New genetic engineering company aims to develop neuroactive compounds from plants, fungi
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Empyrean Neuroscience Inc. has announced its launch as a genetic engineering company dedicated to developing fungi- and plant-based therapeutics for the treatment of neuropsychiatric and neurologic disorders.
According to a company release, Empyrean was backed by $22 million Series A funding and founded on a platform designed to identify therapeutic fungal alkaloids, cannabinoids and other small molecules with enhanced efficacy and safety. The platform will also be used for the discovery of new small molecules with potential therapeutic benefits.
“There is an enormous medical need for safe and effective therapeutics that treat neuropsychiatric and neurologic disorders, and we believe genetic engineering provides the answer,” Usman Azam, MD, CEO of Empyrean, said in the release. “By applying our genetic engineering platform to make precise modifications to the genomes of fungi and plants, we can change the amount and kind of neuroactive small molecules they produce, with the goal of developing safe and effective treatments for difficult-to-treat diseases of the CNS.”
The company’s developmental pipeline includes neuroactive compounds such as N,N-Dimethyltryptamine for the potential treatment of major depressive disorder, PTSD, neurologic disorders, substance abuse and dependence, and chronic pain, the release stated. Empyrean’s first genetically engineered encapsulated mushroom drug product is currently being studied.
As part of its genetic engineering platform, the company licensed CRISPR/Cas9 technology from ERS Genomics for genetic engineering applications related to its therapeutic pipeline, Empyrean said.
“Fungal alkaloids and cannabinoids have shown promise in treating depression, PTSD, anxiety and other neuropsychiatric and neurologic disorders,” Fred Grossman, DO, FAPA, Empyrean’s chief medical officer, said in the release. “We believe our approach of genetically engineering fungi and plants can improve their safety and efficacy and will ultimately help to address the substantial unmet medical need in patients who suffer from these diseases.”