Engrail Therapeutics
Engrail Therapeutics is a clinical-stage pharmaceutical company developing precision-targeted, small-molecule neuroscience therapeutics for generalized anxiety disorder, major depressive disorder, PTSD, and Menkes disease.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2019
- HeadquartersSan Diego, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What Engrail Therapeutics does
Engrail Therapeutics is a privately held, clinical-stage pharmaceutical company founded in 2019 and headquartered in San Diego, California (12750 High Bluff Drive, Suite 190). The company applies precision chemistry and pharmacology to develop subtype-selective, small-molecule therapeutics for neuropsychiatric and neurodevelopmental disorders with significant unmet medical need, including generalized anxiety disorder (GAD), major depressive disorder with anhedonia, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and rare neurodevelopmental conditions such as Menkes disease.
Its pipeline comprises four differentiated programs. ENX-102 is a next-generation GABA-A positive allosteric modulator that selectively targets α2, α3, and α5 subunit-containing receptors while blocking α1, currently in Phase 2 development (ENCALM trial) for GAD. ENX-104 is a potent dopamine D2/D3 receptor antagonist that preferentially engages presynaptic autoreceptors at low doses to enhance dopaminergic transmission, in Phase 1 development for MDD with anhedonia. ENX-205 is a multi-target 5-HT1A/5-HT2A agonist and D2/D3 antagonist designed for once-daily dosing in PTSD and other mood disorders. ENX-203 (elesclomol) is a copper ionophore licensed worldwide from the Texas A&M University System that delivers copper into mitochondria, in development for Menkes disease and supported by preclinical data showing rescue of Menkes mutant mice with survival prolonged beyond 250 days.
Engrail is pre-revenue and generates no current product income. It has raised over $220 million since inception, led by Pivotal Life Sciences (founding investor), Nan Fung Life Sciences (Series A lead), and a Series B syndicate co-led by F-Prime Capital, Forbion, and Norwest Venture Partners with participation from RiverVest, Red Tree Venture Capital, abrdn, Ysios Capital, Longwood Fund, Eight Roads Ventures, and Foresite Capital. The company plans to commercialize approved products through traditional pharmaceutical wholesale distribution and specialty pharmacy channels, targeting prescribing psychiatrists, neurologists, and other specialists treating CNS disorders.
Engrail Therapeutics firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Engrail Therapeutics
- Legal name
- Engrail Therapeutics, Inc.
- Website
- https://engrail.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2019
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Engrail Therapeutics is a clinical-stage pharmaceutical company developing precision-targeted, small-molecule neuroscience therapeutics for generalized anxiety disorder, major depressive disorder, PTSD, and Menkes disease.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Engrail Therapeutics industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Neuroscience / CNS Therapeutics
- NAICS
- Research and Development in Biotechnology (except Nanobiotechnology) (541714)
- SIC
- Pharmaceutical Preparations (2834)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Neurology & Psychiatry (CNS) Pharmaceuticals (HLAIAAAF)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Neurology & CNS Specialty Pharmaceuticals (HLAIACAC), Rare Neurology & Neurodegenerative Disorder Therapies (HLAIAIAD)
Keywords
Where Engrail Therapeutics is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- San Diego
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Engrail Therapeutics business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Technology or R&D, Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others
Revenue model
- Pharmaceutical Development and Commercialization: Pre-revenue clinical-stage pharmaceutical company developing a pipeline of precision-targeted neuroscience therapeutics. Revenue will be generated through product sales upon regulatory approval.
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels3 records
Engrail Therapeutics product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Engrail Therapeutics is a clinical-stage pharmaceutical company that develops precision-targeted small-molecule therapeutics for neuropsychiatric and neurodevelopmental disorders of the central nervous system. Its pipeline includes ENX-102 (GABA-A α2,3,5 PAM in Phase 2 for generalized anxiety disorder), ENX-104 (D2/D3 antagonist in Phase 1 for major depressive disorder with anhedonia), ENX-205 (5-HT1A/5-HT2A agonist and D2/D3 antagonist for PTSD/mood disorders), and ENX-203/elesclomol (copper ionophore for Menkes disease). The company is pre-revenue and monetizes via future product commercialization and/or licensing.
Product overview
Engrail Therapeutics is a clinical-stage pharmaceutical company with a precision neuroscience pipeline of four therapeutic programs. The company's portfolio includes ENX-102 (GABA-A PAM for generalized anxiety disorder in Phase 2), ENX-104 (D2/D3 antagonist for major depressive disorder with anhedonia in Phase 1), ENX-203/Elesclomol (copper ionophore for Menkes disease), and ENX-205 (5-HT1A/5-HT2A agonist and D2/D3 antagonist for PTSD). The company applies precision chemistry and pharmacology to develop transformative medicines for patients with neuropsychiatric and neurodevelopmental diseases.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- ENX-102 A next-generation, precision-targeted GABA-A positive allosteric modulator (PAM) acting on alpha-2, alpha-3, and alpha-5 subunits while blocking alpha-1, in Phase 2 clinical development for the treatment of generalized anxiety disorder (GAD). It is designed to avoid the sedation, cognitive impairment and dependence liabilities of benzodiazepines.
- ENX-104 A potent dopamine D2/D3 receptor antagonist designed to modulate dopaminergic transmission in brain reward systems by increasing dopamine release via presynaptic autoreceptor antagonism, in Phase 1 clinical development for major depressive disorder (MDD) characterized by anhedonia.
