Working in conjunction with the CSIRO, Anatara Lifesciences (ASX: ANR) has received ethics approval to apply their diet supplement 3FDC to a new area of medicine, seeking to evaluate the compound’s effects in adults with moderate anxiety, stress and depression.

3FDC is one of the constituents of Anatara’s flagship supplement (GaRP) intended for the treatment of irritable bowel syndrome. 3FDC is designed to exert its effects on the microbiome of the large intestine. The gut-brain axis is a complex communication system in our bodies. The quality of the gut microbiome is proven to have effects on the emotional and cognitive centres of the brain. The interaction between the gut and brain is a hot topic in scientific research, evidenced by the proliferation of experimental studies in recent years that have revolutionised medicine’s understanding of the links between these two systems. 

The randomised, double-blinded, placebo-controlled study will take place at CSIRO’s Nutrition and Health Research clinic in Adelaide. 100 participants will be dosed with placebo or 3FDC for 6 weeks. Anatara’s primary outcome is to see a clinically significant reduction in Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) scores. They will also utilise mood and well-being questionnaires, gut symptom ratings and blood plasma markers. 

Recruitment of participants and development of guidelines has commenced. Anatara hopes to dose the first participants in Q3 2021. 

Anatara has already had success with proof of concept studies for their treatments and has gained approval by the Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority (APVMA) for use of a natural, non antibiotic product to treat diarrhoea in livestock. 

Company CEO Steve Lydeamore emphasised the “major unmet need and significant market opportunity for an evidence- based complementary medicine for stress, anxiety and depression”. The study puts Anatara one step closer to filling the market gap. 

According to Beyond Blue, 1 in 4 Australians will experience an anxiety condition in their lifetime.