Science
Our approach
Building on the deep expertise of our founders, Draig is developing and advancing a pipeline of next-generation allosteric modulators of glutamate and GABAA receptors to deliver ground-breaking treatments to patients suffering from neuropsychiatric disorders.
By precisely fine-tuning neurotransmission through these complex and clinically validated pathways, Draig aims to safely restore the balance between excitatory and inhibitory signalling, the disruption of which leads to neuropsychiatric disorders.
Role of glutamate and GABA
Glutamate and GABA (Gamma-Aminobutyric Acid) are the two major neurotransmitters of the central nervous system, playing a crucial role in maintaining the balance between excitatory and inhibitory signalling.
- Glutamate is the primary excitatory neurotransmitter – activating several subtypes of glutamate receptors, including the AMPA receptor
- GABA is the primary inhibitory neurotransmitter – suppressing excitatory signalling throughout the central nervous system
An imbalance between synaptic excitation and inhibition is a key driver in major neuropsychiatric disorders, making the glutamate and GABA systems ideal targets for neuropsychiatric treatments.
Our solutions
The modulation of glutamate and GABA signalling is highly complex and requires precision to be safe and effective.
- The AMPA receptor has been a key drug development target for decades, but previous generation compounds suffered from narrow therapeutic windows, resulting in highly challenging target dose selection and eventual discontinuation in development. Draig’s DT-101 overcomes this hurdle with a large therapeutic window to enable effective modulation of the AMPA receptor without compromising safety and tolerability.
- GABAA receptors exist in various subtypes with differential expression and function throughout the CNS. Most drug candidates are active at multiple GABAA receptor subtypes resulting in suboptimal safety and tolerability profiles. Draig’s DT-201 and DT-301 selectively target GABAA receptor subtypes linked to therapeutic benefits while avoiding the modulation of those associated with adverse effects.