Medicine:List of investigational social anxiety disorder drugs

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This is a list of investigational social anxiety disorder drugs, or drugs that are currently under development for clinical use in the treatment of social anxiety disorder (SAD; or social phobia) but are not yet approved.

Chemical/generic names are listed first, with developmental code names, synonyms, and brand names in parentheses.

This list was last comprehensively updated in August 2024. It is likely to become outdated with time.

Under development

Phase 3

  • Fasedienol (Aloradine; AM-005; PH-94B; 4-androstadienol) – vomeropherine[1][2]
  • Soclenicant (BNC-210; IW-2143) – α7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptor negative allosteric modulator[3][4][5]
  • VQW-765 (VQW765; AQW051; AQW-051; JQH481R778) – α7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptor partial agonist [1]

Phase 2/3

Phase 2

  • Cannabidiol (CBD; ATL5; RLS103) – cannabinoid receptor modulator and other actions [8][9][10][11][12]
  • FKW00GA (FKW-00GA; TGW-00AA; TGW00AA) – serotonin 5-HT1A receptor partial agonist and serotonin 5-HT2A receptor antagonist[13][7]
  • JNJ-42165279 (JNJ-5279) – fatty acid amide hydrolase (FAAH) inhibitor[14][15][11][16][17]
  • (R)-Midomafetamine ((R)-MDMA; R-MDMA; EMP-01) – serotonin, norepinephrine, and dopamine releasing agent, weak serotonin 5-HT2A, 5-HT2B, 5-HT2C receptor agonist, entactogen, and weak psychedelic hallucinogen [18][19]
  • Non-racemic MDMA (ALA-002; 70–80% (R)-MDMA, 20–30% (S)-MDMA) – serotonin, norepinephrine, and dopamine releasing agent, weak serotonin 5-HT2A, 5-HT2B, 5-HT2C receptor agonist, entactogen, and weak psychedelic hallucinogen [20][21][22]
  • NTX-1472 (RO-6953958) – vasopressin V1A receptor antagonist[23][24]
  • ONO-1110 – endocannabinoid synthesis regulator and indirect cannabinoid receptor modulator [2] [3] [4]
  • Oxytocin (intranasal potentiated oxytocin; TI-001; TI-114; TNX-1900; TNX-2900) – oxytocin receptor agonist[25]
  • Vilazodone (Viibryd) – serotonin 5-HT1A receptor partial agonist and serotonin reuptake inhibitor[26]

Phase 1

Preclinical

  • Dimethyltryptamine (DMT) – non-selective serotonin receptor agonist and psychedelic hallucinogen[31]
  • EX-14280 – fatty acid amide hydrolase (FAAH) inhibitor [32]
  • EX-14663 – fatty acid amide hydrolase (FAAH) inhibitor [33]
  • PSYLO-3001 (Psylo-3001) – non-selective serotonin receptor agonist and psychedelic hallucinogen [34]

Phase unknown

  • Fluvoxamine extended-release – selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI)[35]
  • Venlafaxine controlled-release – serotonin–norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor (SNRI)[36]

Not under development

No development reported

  • Bupropion (Wellbutrin) – norepinephrine–dopamine reuptake inhibitor (NDRI) and nicotinic acetylcholine receptor negative allosteric modulator[37]
  • EX-597 (KDS-4103; ORG-231295; URB-597) – fatty acid amide hydrolase (FAAH) inhibitor[38][39]
  • Guanfacine extended-release (Connexyn; Intuniv; Intuniv XR; S-877503; SHP-503; SPD-503) – α2-adrenergic receptor agonist[40]

Development discontinued

  • AV-608 (CGP-60829; NK-608; NKP-608C; NKP608) – neurokinin NK1 receptor antagonist[41]
  • Tradipitant (LY-686017; VLY-686) – neurokinin NK1 receptor antagonist [42]
  • Verucerfont (GSK-561679; NBI-77860) – corticotropin-releasing hormone receptor 1 (CRF1) antagonist [43]

Formal development never or not yet started

Clinically used drugs

Approved drugs

Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs)

Serotonin–norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs)

  • Venlafaxine (Dobupal; Effexor; Effexor XR; Elafax) – serotonin–norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor[55][50]

Monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs)

