Luke Grants speaks to Hugh Alsop, CEO of Kinoxis Therapeutics Pty Ltd, which has just been awarded a grant for a potential of up to $6.8 million under the USA National Institutes of Health Helping to End Addiction Long-Term.

 

The primary target of Kinoxis is the brain oxytocin system, which receives considerable interest for its role in the regulation of social behaviour and inhibitory effects on addictive behaviours.

 

Out of 375 funding grants awarded under the HEAL Initiative, Kinoxis Therapeutics’ grant is the only one received outside North America.

 

Opioid overdose is the number one cause of preventable deaths in the USA, killing more people than motor vehicle accidents. In Australia, opioids accounted for just over three deaths a day in 2018 and were linked to more than half of the drug induced deaths across the country.