Advancing a new generation
of neuro-medicines
Our platform enables us to develop novel, differentiated GABAA positive allosteric modulators to treat neurological disorders including Essential Tremor, epilepsy, anxiety and more
Pagliuca
Harvard
Life Lab
OUR STORY
Our team has dedicated their careers to neuromedicine. We coalesced to advance scientific innovations that help patients with neurological disorders live longer, healthier lives.
The idea was born at Prof. Kevin Hodgetts' Laboratory for Drug Discovery in Neuroscience at the Brigham and Women's Hospital, when Dr. Hodgetts and Dr. Dario Doller saw the opportunity to harness allosteric modulation to develop a new generation of GABAA small molecule therapies. Mitchell Buckley was integral in this early R+D.
We are now advancing small molecules to treat Essential Tremor (ET), epilepsy, anxiety, and other neurological disorders.
Our methodology
Exquisite Control
Our platform allows us to control how much our compounds activate specific GABAA receptor subunits, providing efficacy without the side effects.
Highly Translatable
We focus on validated biological targets, with strong translational assays and efficient route to clinical proof-of-mechanism where current treatments fail to address patient needs.
Broad Application
We can use our platform to develop new compounds for high-need CNS diseases, starting with Essential Tremor and epilepsy, followed by anxiety, rare disease, and more.
Our First Therapies
We have established proof of concept in animal models, and are close to identifying a development candidate in Essential Tremor, followed closely by epilepsy.
Meet the Team
We have dedicated our careers to advancing scientific innovations to help patients live longer, healthier lives.
Andrew Thomson, MBA
CEO
Harvard Blavatnik Fellow, experienced biotech company builder & consultant
Dario Doller, PhD
CSO
Veteran drug hunter for 30+ years, 5 clinical and 1 marketed compound
Kevin Hodgetts, PhD
SAB Chair
Prof. at Harvard Medical School, director of Laboratory for Drug Discovery in Neuroscience at Brigham & Women's Hospital, multiple NewCos and clinical drugs
Our Scientific Advisory Board
Our team has developed 50+ clinical and 10 marketed drugs
Dr. Elan Louis
KOL Clinical Trials
World leading ET physician & Key Opinion Leader
Francesco Salituro
GABA-A Chemistry
37 years, 20 small molecules, Co-invented 5 marketed drugs
Nick Moore
Neuropharmacology
42 years neuropharmacology,
4 blockbuster drugs
Michelle Higgin
Regulatory & Manufacturing
15 years regulatory & manufacturing
Recognitions
Nucleate Venture Prize
Awarded pre-seed funding from Pillar VC via NVP, 1 of 200 teams
MassBio Drive
Selected for MassBio Drive 2024, 1 of 5 companies
Blavatnik Therapeutics Grant
Founding lab supported by Blavatnik grant funding for this project from 2022-2024
Nucleate Activator Program
Semi-finalists in the 2023 Nucleate Activator Program final pitch showcase in Boston
Harvard Innovation Lab
Semi-finalists 2023 and
Finalists 2024 in the Harvard iLab’s PIC, 5 of 400+ teams
Harvard Business School
Semi-finalists in the 2023 HBS NVC pitch competition
iLab Grant Award
Awarded grant funding by the iLab in 2023 and 2024
MIT SHIP Competition
Semi-finalists in the 2024 MIT SHIP competition, 8 of 300+ teams
Current treatments are worse than the disease itself
- Patients, physicians and caregivers struggling with Essential Tremor (ET)
Indication #1: Essential Tremor
Essential Tremor is widespread and highly debilitating
Widespread
Most common movement disorder in the world: 7M+ patients in the US, 2M+ actively seeking treatment
Severe Symptoms
Progressive, uncontrolled shaking of hands, heads and voice is highly debilitating
Debilitating
Impaired quality of life and daily living, leading to high rates of isolation, depression and unemployment
Yet ET remains significantly underreported and undertreated
We are thrilled to advance the first novel treatment to help ET patients, their families and caretakers in over half a century.
Please connect to learn more - we are excited to engage with the ET community!
Get in Touch
Modulate Bio
Pagliuca Harvard Life Lab
127 Western Avenue, Allston, MA 02134
