What Neurosterix does

Neurosterix is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company developing first- and best-in-class allosteric modulators for neuropsychiatric disorders, including schizophrenia, mood disorders, and anxiety disorders. Founded in April 2024 as a spin-out from Addex Therapeutics, the company is headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland with a US office in Boston, Massachusetts. Its lead program NTX-253, an oral positive allosteric modulator (PAM) of the muscarinic M4 receptor, is currently in Phase 1 clinical development for schizophrenia with results expected in July 2026. A second M4 PAM, NTX-529, is in IND-enabling studies for psychosis and mood-related disorders, while NTX-819 — a first-in-class negative allosteric modulator (NAM) of the metabotropic glutamate receptor 7 (mGlu7) — is in preclinical development for mood and anxiety disorders.

The company's therapeutic approach is grounded in a proprietary allosteric modulator discovery platform that includes an 80,000+ knowledge-enriched compound library and 200+ CNS functional assays, supported by nearly 20 high-throughput screening campaigns across muscarinic and glutamatergic receptor families. Allosteric modulators are designed to act as "dimmer switches" rather than on/off toggles, binding outside the orthosteric site to enable tunable receptor engagement with the goal of improved selectivity and tolerability versus conventional neuropsychiatric drugs. The platform is backed by 100+ patents and 30+ peer-reviewed publications. Neurosterix is led by CEO and Co-Founder Fred Callori (also Managing Director at lead investor Perceptive Advisors), CSO Robert Lütjens (ex-Addex, 20+ years in CNS drug discovery), CMO Doug Feltner (ex-AbbVie VP, ex-Pfizer VP), and COO Ted Keysor (ex-Cerevel, ex-Biogen), among others.

The business model is currently pre-commercial. Neurosterix raised a $63 million Series A in April 2024 led by Perceptive Xontogeny Venture Fund II with participation from Acorn Bioventures; Addex Therapeutics retained a 20% equity stake in exchange for the contributed platform and assets. Future revenue is expected to come from (i) prescription pharmaceutical product sales through traditional biopharmaceutical distribution channels once NTX-253 or other candidates receive regulatory approval, and (ii) potential licensing and royalty arrangements based on the allosteric modulator platform, analogous to Addex's prior collaborations with Janssen, Merck, and Indivior. End customers — patients with schizophrenia, mood, and anxiety disorders — are not yet being served commercially, and pricing has not been established.

Name

Neurosterix

Legal name

Neurosterix Pharma Sàrl

Website

https://neurosterix.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2024

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Neurosterix is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company developing first- and best-in-class allosteric modulators for neuropsychiatric disorders including schizophrenia, mood, and anxiety disorders. Its pipeline includes NTX-253 (Phase 1 M4 PAM for schizophrenia), NTX-529 (IND-enabling), and NTX-819 (preclinical mGlu7 NAM), powered by a proprietary discovery platform.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Biopharmaceutical Drug Development

NAICS

Electromedical and Electrotherapeutic Apparatus Manufacturing (334510)

SIC

Electromedical & Electrotherapeutic Apparatus (3845)

akta.pro primary industry

Neurology & CNS Specialty Pharmaceuticals (HLAIACAC)

akta.pro secondary industry

Neurology & Psychiatry (CNS) Pharmaceuticals (HLAIAAAF)

Keywords

• Allosteric modulators
• CNS drug discovery
• Neurological therapeutics
• Muscarinic receptor modulators
• Neuropsychiatric drug development

Headquarters

HQ city

Geneva

HQ country

Switzerland

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Technology or R&D, Personnel, Operations, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Pharmaceutical Product Sales: Once clinical development is complete and regulatory approvals are obtained, Neurosterix will generate revenue through the sale of prescription pharmaceutical products for neuropsychiatric disorders. The company is currently in preclinical and Phase 1 stages with lead program NTX-253 for schizophrenia.
2. Licensing and Partnership Revenue: Potential future revenue from licensing proprietary allosteric modulator technology and platform capabilities to pharmaceutical partners, as demonstrated by Addex Therapeutics' prior collaborations with Janssen, Merck, and Indivior.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Neurosterix develops first- and best-in-class allosteric modulator drug candidates for neuropsychiatric disorders, including schizophrenia, mood, and anxiety disorders. The company's pipeline includes NTX-253 (M4 PAM, Phase 1 for schizophrenia), NTX-529 (M4 PAM, IND-enabling for psychosis/mood disorders), and NTX-819 (mGlu7 NAM, preclinical for mood/anxiety). These programs are powered by a proprietary discovery platform featuring 200+ functional CNS assays and an 80,000+ compound library.

