Spruce Biosciences and HMNC Brain Health have entered a partnership to advance the development of Spruce's drug candidate, tildacerfontis, using HMNC's companion diagnostic tool for the treatment of major depressive disorder (MDD).

According to the agreement, HMNC will finance and manage a Phase II study of tildacerfont, in which the Cortibon tool will facilitate patient selection. Should the study yield favorable results, Spruce will have the option to secure exclusive worldwide rights to Cortibon. 

Spruce states that the collaboration could potentially impact up to 50% of MDD patients globally by replacing the traditional trial-and-error treatment approach, enhancing treatment effectiveness and lowering costs.

Spruce Biosciences is a late-stage biopharmaceutical company developing novel therapies for rare endocrine and neurological disorders. The company’s lead product candidate is tildacerfont, which is currently in trial for adult classic congenital adrenal hyperplasia, pediatric classic congenital adrenal hyperplasia, and polycystic ovary syndrome.