Aestus, Eisai collaborate to research and develop novel therapeutics for psychiatric disorders

Jul 15 2010

Aestus Therapeutics, Inc. (Aestus; North Brunswick, NJ) announced today a collaboration agreement with Eisai Inc. (Eisai; Woodcliff Lake, NJ) on research and development of novel therapeutics for the treatment of psychiatric disorders. The multi-year collaboration will entail pre-clinical validation of potential therapeutics leading to clinical proof-of-concept studies.

“It is our hope that the products we discover through this collaboration will improve the quality of life for the millions of sufferers of psychiatric disorders and their families.”

Through its proprietary analysis of gene expression data sets, coupled with biological pathway mining on data from relevant disease models, Aestus has previously identified products with the potential to treat certain psychiatric disorders. Now in partnership with Eisai, Aestus will test these products to identify the best candidates for potential subsequent development in clinical trials.

According to the National Institute of Mental Health, psychiatric disorders affect tens of millions of people in the United States. In many cases, current treatments for these disorders are either ineffective or carry side effects which limit use. The complex biology underlying psychiatric disorders presents a particular challenge to the discovery of safer and effective treatments.

The Aestus proprietary technology advances the search for viable products to treat psychiatric disorders in a manner different from modifying the effect of the so called biogenic amines, the traditional therapeutic approach for these disorders. The Aestus technology is particularly useful when truly novel mechanisms are needed for the treatment of complex disorders.

"Aestus is delighted that this collaboration with Eisai combines our strengths in this ground breaking work to develop novel therapies for people affected by psychiatric disorders. Eisai's proven talent and expertise will enable us to move drug candidates through the clinical development process efficiently with the goal of bringing innovative new treatments to the market place," said Tage Honore, Ph.D., DSc, CEO and co-founder of Aestus. "It is our hope that the products we discover through this collaboration will improve the quality of life for the millions of sufferers of psychiatric disorders and their families."

SOURCE Aestus Therapeutics, Inc.