Small Pharma is focused on identifying and advancing valuable drug development opportunities that often fail to progress from academia or discovery-focused biotech. Its lead programme, SPL801B, is an active metabolite of ketamine being developed as a rapid-acting oral antidepressant with a different mode of action to ketamine and early data suggesting a promising safety profile and lack of dissociative/addictive side effects. The company is also developing a 5HT2A agonist for treatment-resistant depression. The leadership team combines drug development experience with specialist patent expertise and experience in difficult-to-patent depression treatments. The recent investment is intended to fund further studies for the ketamine-metabolite programme and to advance the 5HT2A agonist. Small Pharma seeks collaborative opportunities with larger pharma or biotech where its patent expertise can add value. Small Pharma develops low-cost pharmaceutical products using a project selection and execution model centered on detailed intellectual property strategy. The company is advancing a rapid-acting antidepressant based on a derivative of ketamine. It plans to formulate the novel drug product and prepare for proof-of-concept clinical trials. Clinical trials of intravenous ketamine infusions have demonstrated a potent antidepressant effect, which underpins the company’s approach. Small Pharma was founded in 2015 by Peter Rands and is based in London. The recent funding will support development of its latest depression treatment project.

Total raised

$1M

Funding rounds

3

Latest round

Equity

Latest activity

Apr 2017