Off-label drugs

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Fasedienol - Pherin Pharmaceuticals/VistaGen Therapeutics - AdisInsight". https://adisinsight.springer.com/drugs/800014893. 
  2. ↑ "Alleviating anxiety and taming trauma: Novel pharmacotherapeutics for anxiety disorders and posttraumatic stress disorder". Neuropharmacology 226. March 2023. doi:10.1016/j.neuropharm.2023.109418. PMID 36623804. 
  3. ↑ "BNC 210 - AdisInsight". https://adisinsight.springer.com/drugs/800030421. 
  4. ↑ "BNC210: an investigational α7-nicotinic acetylcholine receptor modulator for the treatment of anxiety disorders". Expert Opin Investig Drugs 32 (4): 277–282. April 2023. doi:10.1080/13543784.2023.2192922. PMID 36927202. 
  5. ↑ "Bionomics Starts Phase 3 Trial of BNC210 for Social Anxiety". 5 August 2024. https://synapse.patsnap.com/article/bionomics-starts-phase-3-trial-of-bnc210-for-social-anxiety. 
  6. ↑ "Riluzole sublingual - Biohaven Pharmaceuticals - AdisInsight". https://adisinsight.springer.com/drugs/800043098. 
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 "Novel pharmacological targets in drug development for the treatment of anxiety and anxiety-related disorders". Pharmacol Ther 204. December 2019. doi:10.1016/j.pharmthera.2019.107402. PMID 31470029. 
  8. ↑ "Cannabidiol - ANANDA Scientific - AdisInsight". https://adisinsight.springer.com/drugs/800045903. 
  9. ↑ "Phase III clinical trial of Cannabidiol - AdisInsight". https://adisinsight.springer.com/trials/700371816. 
  10. ↑ 10.0 10.1 "Therapeutic strategies for social anxiety disorder: where are we now?". Expert Rev Neurother 19 (12): 1179–1189. December 2019. doi:10.1080/14737175.2019.1666713. PMID 31502896. 
  11. ↑ 11.0 11.1 11.2 "The endocannabinoid system in social anxiety disorder: from pathophysiology to novel therapeutics". Braz J Psychiatry 44 (1): 81–93. 2022. doi:10.1590/1516-4446-2021-1926. PMID 34468550. "The role of the ECS specifically in social anxiety is supported by various preclinical findings which demonstrate effects of ECS modulation, via either CB1 receptor activation or FAAH inhibition, on social interaction and social anxiety.113-118 In comparison, clinical studies investigating this system in SAD are considerably limited. A recent clinical trial investigating the therapeutic effects of a FAAH inhibitor in SAD was negative. However, the authors observed a small to modest anxiolytic effect in patients with severe SAD and suggested that, based on the correlation between low trough concentrations of the inhibitor (i.e., the lowest concentration of the drug in the bloodstream) and low plasma AEA, future trials with a higher dose of the inhibitor may be warranted.119 In addition, a recently published double-blind, placebocontrolled experimental study in healthy adults found that administration of the FAAH inhibitor PF-04457845 produced a 10-fold increase in peripheral AEA levels and decreased broad-spectrum fear-related phenotypes.120 Furthermore, a 2021 double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial in healthy males employing the FAAH inhibitor JNJ-42165279 found that the drug attenuated activation in the amygdala, anterior cingulate, and bilateral insula during a face emotion processing task – effects which are consistent with those of previously observed anxiolytic agents.121 Moreover, higher levels of plasma AEA were associated with greater attenuation in these brain regions.121". 
  12. ↑ 12.0 12.1 "Systematic literature review of human studies assessing the efficacy of cannabidiol for social anxiety". Psychiatry Res Commun 2 (4). December 2022. doi:10.1016/j.psycom.2022.100074. PMID 36875967. 
  13. ↑ "FKW 00GA - AdisInsight". https://adisinsight.springer.com/drugs/800029565. 
  14. ↑ "JNJ 42165279 - AdisInsight". https://adisinsight.springer.com/drugs/800036911. 
  15. ↑ "Goods and Bads of the Endocannabinoid System as a Therapeutic Target: Lessons Learned after 30 Years". Pharmacol Rev 75 (5): 885–958. September 2023. doi:10.1124/pharmrev.122.000600. PMID 37164640. "For instance, Paulus and coworkers found that JNJ-42165279 (100 mg) dampens amygdala activity during an emotion face-processing task, an effect that is associated positively with plasma AEA concentrations (Paulus et al., 2021). A lower dose of the drug (25 mg) was tested in a multicenter, placebo-controlled phase 2 trial in patients with social anxiety disorder. The study reported statistically detectable signs of efficacy, but the dosage was considered insufficient to fully inhibit FAAH (Schmidt et al., 2021).". 
