Marvel Biosciences Corp. and its wholly owned subsidiary, Marvel Biotechnology Inc. announced that in a pre-clinical test for anxiety, its lead drug candidate MB-204, a fluorinated derivative of Istradefylline, out-performed Istradefylline in a head-to-head pre- clinical and in depressive and anti-anxiety studies. Istradefylline is the only US FDA approved A2a receptor antagonist currently approved to treat Parkinson's disease.

Using the well-established elevated plus maze pre-clinical model for anxiety, and the same doses of MB-204 as compared to Istradefylline (7.5 mg/kg) resulted in: Longer times spent in the open arms, especially in the first minute, which indicates a larger anti-anxiety effect Engaged in more risky behaviour than Istradefylline, as measured by head dipping behaviours again suggesting less anxiety Did not trigger excessive locomotive activity whereas Istradefylline did promote excessive locomotive activity Promoted ultrasonic vocalizations (USVs), whereas Istradefylline did not evoke any USVs which is indicative of social communication.