Tonix Pharmaceuticals Initiates First-in-Human Study of Intranasal Oxytocin for Rare Endocrine Disorder
- Tonix Pharmaceuticals has dosed the first patient in the FOCUS study, evaluating intranasal potentiated oxytocin products TNX-1900 and TNX-2900 for arginine-vasopressin deficiency (AVP-D), a rare endocrine disorder formerly known as central diabetes insipidus.
- The randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled crossover pilot study at Massachusetts General Hospital will assess single-dose treatments at 6 IU and 24 IU on markers of anxiety, depression, and socioemotional functioning in AVP-D patients.
- AVP-D patients often experience mental health and quality-of-life challenges not adequately addressed by current interventions, with the condition associated with oxytocin deficiency and adverse mental health outcomes.
- The study aims to generate preliminary data to inform future larger-scale clinical trials of oxytocin replacement therapy for this patient population.
Massachusetts General Hospital
Posted 7/28/2021
Elizabeth Austen Lawson
Posted 8/1/2023
Massachusetts General Hospital
Posted 3/7/2023
Elizabeth Austen Lawson
Posted 9/10/2025