  16. ↑ "The effects of inhibition of fatty acid amide hydrolase (FAAH) by JNJ-42165279 in social anxiety disorder: a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled proof-of-concept study". Neuropsychopharmacology 46 (5): 1004–1010. April 2021. doi:10.1038/s41386-020-00888-1. PMID 33070154. 
  17. ↑ "The effects of FAAH inhibition on the neural basis of anxiety-related processing in healthy male subjects: a randomized clinical trial". Neuropsychopharmacology 46 (5): 1011–1019. April 2021. doi:10.1038/s41386-020-00936-w. PMID 33335310. 
  18. ↑ "EMP 01 - AdisInsight". https://adisinsight.springer.com/drugs/800062506. 
  19. ↑ "Delving into the Latest Updates on EMP-01 with Synapse". 1 November 2024. https://synapse.patsnap.com/drug/90a996ec5ed140e18563b30133bd26c6. 
  20. ↑ Name, Drug (13 August 2024). "ALA 002". https://adisinsight.springer.com/drugs/800070800. 
  21. ↑ 21.0 21.1 Michael Haichin (2024). "Psychedelics Drug Development Tracker". https://psychedelicalpha.com/data/psychedelic-drug-development-tracker. 
  22. ↑ "Patent Allowance Granted for ALA-002 Composition by US Patent and Trademark OfficeNovel Composition of MDMA Enantiomers leading to next-generation MDMA possibilities". 27 March 2024. https://www.biospace.com/patent-allowance-granted-for-ala-002-composition-by-us-patent-and-trademark-officenovel-composition-of-mdma-enantiomers-leading-to-next-generation-mdma-possibilities. 
  23. ↑ "RO 6953958". 9 January 2026. https://adisinsight.springer.com/drugs/800059556. 
  24. ↑ "A New Dawn for Social Anxiety Treatment: Clinical Advancement of the Novel V1aR Antagonist, NTX-1472". American Society of Clinical Psychopharmacology (ASCP), 2026 Annual Meeting. May 2026. https://newleos.com/wp-content/uploads/ASCP-poster.pdf.  Slides
  25. ↑ "Oxytocin - Tonix Pharmaceuticals - AdisInsight". https://adisinsight.springer.com/drugs/800031615. 
  26. ↑ "Vilazodone - AbbVie - AdisInsight". https://adisinsight.springer.com/drugs/800008976. 
  27. ↑ "SENS 01". 28 October 2024. https://adisinsight.springer.com/drugs/800072348. 
  28. ↑ "Delving into the Latest Updates on SENS-01 with Synapse". 23 January 2025. https://synapse.patsnap.com/drug/1f5d85f8dd5c4efc9a265e988bfe7187. 
  29. ↑ "Platform". 5 February 2025. https://www.sensorium.bio/sensorium-science. 
  30. ↑ Cross, Ryan (19 August 2025). "Exclusive: Sensorium raises $25M to test succulent-derived drug for anxiety". https://endpoints.news/sensorium-raises-25m-for-clinical-tests-of-succulent-derived-drug-for-anxiety/. "The company zeroed in on a molecule derived from a South African succulent known to scientists as Sceletium tortuosum and commonly referred to as kanna. [...] the company's drug "was inspired by a unique natural product found among the diverse molecules," but did not confirm if it came from mesembrine. Chewing kanna is linked to rapid calming action within 30 to 60 minutes, [...] Other researchers have previously shown that kanna inhibits the serotonin transporter, an important protein that moves serotonin in and out of the junctions between brain cells. Antidepressants called selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) also block the serotonin transporter, but typically take four to six weeks for their effects to kick in, creating a puzzle about why the succulent compound worked so quickly. "We were convinced, quite frankly, that it must be hitting some target that we don't know about," Hooker said. "And we went deep. We looked at many hundreds, if not a thousand or more targets." It turned out that the molecule was binding to the serotonin transporter — a bit of a disappointment at first, given the startup's novel mechanism mandate. However, while SSRIs directly block the ability of serotonin to bind to the transporter, Hooker said he was surprised to find that Sensorium's compound binds to a different site on the protein that doesn't compete with serotonin binding. Hooker is writing a paper to describe the mechanism in more detail. The company is also still trying to figure out exactly why touching the transporter differently has such a seemingly rapid action. Early work suggests it is rooted in downstream signaling proteins called kinases that "fundamentally tune the circuit differently," he said. [...] Sensorium has created hundreds of derivatives of the natural molecule to make a version dubbed SNTX-2643, which can be taken orally once a day. Hooker hopes it will provide an alternative to anxiety medications, including SSRIs and benzodiazepines. Hooker declined to say when the Phase 1 study would wrap up." 
