SAGE Therapeutics is developing a portfolio of CNS medicines centered on its lead program, SAGE-547, which is in a Phase 1/2 trial for super refractory status epilepticus (SRSE). The company’s platform is an allosteric modulator chemistry approach that has generated compounds targeting GABAA and NMDA pathways. SAGE plans to follow SAGE-547 with intravenous and oral compounds aimed at earlier-stage seizure disorders and to explore applications in other psychiatric and neurologic disorders. The company intends to use the proceeds from the financing to advance its clinical and preclinical programs in orphan and acute CNS disorders, including status epilepticus. SAGE describes SRSE as a life-threatening seizure condition with no approved therapies and is prioritizing indications with hard endpoints and potential for rapid readouts. SAGE Therapeutics is a private company launched in 2011 and is based in Cambridge, Mass. SAGE Therapeutics focuses on developing therapies for CNS disorders using its Positive and Negative Allosteric Modulator (PANAM) chemistry platform that targets GABAA and NMDA receptors. The company’s initial pipeline targets acute and orphan CNS indications including status epilepticus, anesthesia, Fragile X Syndrome and traumatic brain injury, and it notes potential relevance to depression and pain. SAGE says its PANAM approach can “fine tune” brain activity while limiting side effects and off‑target toxicity. Management expects as many as five programs in clinical studies within about a year and plans to advance both clinical and preclinical programs toward commercial development. The company envisions forging strategic collaborations to support broader development and commercialization of its platform. Since launching in 2011, SAGE has raised $57.8 million in total funding to date. SAGE Therapeutics is building a portfolio of therapies for CNS disorders including schizophrenia, depression, pain and traumatic brain injury. The company is founded on a proprietary Positive and Negative Allosteric Modulator (PANAM) chemistry platform to advance a novel class of allosteric receptor modulators. Its programs focus on non-benzodiazepine and non-glycine approaches to modulating GABA and glutamate receptors to fine tune and balance neuronal activity. SAGE says it leverages chemistry, molecular and in vivo pharmacology, formulation technology, biomarker data and clinical proof of concept from lead programs to accelerate development. The team planned to enter the clinic within two years of launch. The company was launched in 2011 and debuted with a $35 million Series A financing.

Total raised

$93M

Funding rounds

3

Latest round

Series C

Latest activity

Mar 2014