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.
MAO-B 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 MAO-B 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 | Company | Approved | Indications |
|---|---|---|---|
| RASAGILINE MESYLATE | TORRENT | 2013 | 1 |
| SAFINAMIDE MESYLATE | PHARMAZONE | 2023 | 1 |
| ZELAPAR | BAUSCH | 2006 | 1 |
MAO-B 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.
MAO-B Clinical Trials 43 trials
Phase 1-4 trials started in 2008 or later that test an FDA-approved drug acting on MAO-B. Source: ClinicalTrials.gov. How we count
Completion by Phase
| Phase | Total | Completed | Stopped | Active | Completion |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Phase 1 | 5 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 100% |
| Phase 2 | 13 | 10 | 3 | 0 | 77% |
| Phase 3 | 10 | 6 | 3 | 1 | 67% |
| Phase 4 | 15 | 11 | 4 | 0 | 73% |
Top Sponsors
By Modality
Top Conditions
MAO-B 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.
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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
- • Sponsors: 31 (9 companies)
- • Completion rates by condition
Full summary • All drugs • Genetic evidence • Trials • Timeline
How We Count Trials
- Trials: phase 1-4 interventional trials on ClinicalTrials.gov that started in 2008 or later and test an FDA-approved drug acting on MAO-B. A trial counts if an approved drug acting on MAO-B is in any arm, including as a comparator, and a trial that tests two such drugs counts once. Trials that test only unapproved drugs are not counted. A trial listed as phase 1/2 counts as phase 1, and phase 2/3 as phase 2.
- Active: recruiting, not yet recruiting, enrolling by invitation, or active and no longer recruiting.
- Completion rate: of the trials that have ended, the share marked Completed rather than Terminated or Withdrawn. Completed means the trial ended as planned; it does not mean the drug worked. Suspended trials are not counted as ended.
- Stopped: terminated or withdrawn. Trials stop for many reasons, including slow enrolment and business decisions, not only safety or efficacy.
- Sponsors: the lead sponsor of each trial. Companies are the sponsors ClinicalTrials.gov classes as industry; the rest are universities, hospitals, cooperative groups, government bodies and individuals.