Product overview

Neurosterix is developing a focused pipeline of first- and best-in-class allosteric modulator therapeutics for neuropsychiatric disorders. The core offering includes three named drug candidates: NTX-253 (Phase 1, M4 PAM for schizophrenia), NTX-529 (IND-enabling, M4 PAM for psychosis/mood disorders), and NTX-819 (preclinical, mGlu7 NAM for mood disorders). These programs are powered by the company's proprietary allosteric modulator discovery platform featuring an 80,000+ compound library and 200+ CNS functional assays. The company's approach uses allosteric modulators that act like dimmer switches to fine-tune receptor activity rather than simply turning signaling on or off.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• NTX-253 A potent, selective, oral positive allosteric modulator (PAM) of the M4 muscarinic receptor for treating schizophrenia. NTX-253 fine-tunes muscarinic signaling to reduce psychosis symptoms while avoiding movement disorders and metabolic complications associated with traditional dopamine antagonists. Currently in Phase 1 clinical trials.
• NTX-529 A best-in-class M4 positive allosteric modulator (PAM) for psychosis and mood-related disorders. Currently in IND-enabling phase.
• NTX-819 A first-in-class, oral negative allosteric modulator (NAM) of the metabotropic glutamate receptor 7 (mGlu7) for mood and anxiety disorders. Modulates glutamatergic signaling to restore balance in brain circuits implicated in stress, agitation, and anhedonia. Currently in preclinical development.
• Allosteric Modulator Discovery Platform Proprietary discovery engine enabling highly selective, tunable engagement of CNS targets through 80,000+ compound library, 200+ functional CNS assays, and nearly 20 successful high-throughput screening campaigns across muscarinic, glutamatergic, and other receptor families. Supports development of first- and best-in-class allosteric modulators.

Quantifiable outcome

• Phase 1 study completion expected July 2026 for lead program NTX-253
• +2 more outcomes

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• Addex TherapeuticscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 3 April 2024Neurosterix acquired a portfolio of preclinical assets and the allosteric modulator drug discovery platform from Addex Therapeutics. Addex retained a 20% equity stake in Neurosterix and continues its partnerships in the neurological field. Addex leadership (Tim Dyer) co-founded Neurosterix and served as CEO/CFO until May 2025.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Karuna Therapeutics: Developed xanomeline-trospium (Cobenfy) for schizophrenia via muscarinic receptor targeting, directly competing with Neurosterix's M4 PAM approach. Acquired by Bristol Myers Squibb for $14 billion in 2024.
• Cerevel Therapeutics: CNS-focused biopharmaceutical company developing therapies for schizophrenia, Parkinson's, and epilepsy. Acquired by AbbVie for $8.7 billion in 2024; shares Neurosterix's neuroscience pipeline focus and similar leadership backgrounds.
• Sage Therapeutics: CNS-focused company developing Zurzuvae (zuranolone) for postpartum depression and other neuropsychiatric conditions. Comparable in CNS therapeutic area focus and clinical-stage development profile.
• Neumora Therapeutics: Clinical-stage neuroscience company developing precision medicines for brain disorders, including schizophrenia and depression. Similar focus on novel CNS mechanisms and clinical development stage.

Emerging players

• MapLight Therapeutics: Clinical-stage CNS company developing therapies for schizophrenia and other psychiatric disorders. Comparable in indication focus and emerging clinical-stage profile targeting muscarinic and other CNS mechanisms.

Broad incumbents

• Axsome Therapeutics: Commercial-stage CNS company with approved products Auvelity (depression) and Sunosi. Comparable in CNS therapeutic focus with broader pipeline spanning depression, migraine, and narcolepsy.
• Alkermes: Established CNS biopharmaceutical company with approved products including Lybalvi (schizophrenia) and Aristada. Lisa Corey, Neurosterix's VP of Clinical Operations, previously led global trial execution at Alkermes.
• Boehringer Ingelheim (CNS pipeline): Major pharmaceutical company with active CNS pipeline including schizophrenia and depression programs. Represents potential partnership or acquisition counterparty given CNS focus and capital capacity.
• Sumitomo Pharma (formerly Sumitomo Dainippon): Global pharmaceutical company with significant CNS franchise including Latuda (lurasidone) for schizophrenia. Comparable in CNS therapeutic focus with commercial schizophrenia asset.

Others

• Karuna Therapeutics (historical) / BMS Cobenfy franchise: Bristol Myers Squibb acquired Karuna and now markets Cobenfy in schizophrenia, representing the most direct competitive threat to Neurosterix's M4 PAM program in the muscarinic mechanism space.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors4 records

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Neurosterix