Neurology/psychiatric

Sonomind raises €20M for ultrasound neuromodulation technology

Fri, 15 May 2026 12:00:00 -0400

Sonomind SAS raised €20 million (US$23 million) in a series A funding round for its ultrasound-based neuromodulation technology for depression. The funds will be used for clinical trials of the non-invasive device, which uses a custom-made acoustic lens to precisely target deep regions within the brain to bring relief to patients suffering from treatment-resistant depression.

NTX-819, a novel mGlu7 NAM for psychiatric disorders

Fri, 15 May 2026 09:00:00 -0400

Increasing evidence supports metabotropic glutamate mGlu7 receptor as a promising target in psychiatric disorders. Neurosterix Pharma Sarl has presented data on NTX-819, a potential first-in-class, potent and selective negative allosteric modulator (NAM) of mGlu7. NTX-819 was tested in vivo in rats using behavioral tests that are relevant to disorders such as obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), agitation and mania/psychosis.

Camp4 studies CMP-002 in SYNGAP1 haploinsufficient mouse model

Fri, 15 May 2026 09:00:00 -0400

Camp4 Therapeutics Corp. has highlighted new preclinical data for CMP-002, the company’s lead investigational antisense oligonucleotide (ASO) therapeutic candidate for SYNGAP1-related disorder. CMP-002 administration resulted in a statistically significant improvement in seizure phenotypes and parameters in a SYNGAP1 haploinsufficient mouse model.

Biogen AD drug shows tau, cognition benefit, despite trial miss

Thu, 14 May 2026 12:00:00 -0400

Biogen Inc. has decided to advance diranersen (BIIB-080) into registrational trials for early Alzheimer’s disease, even though the antisense oligonucleotide therapy, originally discovered by Ionis Pharmaceuticals Inc., missed its phase II primary endpoint.

Fosun secures rights to Aribio’s AR-1001 in potential $4.7B deal

Thu, 14 May 2026 12:00:00 -0400

Shanghai Fosun Pharmaceutical (Group) Co. Ltd. is paying $60 million up front for an option to secure exclusive rights to Aribio Co. Ltd.’s oral phase III-stage Alzheimer’s disease (AD) therapy, AR-1001. The option fee plus license agreement has potential to tally $4.7 billion for Aribio, marking the largest deal for an AD asset inked by a Korean biotech company.

Sironax patents new SARM1 inhibitors

Thu, 14 May 2026 09:00:00 -0400

Sironax Ltd. has disclosed new NAD(+) hydrolase SARM1 (SAMD2; MyD88-5) inhibitors potentially useful for the treatment of Parkinson’s disease, multiple sclerosis, traumatic brain injury, diabetic neuropathy, Alzheimer’s disease, Huntington’s disease, hereditary neuropathies, and stroke.

Vivozon reports new dual 5-HT2A/dopamine D2 receptor antagonists

Thu, 14 May 2026 09:00:00 -0400

Vivozon Inc. has identified new heterocyclic dual 5-HT2A/dopamine D2 receptor antagonists potentially useful for the treatment of schizophrenia.

Andzonbio2 enters neuroinflammation collaboration

Thu, 14 May 2026 09:00:00 -0400

Andzonbio2 has signed agreements with the Alborada Drug Discovery Institute (ADDI) at the University of Cambridge and Cambridge Enterprise to advance a new class of therapeutics targeting neuroinflammation, a central driver of multiple neurodegenerative and neurological conditions.

Metis Techbio, Impact Tx cleared for Hong Kong IPOs

Tue, 12 May 2026 12:00:00 -0400

Metis Techbio Co. Ltd. is seeking a potential HK$2.11 billion (US$270 million) raise through a stock sale May 13, marking the largest biotech raise on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange this year to date. Hangzhou, China-based Metis is an AI-based nanoparticle drug formulation and delivery-focused company. Synthetic lethality-based cancer drugmaker Impact Therapeutics Inc., of Shanghai, plans to debut on the same day with a US$117 million IPO.

