PsychoGenics

PsychoGenics is a preclinical contract research organization (CRO) specializing in central nervous system (CNS) and orphan disorders. The company provides validated disease models and comprehensive preclinical capabilities to support the discovery of novel treatments for severe CNS and orphan conditions. PsychoGenics offers a range of services including behavioral testing, electrophysiology, translational EEG, quantitative histology, molecular biology, and microdialysis. The company's expertise extends to various research areas such as Alzheimer's disease, Huntington's disease, Parkinson's disease, autism spectrum disorders, psychosis, schizophrenia, spinal muscular atrophy, muscular dystrophy, and pain models.

PsychoGenics has developed innovative AI-driven drug discovery platforms, including SmartCube, NeuroCube, PhenoCube, and eCube. These platforms utilize artificial intelligence, computer vision, and machine learning to extract and analyze behavioral and physiological data from mice, enabling high-throughput phenotyping. The company's approach has led to the discovery of several novel compounds that have progressed to clinical trials. One notable example is SEP-363856, a first-in-class drug treatment for schizophrenia being developed by Sunovion Pharmaceuticals.

In October 2024, PsychoGenics secured a contract with the National Institutes of Health (NIH) as part of the Helping to End Addiction Long-term Initiative (HEAL Initiative). The contract, with a maximum value of USD 80 million over five years, aims to identify new pain therapeutics through the preclinical Screening Platform for Pain (PSPP) program. This initiative evaluates non-opioid assets through established preclinical pain models and is open to various potential treatments submitted by researchers worldwide.

Key customers and partnerships

PsychoGenics has established partnerships with major pharmaceutical companies, including Sunovion, Roche, and Karuna Therapeutics. In October 2022, the company announced an extension of its drug discovery collaboration with Karuna Therapeutics, focusing on identifying potential novel drug candidates for severe neuropsychiatric disorders. This partnership, initially formed in July 2020, allows Karuna to leverage PsychoGenics' proprietary screening platforms for drug discovery.

The company has performed tens of thousands of studies for hundreds of clients, averaging 350 studies per year. The company works with over 200 biotech and pharmaceutical companies worldwide, as well as disease research foundations and government agencies. In addition to its commercial partnerships, PsychoGenics collaborates with the NIH on a project to test treatments in search of non-opioid analgesics as part of the HEAL Initiative.