Introduction
Neuropharmacology is the study of both the treatment of curing sick people and improving their moods for the better. Hence, it applies to everything from drugs prescribed to help the sick to the latest "smart drugs".
As introduced in 10 Technologies Representing Neurotech ~ First Half ~, the field of neuropharmacology is broadly divided into two categories: molecular neuropharmacology and behavioral neuropharmacology. The development of new drugs takes a great deal of time and money, but nevertheless, the investment is made because the benefits are just as great.
According to a report by Neurotech Analytics, the majority of the Neurotech market is dominated by companies that apply Neuropharmacology technology. In this article, we would like to highlight five of the companies that are growing in size and taking unique approaches.
1. Sage Therapeutics
Sage Therapeutics is a company that is developing new drugs that could change the lives of people with brain health disorders. Its lead product is ZULRESSO, the only drug certified by the US FDA for the treatment of postpartum depression.
Video: Sage Therapeutics introduction
The company has been working with the neurotransmitter system GABA and NMDA receptors.
These two neurotransmitter systems are said to play a major role in the regulation of central nervous system functions and they are working on the treatment of various neurological disorders such as dementia, epilepsy, essential tremor, and Parkinson's disease, in addition to depression, using their own developmental approach.
| Industry | Biotechnology, Health Care |
| Headquarters | Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States |
| Founded Date | 2010 |
| Employees | 501-1000 |
| Funding Status | IPO |
| Total Funding | $1.1B |
| Investors | 6 |
| Estimated Revenue | $50M - $100M |
2. AZTherapies
AZTherapies is an advanced clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company developing new therapies that are aimed at improving the quality of life of the elderly.
Video: AZTherapies introduction
The founder, David R. Elmaleh, Ph.D, is a scientist, inventor, and serial entrepreneur who has over 130 publications and 120 patents related to pharmaceuticals and imaging agents and has created six therapies valued at more than $1 billion.
The company's pipeline is currently developing drugs for early Alzheimer's disease, ALS, and ischemic stroke. These neurodegenerative diseases have not yet developed effective treatment options, and the company is attracting worldwide attention.
| Industry | Biotechnology, Health Care |
| Headquarters | Boston, Massachusetts, United States |
| Founded Date | 2011 |
| Employees | 11-50 |
| Funding Status | Series C |
| Total Funding | $99.8M |
| Investors | 5 |
3. Intra-cellular Therapies
Intra-Cellular Therapies is a biopharmaceutical company founded on Dr. Paul Greengard’s Nobel Prize-winning research that uncovered how therapies affect the inner-working of cells in the body. Using this intracellular approach, the company provides transformative therapies for people with complex mental and neurological disorders.
Video: Intra-Cellular Therapies Introduction
| Technology | Small Molecules |
| Industry | PharmTech |
| Headquarters | New York, New York, United States |
| Founded Date | 2002 |
| Employees | 51-100 |
| Funding Status | IPO |
| Total Funding | $225.3M |
| Investors | 2 |
| Estimated Revenue | $1M - $10M |
4. BlackThornx Therapeutics
BlackThorn Therapeutics is a computational science company that develops proprietary therapies focused on neurobehavioral disorders. The company has pioneered the development of a computational psychiatry platform to drive a robust pipeline of novel therapeutics. The company uses a data-driven approach to solve patient selection problems and create treatments that improve patient outcomes.
The company's approach to drug development is to use new tools and digital markers to identify the dysregulated brain circuits that cause neurological disorders. By capturing neurobehavioral disorders in this new way, more successful targeted therapies are being realized.
| Technology | Genetic Test & Molecular Diagnostics |
| Industry | End-to-end Drug Development |
| Headquarters | San Francisco, California, United States |
| Founded Date | 2015 |
| Employees | 11-50 |
| Funding Status | Series B |
| Total Funding | $138 M |
| Investors | 14 |
| Estimated Revenue | $1M - $10M |
5. Biohaven Pharmaceutical
Biohaven Pharmaceutical is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company with proven leadership in industry and academic settings. Their portfolio is comprised of innovative, late-stage product candidates targeting neurological and neuropsychiatric diseases, including rare disorders.
The company is backed by an entrepreneurial organizational structure and an impressive breadth of experience in drug development, in addition to the support of top-tier biopharmaceutical investors. The company also has a strategy of combining licensed intellectual property with internal development and research, working with companies and institutions such as AstraZeneca AB, Yale University, and Massachusetts General Hospital.
Video:Biohaven Pharmaceutical Introduction
The momentum is unstoppable and since the IPO in 2017, multiple therapeutic platforms have been rapidly developed and multiple clinical trials are underway. Nurtec™ODT received FDA approval in February 2020 and is the only orally disintegrating CGRP antagonist for the acute treatment of migraine.
| Industry | Biotechnology, Health Care |
| Headquarters | New Haven, Connecticut, United States |
| Founded Date | 2013 |
| Employees | 501-1000 |
| Funding Status | IPO |
| Total Funding | $443.7M |
| Investors | 12 |
| Estimated Revenue | $10M - $50M |
| Employees Number | 501-1000 |
Conclusion
In this article, we introduced companies that utilize Neuropharmacology technology.
While there are many companies that develop new drugs, each of them offers new drugs for patients with different diseases, and there are also many unique companies that combine technology, such as BlackThorn Therapeutics, which uses data analysis technology to develop new drugs.
Their research and efforts may make it possible to treat diseases that have been said to be difficult to treat with drugs in the future.