Roche secures CE mark for Alzheimer’s blood test

Tue, 12 May 2026 12:00:00 -0400

Roche Holding AG secured CE marking for the Elecsys plasma phosphorylated-tau 217 blood test designed to rule in and rule out amyloid pathology, a hallmark of Alzheimer's disease. Developed with Eli Lilly and Co., the test brings to the market another much-needed solution to help clinicians diagnose Alzheimer’s patients following the FDA approval of Fujirebio Diagnostics Inc.’s blood test last year.

TRPM4 antagonists disclosed in Universitätsklinikum Hamburg-Eppendorf patent

Tue, 12 May 2026 09:00:00 -0400

Universitätsklinikum Hamburg-Eppendorf has synthesized new transient receptor potential cation channel subfamily M member 4 (TRPM4) antagonists potentially useful for the treatment of neurodegeneration, multiple sclerosis and inflammatory disorders.

Guardian Biosciences identifies new compounds for TBI

Tue, 12 May 2026 09:00:00 -0400

Guardian Biosciences LLC has discovered new D-β-hydroxybutyrate compounds potentially useful for the treatment of traumatic brain injury (TBI).

ASO therapy prevents hydrocephalus in a monogenic syndrome model

Mon, 11 May 2026 09:00:00 -0400

Researchers from McGill University and collaborating institutions aimed to investigate whether oligonucleotides are a viable drug class to prevent hydrocephalus.

Alzheimer’s, beyond the brain

Mon, 11 May 2026 09:00:00 -0400

Researchers at Daping Hospital in China have reported that liver-targeted delivery of the APOE3-Christchurch (APOE3Ch) variant, a rare protective form of apolipoprotein E, can indirectly reduce brain pathology, highlighting the therapeutic potential of peripheral approaches to Alzheimer’s disease.

Mobia debuts on Nasdaq to bring stroke therapy to more patients

Fri, 08 May 2026 12:00:00 -0400

Mobia Medical Inc. began trading on Nasdaq under the ticker MOBI on May 8. The company priced its IPO at the midpoint of its proposed $14 to $16 range, selling 10 million shares at $15 each and raising approximately $150 million. The stock closed at $11.75 its first day of trading, down 21.7%.

New assay for drug discovery against chemo-induced peripheral neuropathy

Fri, 08 May 2026 09:00:00 -0400

A group led by researchers at Boston Children’s Hospital established a scalable and reproducible model of paclitaxel-induced axon degeneration and neurotoxicity in human induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC)-derived sensory neurons.

Italy’s Angelini pays $4.1B cash for rare disease specialist Catalyst

Thu, 07 May 2026 12:00:00 -0400

Italian family-owned Angelini Pharma SpA is making its first move into the U.S. market, acquiring rare diseases specialist Catalyst Pharma Inc. in an all-cash deal worth $4.1 billion. The acquisition gives Angelini ownership of three marketed drugs for treating epilepsy and neuromuscular diseases that had combined sales of $589 million in 2025, a 19.8% increase over 2024.

First measles treatment advances as vaccination rates drop

Thu, 07 May 2026 11:00:00 -0400

Scientists at the La Jolla Institute for Immunology have identified and characterized human antibodies that neutralize the measles virus by blocking its entry into the cell. This is the first time that antibodies have been shown to bind effectively to two essential viral proteins, creating a dual blockade that prevents infection. Unlike the current vaccine, which is based on an attenuated virus and is not recommended for immunocompromised individuals, these monoclonal antibodies could be used both as a new vaccine approach and as a treatment for the entire population.

Infensa Bioscience identifies new ASIC blockers

Thu, 07 May 2026 09:00:00 -0400

Infensa Bioscience Pty Ltd. has patented new acid-sensing ion channel 1 (ASIC) blockers potentially useful for the treatment of stroke, among others.

Resmed boosts sleep health portfolio with Noctrix buy

Wed, 06 May 2026 12:00:00 -0400

Resmed Corp. has agreed to acquire Noctrix Health Inc. for $340 million, boosting its sleep health portfolio. Noctrix has developed Nidra, a wearable neuromodulation device which treats restless legs syndrome (RLS) without disrupting sleep. With RLS impacting approximately 7% of adults globally, including about 17 million people in the U.S., the technology offers a non-drug option that could potentially treat a significant proportion of this patient population.

