New pill shows promise for social anxiety in early trial
NCT ID NCT06693609
First seen Jun 27, 2026 · Last updated Jul 31, 2026 · Updated 1 time
Summary
This study tested a new oral drug called EMP-01 in 70 adults with social anxiety disorder. Participants received either EMP-01 or a placebo for a short time to see if the drug is safe and helps reduce anxiety in social situations. The main goal was to check for side effects, while also looking at whether symptoms improved over six weeks.
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Study facts
What this study's own registry entry says, in plain language.
- Phase
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Phase 2
Tests whether the treatment actually works, and watches for side effects, in a larger group.
- Participants
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70 people
The number who actually took part.
- Started
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May 2025
- Finished
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Dec 2025
- Lead sponsor
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A company
The lead sponsor is a pharmaceutical, biotech, or medical-device company.
Who can take part
This study's own entry requirements. Only the study team can say for certain whether you qualify.
- Ages
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18 to 65 years
- Sex
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Anyone
- Healthy volunteers
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Not accepted
This study is not open to healthy volunteers. The entry requirements below say who it is open to.
Show the full entry requirements Hide the full entry requirements
Copied word for word from the study's registry entry, so the wording is the study team's rather than ours.
Inclusion Criteria: Eligibility will be assessed at Screening and will be reconfirmed on Day -1 (Baseline) based on available information, before randomization on the following day (Day 1). Participants must meet all of the following criteria to be enrolled in this study: Age 1. Participants must be between 18 and 65 years of age, inclusive, at the time of signing the ICF. Disease Characteristics 2. Has a current diagnosis of SAD, as defined by the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition Text Revision (DSM-5-TR), which is not better attributable to another psychiatric condition or to a medical condition. The diagnosis will be confirmed by the Mini-International Neuropsychiatric Interview (MINI). 3. Clinician-administered LSAS total score ≥ 70 at Screening and Day -1. 4. Clinician Global Impressions - Severity (CGI-S) score ≥ 4 at Screening and Day-1. Weight 5. Body mass index (BMI) within the range 20-34 kg/m2 (inclusive) at Screening. 6. Able (in the investigator's opinion) to comprehend and be willing to sign an ICF, to abide by the study restrictions, and to attend all study visits. Exclusion Criteria: Participants who meet any of the following criteria will be excluded from this study: Medical Conditions 1. Has a current or prior DSM-5-TR diagnosis of a schizophrenia spectrum and other psychotic disorder, substance/medication-induced psychotic disorder, bipolar and related disorder, or any disorder with psychotic features (including MDD with psychotic features), as assessed by medical history and a structured clinical interview (MINI). 2. Has a current or prior DSM-5-TR diagnosis of a neurocognitive disorder, intellectual disorder, dissociative disorder, disruptive/impulse-control/conduct disorder, autism spectrum disorder (level 2 or 3), or cluster A and B personality disorder, as assessed by medical history and a structured clinical interview (MINI). Inclusion of individuals with a diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder level 1 may be considered at the discretion of the investigator if the participant no longer meets criteria for the condition and current functioning and/or subthreshold symptoms will not interfere with treatment or compliance in the study. 3. Has a current DMS-5-TR diagnosis of SAD performance only sub-type, PTSD, acute stress disorder, anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, or any other co-morbid psychiatric condition that dominates the clinical presentation and would interfere with experimental treatment. 4. Has a current DMS-5-TR disorder, other than SAD, which is the primary focus of treatment. Note that participants with concurrent GAD are eligible for the study, provided that GAD is not the primary diagnosis. Participants with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) are eligible for the study, provided that they do not require pharmacological treatment for the condition AND if ADHD is not the primary diagnosis. 5. Has severe current depression, as measured by a total score ≥ 16 on the QIDS-SR-16. 6. Has a history of moderate or severe alcohol or cannabis use disorder within 1 year before Screening. Has any severity (including mild) of other substance use disorder (drug) within 1 year before Screening, as confirmed by the MINI. 7. Has had suicidal ideation with some intent to act within 6 months before Screening or a history of suicidal behavior within the past 1 year before Screening.
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Conditions
The condition(s) this trial relates to.
As listed by the trial registrant
The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.
Contacts and locations
Locations
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MAC Clinical Research - Greater Manchester
Manchester, Greater Manchester, M13 9NQ, United Kingdom
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MAC Clinical Research - Lancashire
Blackpool, Lancashire, FY2 0JH, United Kingdom
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MAC Clinical Research - Merseyside
Liverpool, Merseyside, L34 1BH, United Kingdom
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MAC Clinical Research - South Staffordshire
Bridgetown, Cannock, Staffordshire, S75 3DL, United Kingdom
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MAC Clinical Research - South Yorkshire
Tankersley, South Yorkshire, S75 3DL, United Kingdom
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MAC Clinical Research - Teesside
Thornaby, Stockton-on-Tees, TS17 6EW, United Kingdom
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MAC Clinical Research Centre, West Yorkshire
Leeds, LS10 1DU, United Kingdom
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