Intranasal PH94B for Management of the Symptoms of Generalized Social Phobia

Double Blind Placebo Controlled Study of PH94B for Management of the Symptoms of Generalized Social Phobia

The purpose of this study is to determine the efficacy of PH94B, a new class of therapeutic compound, administered intranasally for the management of acute anxiety in patients diagnosed with generalized social phobia.

The essential features of generalized social phobia are defined by the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition (DSM-IV), criteria as a marked and persistent fear of most (generally accepted as four or more) social or performance situations in which the patient believes embarrassment could occur as a consequence of exposure to unfamiliar people and/or possible scrutiny by others. The anxiety resulting from the social or performance situation is profound. The avoidance, fear, or anxious anticipation of these situations interferes significantly with the person's daily routine, having a marked impact on occupational functioning and/or social life. The disorder has a lifetime prevalence estimated at up to 13%, with onset typically in the mid-teens, and it is diagnosed slightly more frequently in females than in males. Social phobia tends to be a chronic disorder with periods of exacerbation, with a reported mean duration of illness of approximately 20 years.

There are two subtypes of social phobia: (i) generalized (discrete), which is suffered by approximately 50% of social phobia patients and in which fear and avoidance extend to a wide range of social situations, and (ii) non-generalized, in which the patient fears only one or a few circumscribed situations. Speaking in front of large groups is by far the most prevalent of social fears (Lang and Stein, 2001).

Social phobia has a lifetime comorbidity rate of approximately 81% with other psychiatric disorders (particularly affective disorders, other anxiety disorders, and substance abuse disorders), as well as to being associated with increased nonpsychiatric medical difficulties. People with social phobia identify social impairment, inadequate social support, overall role impairment, specific impairment in education, work, and other activities, as well as interference in their efforts at self-improvement. Unfortunately, for these patients, there is a strong consensus that social phobia is one of the least commonly recognized and treated mental disorders

Inclusion Criteria:

• Subject currently meets the Diagnosis of Social Phobia as defined in Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 4th Edition which is not secondary to another pre-existing psychiatric condition or to a medical condition.
• Liebowitz Social Anxiety Scale (LSAS) score greater than or equal to 60 at Screening.
• Score of 75 or greater on the SUD scale at one of the Performance Phase time points during either the Public Speaking or Social Interaction Challenge
• Written Informed Consent prior to commencing any study specific procedures.
• Women of child-bearing-potential must be able to commit to the consistent and correct use of an acceptable method of birth control throughout the study and have a negative serum pregnancy test result prior to study drug administration.

Exclusion Criteria:

• Use of any psychotropic medication within 30 days prior to study entry.
• Acute or chronic psychiatric disease which is the primary diagnosis (except Social Phobia) at the time of the study. Note that subjects with concurrent Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD) are allowed into the study provided this is not the primary diagnosis.
• Subjects with a history of psychiatric diseases such as schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, and psychosis are to be excluded.
• Presence of a clinical condition or disease, or use of a concomitant medication, that in the clinical judgment of the Investigator could place the patient at undue risk, interfere with study participation, or confound the results of the study.
• Use of substances of abuse within the year prior to study entry.
• Concomitant use of any over-the-counter, prescription product, or herbal preparation for treatment of the symptoms of social anxiety during the study and within 30 days prior to study entry and use of non-study anxiolytics such as benzodiazepines during the study and within 30 days prior to study entry.