Our approach
Targeting the Root of Neuropsychiatric Disease
Draig Therapeutics is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company developing transformative, best-in-class neuropsychiatric therapies. Our pipeline of highly specific neuromodulators is designed to enable safe, precise modulation of the major neurocircuits underlying neuropsychiatric disorders.
The Need in Neuropsychiatry
Most neuropsychiatric disorders involve an imbalance in synaptic excitation or inhibition:
-
Excitation is mediated by α-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazolepropionic acid (AMPA) receptors, the principal driver of glutamatergic signalling, activated by the neurotransmitter glutamate
-
Inhibition is mediated by the neurotransmitter gamma-aminobutyric acid A (GABA) acting at, among other targets, GABAA receptors, which serve as key presynaptic regulators of neuronal excitability
Restoring the excitatory/inhibitory balance safely requires precise modulation of the AMPA and GABAA receptors.
Our Science, Our Solution
Building upon validated drug targets with more than 20 years of development history, Draig's best-in-class neuromodulators are designed to enable safe, precise modulation of the major neurocircuits underlying neuropsychiatric disorders, including major excitatory and inhibitory neurocircuits.
The modulation of AMPA and GABAA receptor signalling is highly complex and requires precision to be safe and effective.
The AMPA receptor has been a key drug development target for decades as a central regulator of mood, synaptic plasticity and cognitive enhancement. However, previous generation compounds suffered from narrow therapeutic margins (the safety gap between a drug’s effective dose and the dose that causes toxicity), leading to eventual discontinuation in development of these compounds.
Draig’s DT-101 overcomes this hurdle as a next generation AMPA receptor potentiator with a very broad therapeutic index, enabling effective modulation of the AMPA receptor without compromising safety and tolerability.
GABAA receptors comprise multiple subtypes with distinct spatial expression and functions across the central nervous system. Extensive human clinical data show that modulation of specific subtypes can drive therapeutic benefits or conversely lead to safety and tolerability issues. Accordingly, safe and precise modulation of specific GABAA receptor subtypes is required to achieve both efficacy and safety.
Most drug candidates lack sufficient specificity for their intended targeted receptor subtype, often interacting with others and leading to suboptimal safety and tolerability. Draig’s DT-201 and DT-301 are exquisitely designed to selectively target GABAA receptor subtypes associated with therapeutic benefit while minimizing activity at those linked to adverse effects.
The Future of Brain Health Starts Here
Whether you're a patient, caregiver, researcher, investor, or member of the press, we'd love to hear from you.
