Precision neuroscience company Cadent Therapeutics has earned a milestone payment from Novartis for the initiation of a Phase 1 clinical study of a subtype selective NMDA receptor negative allosteric modulator (NAM) for treatment-resistant depression.
Cadent Therapeutics exclusively licensed the intellectual property for compounds that selectively modulate NR2B-containing NMDA receptors to Novartis. Novartis is conducting all research and development for the program.
"We are encouraged that Novartis has advanced our NR2B NAM molecule into clinical studies. This is an important milestone and one that will help support the advancement of Cadent's pipeline of first-in-class medicines to treat serious neurological diseases," said Michael Curtis, Ph.D., Chief Executive Officer, Cadent Therapeutics.
Cadent is discovering novel medicines designed to modulate dysregulated activity in the brain, tuning brain rhythms to restore motor and cognitive function. The company is advancing its pipeline of positive allosteric modulators for the treatment of spinocerebellar ataxia (SCA), essential tremor and cognitive impairment in patients with schizophrenia, with plans to enter the clinic in 2018.