PARAMUS, NEW JERSEY, August 28, 2024 – PsychoGenics, a leader in AI-enabled phenotypic drug discovery, has been awarded a Fast Track Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) grant by NIMH, worth up to $3 million over four years. This grant will support PsychoGenics in utilizing eCube®, its proprietary AI-enabled EEG platform, along with its advanced machine learning tools, to identify novel applications for existing drugs targeting rare diseases.
There are approximately 10,000 identified rare diseases affecting up to 400 million people worldwide, with more than 90% lacking any treatment options. Half of all rare disorders impact children, with 90% of these being neurological. PsychoGenics has numerous rare disease mouse models, which it will evaluate using its eCube® platform. The results will be used to predict possible treatments, which will then be tested in the models. By repurposing existing drugs, PsychoGenics aims to rapidly bring much-needed options to patients. Success in these efforts could pave the way for rapidly addressing many more rare diseases swiftly. The method can also be used to evaluate novel compounds, adding to its potential.
Emer Leahy, CEO of PsychoGenics, expressed her excitement about the new grant, stating, “We are honored to once again receive SBIR grant support from the NIH for this groundbreaking project. By leveraging our expertise in drug discovery and advanced machine learning techniques to find new applications for existing treatments in rare diseases, we expect to make a rapid, positive impact for patients with limited or no treatment options. If successful, this approach can be expanded to address even more rare diseases “
Daniela Brunner, CIO/CTO of PsychoGenics, echoed this sentiment, stating, “The SBIR program underscores the importance of public-private partnerships in driving innovation within the biotechnology sector. This grant is yet another example of how we can leverage our validated AI-enabled platforms to address critical unmet needs for patients suffering from severely disabling conditions. The funding from NIMH will enable PsychoGenics to develop this new platform for rare disorders, reinforcing our commitment to innovation and our goal of reducing the time and cost associated with traditional drug discovery methods, ultimately leading to the more efficient development of life-saving medications.”
About PsychoGenics:
PsychoGenics, a leading biotechnology company dedicated to revolutionizing drug discovery, has pioneered the translation of rodent behavioral and physiological responses into robust, high-throughput and high-content phenotyping. PsychoGenics’ drug discovery platforms SmartCube®, NeuroCube®, PhenoCube®, and eCube® have been used in shared-risk partnerships with major pharmaceutical companies, including Sunovion, Roche and Karuna, resulting in the discovery of several novel compounds now in advanced preclinical development and clinical trials. PsychoGenics’ capabilities also include standard behavioral testing, electrophysiology, translational EEG, molecular biology, microdialysis, and quantitative immunohistochemistry. In addition, the Company offers a variety mouse models to support research in areas such as Huntington’s disease, autism spectrum disorders, pain, psychosis/schizophrenia, depression, PTSD, Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, neuromuscular disorders and seizure disorders