  31. ↑ "N N dimethyltryptamine - Psilera - AdisInsight". https://adisinsight.springer.com/drugs/800067754. 
  32. ↑ "EX 14280". 24 July 2025. https://adisinsight.springer.com/drugs/800083129. 
  33. ↑ "EX 14663". 24 July 2025. https://adisinsight.springer.com/drugs/800083130. 
  34. ↑ "PSYLO 3001 - AdisInsight". https://adisinsight.springer.com/drugs/800074516. 
  35. ↑ "Fluvoxamine extended release - Beijing CoSci Med Tech - AdisInsight". https://adisinsight.springer.com/drugs/800046687. 
  36. ↑ "Venlafaxine controlled release - Beijing CoSci Med Tech - AdisInsight". https://adisinsight.springer.com/drugs/800046559. 
  37. ↑ "Bupropion - Biovail Corporation - AdisInsight". https://adisinsight.springer.com/drugs/800012267. 
  38. ↑ "EX 597 - AdisInsight". https://adisinsight.springer.com/drugs/800022923. 
  39. ↑ "Anxiolytic effects of endocannabinoid enhancing compounds: A systematic review and meta-analysis". Eur Neuropsychopharmacol 72: 79–94. July 2023. doi:10.1016/j.euroneuro.2023.04.001. PMID 37094409. 
  40. ↑ "Guanfacine extended release - Takeda - AdisInsight". https://adisinsight.springer.com/drugs/800011997. 
  41. ↑ "AV 608 - AdisInsight". https://adisinsight.springer.com/drugs/800012601. 
  42. ↑ "Tradipitant - Vanda Pharmaceuticals - AdisInsight". https://adisinsight.springer.com/drugs/800028927. 
  43. ↑ "Verucerfont - GlaxoSmithKline - AdisInsight". https://adisinsight.springer.com/drugs/800025784. 
  44. ↑ "The Current Status of Drug Discovery for the Oxytocin Receptor". Oxytocin. Methods Mol Biol. 2384. 2022. pp. 153–174. doi:10.1007/978-1-0716-1759-5_10. ISBN 978-1-0716-1758-8. 
  45. ↑ "LIT-001, the First Nonpeptide Oxytocin Receptor Agonist that Improves Social Interaction in a Mouse Model of Autism". Journal of Medicinal Chemistry 61 (19): 8670–8692. October 2018. doi:10.1021/acs.jmedchem.8b00697. PMID 30199637. https://hal.science/hal-02366272/file/acs.jmedchem.8b00697.pdf. 
  46. ↑ "LIT-002, a highly potent and selective nonpeptide oxytocin receptor agonist that improves social interaction in mouse models of autism". SSRN Electronic Journal. April 2026. doi:10.2139/ssrn.6624262. 
  47. ↑ A Helping Hand / The Love Drug That Could Draw People Away From Any Addiction. 31 January 2018. doi:10.1016/S0262-4079(18)30221-5. https://www.newscientist.com/article/mg23731630-500-the-love-drug-that-could-draw-people-away-from-any-addiction/. 
  48. ↑ "Developing Novel ALOX15 Inhibitors for Dementia and Pain, High-Need CNS Indications". Sachs Associates 9th Annual Neuroscience Innovation Forum for Business Development, Licensing & Investment, 11th January 2026, Marines' Memorial Club, San Francisco, USA. 11 January 2026. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bOqOipQDjHg. 
  49. ↑ "Escitalopram - Lundbeck A/S - AdisInsight". https://adisinsight.springer.com/drugs/800013914. 
  50. ↑ 50.0 50.1 50.2 50.3 50.4 "Pharmacotherapy for social anxiety disorder: a systematic review". Expert Rev Neurother 8 (2): 235–257. February 2008. doi:10.1586/14737175.8.2.235. PMID 18271710. "The SNRI venlafaxine has also been shown to be safe, well- tolerated and more effective than placebo in the short-term treatment of generalized SAD. Paroxetine, sertraline and venla- faxine are currently the only US FDA approved medications for treating SAD, with escitalopram and moclobemide also licensed for use in Europe. MAOIs, in the form of phenelzine, and certain benzodiazepines are also effective in SAD, but in view of concerns about ease of administration (e.g., MAOIs require dietary and medication restrictions) and side effects (e.g., benzodiazepines are associated with cognitive adverse events and require slow withdrawal), its seems reasonable to view these as second-line agents.". 