Apertura Gene Therapy and TSC Alliance partner on gene therapies

Wed, 06 May 2026 09:00:00 -0400

Apertura Gene Therapy LLC and the TSC Alliance have established a collaboration to advance gene therapy programs designed to treat tuberous sclerosis complex (TSC).

Alzecure’s TrkA modulator combines pain relief with joint protection

Wed, 06 May 2026 09:00:00 -0400

Researchers from Alzecure Pharma AB and collaborators reported preclinical efficacy data on ACD-137, a selective negative allosteric TrkA modulator in models of peripheral neuropathy and osteoarthritis.

Elaaj Bio advances gene therapy for CDKL5 deﬁciency disorder

Wed, 06 May 2026 09:00:00 -0400

Elaaj Bio, a wholly owned subsidiary of the nonproﬁt Loulou Foundation, has entered into a partnership with Viralgen Vector Core SL to advance a gene therapy program for CDKL5 deﬁciency disorder.

Bio Korea 2026 kicks off with spotlight on oligonucleotides

Tue, 05 May 2026 12:00:00 -0400

Three decades of trial-and-error, and the resulting safety data, in the oligonucleotide-based therapeutic space have paved way for the present-day innovations and the promise of “programmable,” precision medicine for patients, speakers at Bio Korea 2026 said April 28.

MMI’s Symani system treats Alzheimer’s patient in IDE study

Tue, 05 May 2026 12:00:00 -0400

Medical Microinstruments Inc.’s (MMI) Symani surgical system was used to treat a patient with Alzheimer’s disease as part of a study evaluating robotic-enabled microsurgery for the condition. The procedure investigated whether restoring lymphatic drainage pathways in the deep cervical lymph nodes could improve the clearance of harmful neurotoxins believed to contribute to the progression of Alzheimer’s.

NIH grant supports Quiver Bioscience’s QV-2421 for pain

Tue, 05 May 2026 09:00:00 -0400

Quiver Bioscience Inc. has received a multi-year grant from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to advance its lead Nav1.7-targeted antisense oligonucleotide (ASO), QV-2421, through IND-enabling studies and first-in-human trials for chronic neuropathic pain.

Coreterra Therapeutics patents agents for schizophrenia

Mon, 04 May 2026 09:00:00 -0400

Work at Coreterra Therapeutics Inc. has led to the discovery of new thienyl compounds intended for potential use in the treatment of schizophrenia.

AAV9-delivered AntagoNATs have preclinical efficacy as one-time treatment for Dravet syndrome

Mon, 04 May 2026 09:00:00 -0400

Dravet syndrome is a rare, severe, lifelong developmental and epileptic encephalopathy that begins in infancy and is marked by prolonged, often fever-triggered seizures that are difficult to control. It is usually caused by mutations in the SCN1A gene and is associated with developmental delay, cognitive and behavioral impairment, and reduced life expectancy.

Latus Bio series A financing supports early-stage programs

Mon, 04 May 2026 09:00:00 -0400

Latus Bio Inc. has closed a $97 million series A financing to support its broad therapeutics pipeline based on novel AAV capsid variants. Proceeds from the financing are expected to fund operations through milestones that include initial clinical data from the company’s two most advanced programs: LTS-201 for Huntington’s disease and LTS-101 for late-infantile neuronal ceroid lipofuscinosis type 2 (CLN2) disease.

Axsome’s Auvelity cleared for large Alzheimer’s agitation market

Fri, 01 May 2026 12:00:00 -0400

Axsome Therapeutics Inc. won U.S. FDA approval for Auvelity (AXS-05) to treat Alzheimer’s disease agitation, a condition that affects up to three-quarters of patients, gaining access to a $1 billion-plus market and a clean label that counters the boxed warning of a competitor. The agency accepted the supplemental NDA under priority review on Dec. 31, 2025, and the breakthrough therapy approval, specifically for agitation associated with dementia due to Alzheimer’s disease, came on the April 30, 2026, PDUFA date.