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Updated: Jul 2, 2026

Transauricular Vagus Nerve Stimulation and Electroencephalographic Assessment in Disorders of Consciousness
Published on: July 11, 2025
CNS disorders--current treatment options and the prospects for advanced therapies
James C DiNunzio1, Robert O Williams
1Division of Pharmaceutics, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX 78712, USA. james.dinunzio@mail.utexas.edu
Abstract:
The development of new pharmaceutical products has successfully addressed a multitude of disease states; however, new product development for treating disorders of the central nervous system (CNS) has lagged behind other therapeutic areas. This is due to several factors including the complexity of the diseases and the lack of technologies for delivery through the blood-brain barrier (BBB). This article examines the current state of six major CNS disease states: depression, epilepsy, multiple sclerosis (MS), neurodegenerative diseases (specifically Alzheimer's disease [AD]), neuropathic pain, and schizophrenia. Discussion topics include analysis of the biological mechanisms underlying each disease, currently approved products, and available animal models for development of new therapeutic agents. Analysis of currently approved therapies shows that all products depend on the molecular properties of the drug or prodrug to penetrate the BBB. Novel technologies, capable of enhancing BBB permeation, are also discussed relative to improving CNS therapies for these disease states.
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