Through polygenic risk score analysis using data from the UK Biobank, it was found that individuals with a high genetic predisposition to ADHD who were prescribed amlodipine experienced a reduction in ADHD symptoms. This effect was independent of amlodipine's antihypertensive properties.

Dr. Karl Karlsson, a neuroscientist, CEO of 3Z Pharmaceuticals, and Professor of Biomedical Engineering at Reykjavik University, remarked on the study’s significance: "This research marks a transformative moment in ADHD treatment. Our findings not only confirm the potential of amlodipine as a promising non-stimulant ADHD therapy but also highlight the strength of our high-throughput screening and genetic modeling methods, developed alongside biotx.ai. We are excited about advancing more effective and better-tolerated treatments for ADHD."

Based on these promising findings, 3Z Pharmaceuticals is moving forward with developing a therapeutic variant of amlodipine for clinical use. This endeavor takes advantage of amlodipine's established safety profile and specific mechanism of action, aiming to offer a new, transformative therapy for ADHD.

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