Vistagen, a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company based in South San Francisco, California, has presented compelling new data on social anxiety disorder (SAD) at the 2025 Anxiety and Depression Association of America (ADAA) Conference in Las Vegas, Nevada. The findings, detailed in poster presentations, underscore the growing prevalence of SAD, particularly among young adults, and highlight the urgent need for improved diagnosis and new treatment options. The research builds on epidemiology data presented by Vistagen at the 2024 Neuroscience Education Institute (NEI) Congress, drawing from the 2023 National Health and Wellness Survey (NHWS) with over 75,000 US respondents.
“This new research provides a clearer and more comprehensive picture of social anxiety disorder, shining light on its rising prevalence and significant impact on young adults,” said Ross Baker, PhD, MBA, vice president, Medical Strategy at Vistagen and a co-author of the research. “Existing therapies remain limited, and these findings reinforce the urgent need for new treatment options. The new research also highlights the critical role of timely diagnosis to improve patient outcomes.”
The data reveal that SAD affects nearly 31 million adults in the U.S., with prevalence increasing over time, particularly among those aged 18 to 22. Despite this rise, diagnosis rates have not kept pace, and treatment rates have declined. The findings also point to severe mental health challenges among those with SAD, with over one in five U.S. adults surveyed reporting suicidal ideation on more than half the days in the past two weeks. Additionally, more than three-quarters of those experiencing SAD reported mild to severe depression, alongside poorer mental health quality of life compared to the general population.
Key insights from the research
- The prevalence of SAD among young adults has surged, yet the proportion receiving treatment has decreased.
- Nearly half (48.1%) of young adults with SAD reported suicidal ideation on at least several days in the past two weeks, compared to 31.6% of those without SAD.
- Young adults with SAD face economic challenges, including lower rates of full-time employment, higher rates of household incomes below $50,000, and greater impairment in productivity and activity.
- Approximately 30% of participants in Vistagen’s PALISADE Phase 3 studies of fasedienol nasal spray reported SAD onset at age 10 or younger, with an average delay of 27 years before receiving treatment.
The research also examined the age of onset in Vistagen’s fasedienol Phase 3 programme, a novel intranasal therapy targeting nose-to-brain neurocircuitry. For those with early-onset SAD (age 10 or younger), the average time to first treatment was 27 years, compared to 18 years for those with onset in adolescence or adulthood. Baseline severity, psychiatric histories, and treatment histories were similar across both groups, though early-onset individuals reported higher rates of alcohol or drug use.
Recommendations from the findings
- Promoting timely diagnosis and treatment to improve physical and mental health outcomes and work productivity
- Developing new treatments, as current options for SAD are limited
- Providing social support and coping mechanisms for young adults with SAD
- Enhancing consumer education to encourage discussions with healthcare providers about SAD severity
Vistagen’s work highlights the critical need for innovative therapies like fasedienol, which selectively activates olfactory bulb-to-brain neurocircuits without requiring absorption into the bloodstream. The company’s broader pipeline also includes an oral prodrug targeting neurological conditions involving the NMDA receptor. The posters presented at the ADAA and NEI conferences are available on Vistagen’s website, offering further details on this pressing public health issue.
