But for the most part, the pharmaceutical industry has turned its head.
Smaller companies can better afford to develop drugs for mid-sized markets.
Smaller companies are also more likely to use NIDA's assistance in developing a drug, and are generally more willing to discuss their work in this area. For example, NIDA offers free preclinical testing of compounds, as well as cooperative research and development agreements and assistance with clinical trials. But even so, many companies pursue a drug for an addiction indication only if it has failed to show benefit for another affliction of the central nervous system representing a larger market. Vocci wishes it were otherwise, saying he would like to see companies with possible leads come to NIDA sooner, rather than waiting to see if they test well for other CNS indications. Companies could then have two possible uses for their drug, and sooner, he adds.