MAO-B Inhibitors
6 drugsAbout MAO-B
Monoamine oxidase B (MAO-B) is an enzyme that degrades monoamine neurotransmitters, especially dopamine, in the brain. It is a key regulator of dopamine levels within the central nervous system (CNS).
MAO-B is a therapeutic target with moderate genetic support, including associations with internet addiction disorder (score 0.42). Inhibiting MAO-B can elevate dopamine levels, offering potential benefits for related conditions.
Six FDA-approved drugs target MAO-B, including TAUVID, RASAGILINE MESYLATE, ZELAPAR, and SAFINAMIDE MESYLATE, all of which are small molecules. These drugs are used to treat CNS disorders.
Strategic Insights
ℹ️ How we calculate- White space opportunity in Idiopathic Parkinson's Disease (at Later Stage) with only 1 trials.
- phase3 represents biological uncertainty with 50% completion.
Human Genetic Evidence Moderate
MAOB has moderate genetic support with a max score of 0.42 linked to internet addiction disorder.
Further research into the genetic associations of MAOB could reveal novel therapeutic opportunities.
Evidence Across Diseases
6 totalGWAS and other genetic studies link MAOB to 6 diseases.
Understanding these scores
Association Score (0-1): Combines all evidence types (genetic, literature, drugs, animal models). Higher = more evidence linking target to disease. This is a ranking heuristic, not a confidence score.
L2G Score: Open Targets uses a machine learning model (Locus-to-Gene) to predict which gene is causal at each GWAS locus. L2G=0.5 means ~50% probability of being the causal gene. Only associations with L2G > 0.05 are included.
Odds Ratio (OR): From gene burden studies (UK Biobank, AstraZeneca PheWAS). Measures how loss-of-function variants affect disease risk. OR<1 = protective (inhibiting target may help), OR>1 = risk (losing function causes disease).
Beta (β): Effect size for continuous traits. β<0 = protective, β>0 = risk.
Clinical Translation (~1.8x): Based on Nelson et al. 2015: drug targets with genetic evidence have ~2x higher success rates in clinical trials. We estimate: Strong support (score ≥0.7) → ~1.8x, Moderate (0.3-0.7) → ~1.3x, Weak → baseline.
Colocalization (H4): Tests whether a GWAS signal and an eQTL/pQTL signal share the same causal variant. H4 is the posterior probability that both traits are associated AND share a causal variant. H4 > 0.8 = strong evidence that gene expression/protein levels drive disease risk. This links genetic variation → gene expression → disease, supporting the target-disease connection.
Top Drugs
Six companies have approved drugs targeting MAO-B, including ORBION PHARMS, AVID RADIOPHARMS INC, and Teva.
The presence of multiple players suggests a competitive market, requiring strong differentiation for new entrants.
Drug Modality Landscape
Modalities
Routes of Administration
MAO-B is amenable to small molecule drugs, with oral options available for convenient dosing.
Exploring alternative modalities like antibodies or biologics could provide a competitive advantage.
Clinical Trials 104 trials
Completion by Phase
| Phase | Total | Completed | Failed | Active | Completion |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Phase 1 | 24 | 22 | 1 | 1 | 96% |
| Phase 2 | 34 | 24 | 6 | 4 | 80% |
| Phase 3 | 24 | 16 | 6 | 2 | 73% |
| Phase 4 | 22 | 16 | 6 | 0 | 73% |
Top Sponsors
By Modality
Top Conditions
Drug Approval Timeline (2006 - 2023)
The first MAO-B targeting drug was approved in 2006, with the most recent approval in 2023.
The continued approval of MAO-B inhibitors suggests ongoing interest and potential for further development.
Pro Intelligence Preview
Deep insights for drug target analysis
Competitive Landscape
- • 6 companies competing
- • Market share by company
Full Drug Portfolio
- • All 6 approved drugs
- • Approval dates & indications
Genetic Validation
- • Full genetic evidence table
- • Effect sizes & directions
Approval Timeline
- • Full 6-drug timeline
- • First-of-modality markers
Clinical Trials Analysis
- • Competition: High (15 sponsors)
- • White space: 10 underexplored indications
- • Success rates by condition
Full summary • All drugs • Genetic evidence • Trials • Timeline
How We Calculate These Metrics
Target Attractiveness Score
A 0-100 score based on trial activity, sponsor diversity, and completion rates. Calculated from 41 clinical trials targeting MAO-B.
Completion rate: Percentage of trials that reached their planned endpoint. Trials terminated early, withdrawn, or suspended are not counted—these often indicate safety issues, lack of efficacy, or strategic pivots.
- Highly Attractive (80+): High trial activity, many sponsors, strong completion rates
- Attractive (60-79): Good trial activity and validation
- Moderate (40-59): Moderate interest from sponsors
- Low (under 40): Limited trial activity or validation concerns
Strategic Insights
Auto-generated insights based on trial analytics including competition intensity, white space opportunities, modality shifts, and failure patterns. We analyze trial sponsors, phases, indications, and outcomes.
Risk Signals
- High Competition: Many sponsors competing for this target (may reduce market opportunity)
- High Failure Risk: Low trial completion rates suggest development challenges
- Low Validation: Limited trial activity or poor outcomes indicate uncertain viability
- White Space Available: Underexplored indications present opportunities