  51. ↑ "Fluvoxamine - AdisInsight". https://adisinsight.springer.com/drugs/800026775. 
  52. ↑ "Paroxetine - Novo Nordisk - AdisInsight". https://adisinsight.springer.com/drugs/800006148. 
  53. ↑ "Paroxetine hydrochloride - Italfarmaco - AdisInsight". https://adisinsight.springer.com/drugs/800034798. 
  54. ↑ "Sertraline - Pfizer - AdisInsight". https://adisinsight.springer.com/drugs/800006147. 
  55. ↑ "Venlafaxine - Pfizer - AdisInsight". https://adisinsight.springer.com/drugs/800000568. 
  56. ↑ "History and therapeutic use of MAO-A inhibitors: a historical perspective of MAO-A inhibitors as antidepressant drug". Curr Top Med Chem 12 (20): 2275–2282. 2012. doi:10.2174/156802612805220011. PMID 23231399. "Moclobemide, approved in Europe for the treatment of social phobia/social anxiety disorder, and other reversible inhibitors of MAO-A arise as a promising family of drugs for the treatment of these disorders.". 
  57. ↑ "Self-medication in social phobia: a review of the alcohol literature". Addict Behav 28 (2): 269–284. March 2003. doi:10.1016/s0306-4603(01)00235-0. PMID 12573678. 
  58. ↑ 58.00 58.01 58.02 58.03 58.04 58.05 58.06 58.07 58.08 58.09 "New frontiers in the pharmacological treatment of social anxiety disorder in adults: an up-to-date comprehensive overview". Expert Opin Pharmacother 24 (2): 207–219. February 2023. doi:10.1080/14656566.2022.2159373. PMID 36519357. 
  59. ↑ 59.0 59.1 59.2 59.3 59.4 59.5 "Social anxiety disorder: current treatment recommendations". CNS Drugs 19 (5): 377–391. 2005. doi:10.2165/00023210-200519050-00002. PMID 15907150. 
  60. ↑ "Social phobia: diagnosis and epidemiology, neurobiology and pharmacology, comorbidity and treatment". J Affect Disord 60 (1): 61–74. October 2000. doi:10.1016/s0165-0327(99)00140-8. PMID 10940449. https://tud.qucosa.de/api/qucosa%3A26872/attachment/ATT-0/. 
  61. ↑ "Non-Antidepressant Treatment of Social Anxiety Disorder: A Review". Curr Clin Pharmacol 10 (2): 126–130. 2015. doi:10.2174/15748847113089990059. PMID 23438729. 
  62. ↑ "Subjective, behavioral and neurobiological effects of cannabis and cannabinoids in social anxiety". Rev Neurosci 35 (2): 197–211. February 2024. doi:10.1515/revneuro-2023-0078. PMID 37812748. 
  63. ↑ "Pharmacological treatment of attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder comorbid with an anxiety disorder: a systematic review". Int Clin Psychopharmacol 34 (2): 57–64. March 2019. doi:10.1097/YIC.0000000000000243. PMID 30422834. "In a retrospective analysis of a case series, the monotherapy with extended-release methylphenidate was seen to be effective in reducing ADHD and social AD symptoms evaluated by the Adult ADHD Self-Report Scale (ASRS) and Liebowitz Social Anxiety Scale (LSAS) (Koyuncu et al., 2017).". 
  64. ↑ "Comorbidity in social anxiety disorder: diagnostic and therapeutic challenges". Drugs Context 8. 2019. doi:10.7573/dic.212573. PMID 30988687. "Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), another childhood disorder that extends over adulthood, is an overlooked condition that has high rates of comorbidity with SAD.31 Only recently increasing evidence suggests that the relationship between the two disorders is closer than that was thought before. Several studies found high rates (up to 60–70%) of childhood ADHD comorbidity, especially predominantly inattentive type, in adults with SAD.67,157,158 In addition, follow-up studies showed that the lifetime prevalence of SAD among ADHD patients is higher compared to healthy controls.159 In treatment studies investigating patients with SAD plus ADHD comorbidity found that ADHD medications such as methylphenidate or atomoxetine could effectively improve symptoms of both disorders at the same time.160–163 According to a developmental hypothesis, SAD may be etiologically linked to ADHD in a subgroup of patients, and thus SAD may develop secondary to ADHD.31". 
  65. ↑ "Antidepressants for social anxiety disorder: A systematic review and meta-analysis". Neuropsychopharmacol Rep 42 (4): 398–409. December 2022. doi:10.1002/npr2.12275. PMID 35848723. 

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