Alcoholism Treatment: Ketamine Infusion Company Expands Services to Include Alcohol Addiction
Solvonis Therapeutics' SVN-002 Targets a Larger Market Than Johnson & Johnson's Spravato
Solvonis Therapeutics, a British biotech company, is making waves in the healthcare industry with its potential treatment for alcohol use disorder, SVN-002. This drug, which is being developed for the US market, could potentially address a much larger patient population and market size than Johnson & Johnson's Spravato, an esketamine nasal spray for treatment-resistant depression.
Spravato addresses about 2 million Americans with severe depression and generates over $1 billion in annual revenue. Analysts project a peak of up to $5 billion for this drug. In contrast, SVN-002 is being developed for moderate to severe Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD), a market encompassing an estimated 22 million Americans struggling significantly with alcohol addiction. This indicates SVN-002’s addressable patient population in the US is an order of magnitude larger than Spravato's.
SVN-002 uses esketamine, a compound closely related to the active ingredient in Spravato. Solvonis is pursuing the 505(b)(2) regulatory pathway, leveraging existing Spravato data to accelerate approval and potentially use the same reimbursement codes as Spravato, helping reduce cost and time to market. SVN-002 is preparing for a Phase 2b clinical trial in the US.
Clinical trial data for the related Solvonis compound showed patients had an 86% abstinence rate from alcohol for six months, compared to just 2% before treatment, indicating strong therapeutic potential. The company also plans for a “mixed-full” approval with up to 10 years of market exclusivity if successful. Given Spravato’s multi-billion-dollar revenue from a relatively small patient base, the much larger population for alcohol addiction suggests SVN-002 could address a larger revenue opportunity—potentially several billion dollars annually in the US alone if it captures significant market share.
Dennis Purcell, Solvonis' chair, has first-hand experience going toe-to-toe with big pharma, which could be crucial in negotiations. Early trial results for SVN-002 have been encouraging, with 50% fewer heavy drinking days for those given the treatment compared to a placebo. Large pharma companies may invest in follow-on studies and pour tens of millions of dollars into gaining regulatory sign-off at this point.
Solvonis' lead drug, SNV-001, is an experimental treatment for people with severe alcohol use disorder. It combines a carefully controlled dose of ketamine with cognitive behavioral therapy. Solvonis Therapeutics plans to seek a mixed-full approval in both the UK and EU for SNV-001. A recent research note by Singers suggests a 1.6p price target for Solvonis, potentially indicating that the company's share price of 0.37p may not reflect its true potential.
As Solvonis Therapeutics continues to make progress in its clinical trials, investors and big pharma companies alike are keeping a close eye on the company's developments. With a potentially much larger market and significant therapeutic potential, SVN-002 could be a game-changer in the treatment of alcohol use disorder.
[1] Source: Company reports and press releases [2] Source: ClinicalTrials.gov [5] Source: FierceBiotech
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- Solvonis Therapeutics' SVN-002, being developed for the treatment of moderate to severe Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD), has shown promising results in clinical trials, with potential revenue opportunities that could exceed those of Johnson & Johnson's Spravato.
- Given Spravato's multi-billion-dollar revenue from treating a relatively small patient base, the much larger population for alcohol addiction suggests SVN-002 could address potentially several billion dollars annually in the US alone, if it captures significant market share.
- In addition to SVN-002, Solvonis Therapeutics is also developing SNV-001, an experimental treatment for severe alcohol use disorder that combines a carefully controlled dose of ketamine with cognitive behavioral therapy, with potential applications in both the US, UK, and EU markets.
