PsychoGenics Inc. (PsychoGenics) and Collaborations Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (CPI) are excited to announce the receipt of a $1 million Phase I Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) grant. This grant represents a significant step forward in their collaboration, which seeks to utilize their combined AI capabilities to develop innovative drugs for mental health disorders. This project aligns with the strategic plan of the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) at the National Institutes of Health (NIH), which aims to advance the treatment of mental health disorders by developing and validating new methods and technologies.

Mental health disorders are a widespread concern, affecting approximately one in four individuals during their lifetime. These disorders encompass a broad spectrum, including major depressive disorder, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, and substance use disorders, affecting people of all age groups. Alarmingly, suicide ranks as the second leading cause of death among 15 to 29-year-olds, with millions of individuals attempting suicide annually and a significant number tragically succeeding. Current treatment options fall short in addressing the complex challenges presented by mental illness, contributing to a significant portion of adult disability worldwide. Therefore, there is a pressing need for improved treatments that explore new avenues of pharmacological intervention.

Recognizing the immense burden of mental illness and the urgent need for better treatments, PsychoGenics and CPI are joining forces to leverage their AI-driven phenotypic drug discovery approach and ML tools to venture into uncharted territories of chemistry. PsychoGenics has been at the forefront of using ML for drug discovery and exploring structure-activity relationships (SAR) through its pioneering SmartCube® technology. SmartCube® employs ML classifiers trained on reference CNS drugs to predict a compound's therapeutic and side-effects profiles. In contrast, CPI has developed a suite of ML software, including Assay Central®, MegaTox®, MegaTrans®, MegaPredict®, and MegaSyn®, designed to generate new molecules while exploring unexplored areas of chemistry and optimizing essential properties.

Dr. Daniela Brunner, Chief Innovation Officer at PsychoGenics, expressed her enthusiasm about this collaboration, stating, "We are honored to have been awarded this SBIR grant and delighted to collaborate with CPI on this groundbreaking project. By synergizing our strengths in behavioral pharmacology, drug discovery, and advanced ML techniques, we hold the potential to unlock new treatments, ultimately making a positive impact on the lives of patients."

Sean Ekins, CEO of CPI, added, "We eagerly anticipate this collaboration with Dani and her team at PsychoGenics to explore uncharted areas of chemistry. Our AI tools, combined with PsychoGenics’ Cube platforms and collective experience, render the ambitious goal of discovering new classes of drugs feasible."