- ENX-203 (Elesclomol) A novel copper ionophore that delivers copper across biological membranes into mitochondria, in development for Menkes disease — an ultra-rare and fatal neurodevelopmental disease caused by deficient copper transport. Preclinical data showed rescue of Menkes mutant mice from neonatal death and prolonged survival over 250 days.
- ENX-205 A unique 5-HT1A/5-HT2A receptor agonist and D2/D3 receptor antagonist with excellent pharmacokinetic profile supporting once-daily dosing, in development for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and other mood disorders.
Quantifiable outcome
- ENX-102 Phase 2 ENCALM trial initiated for generalized anxiety disorder
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use Engrail Therapeutics
Customer profileSegments2 records
Ideal customer profiles1 record
Engrail Therapeutics technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature4 records
Engrail Therapeutics partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Three partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Texas A&M University SystemcoreLicensing agreement granting Engrail worldwide exclusive rights to intellectual property around the use of elesclomol for disorders of mitochondrial copper metabolism. Includes sponsored research agreement with Texas A&M AgriLife Research for nonclinical work.
- Neurocrine BiosciencesminorListed as a partner on Engrail's partnerships page, nature of collaboration not specified in available sources.
- Concert GeneticsminorListed as a partner on Engrail's partnerships page, nature of collaboration not specified in available sources.
Scale indicators4 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Engrail Therapeutics competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Intra-Cellular Therapies: Commercial-stage CNS biopharma with Caplyta (lumateperone) approved for schizophrenia and bipolar depression, targeting similar neuropsychiatric indications as Engrail's pipeline. Highly relevant given that Engrail's CSO Kimberly Vanover led Caplyta development at Intra-Cellular Therapies.
- Sage Therapeutics: CNS-focused biopharma with zuranolone (Zurzuvae) approved for postpartum depression and a pipeline including GABA-A PAMs targeting MDD and other CNS disorders. Direct mechanistic overlap with Engrail's ENX-102 GABA-A PAM approach for GAD and adjacent indications.
- Axsome Therapeutics: CNS biopharma with Auvelity (dextromethorphan/bupropion) approved for MDD and additional CNS assets in development. Competes in overlapping CNS indications (MDD) with Engrail's ENX-104 and shares similar clinical-stage development and precision CNS targeting.
- Cerevel Therapeutics: CNS-focused biopharma with multiple clinical-stage programs targeting GABA-A, dopamine D2/D3, and other CNS mechanisms overlapping directly with Engrail's pipeline. Now part of AbbVie following a $8.7B acquisition, representing a key comparable for Engrail's precision neuroscience approach.
- Praxis Precision Medicines: Clinical-stage CNS biopharma developing precision medicines for neurological and psychiatric disorders, including programs targeting GABA-A receptors and other CNS mechanisms. Directly comparable in size, stage, and precision-targeted approach to Engrail's pipeline.
- Neumora Therapeutics: Clinical-stage CNS biopharma with a precision neuroscience pipeline targeting MDD, GAD, and other CNS disorders. Highly comparable business model, target indications, and funding profile (large private Series financing) to Engrail.
Broad incumbents
- Karuna Therapeutics: CNS biopharma developing xanomeline-trospium (Cobenfy) for schizophrenia and other psychiatric disorders. Acquired by Bristol Myers Squibb for $14B; represents a benchmark for value creation from a precision CNS therapeutic approach in neuropsychiatric indications.
- Acadia Pharmaceuticals: Commercial-stage CNS biopharma with Nuplazid (pimavanserin) approved for Parkinson's disease psychosis and additional CNS pipeline. Several Engrail team members previously held roles at Acadia, and overlapping CNS therapeutic area focus makes it a comparable.
Emerging players
- BioXcel Therapeutics: Clinical-stage biopharma with IGALMI (dexmedetomidine) approved for agitation in schizophrenia/bipolar and a CNS pipeline including AI-discovered assets in MDD and other CNS indications. Comparable as a smaller CNS-focused commercial-stage player with multiple CNS programs.
- Tonix Pharmaceuticals: Clinical-stage biopharma developing CNS therapeutics including TNX-102 SL for PTSD and fibromyalgia. Directly comparable target indication (PTSD) with Engrail's ENX-205 and similar clinical-stage CNS focus.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Engrail Therapeutics social profiles
Digital presenceEngrail Therapeutics financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Engrail Therapeutics leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles16 records
Engrail Therapeutics funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds3 records
Investors12 records
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Engrail Therapeutics M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A1 record
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Engrail Therapeutics
What does Engrail Therapeutics do?
Engrail Therapeutics is a clinical-stage pharmaceutical company that develops precision-targeted small-molecule therapeutics for neuropsychiatric and neurodevelopmental disorders of the central nervous system. Its pipeline includes ENX-102 (GABA-A α2,3,5 PAM in Phase 2 for generalized anxiety disorder), ENX-104 (D2/D3 antagonist in Phase 1 for major depressive disorder with anhedonia), ENX-205 (5-HT1A/5-HT2A agonist and D2/D3 antagonist for PTSD/mood disorders), and ENX-203/elesclomol (copper ionophore for Menkes disease). The company is pre-revenue and monetizes via future product commercialization and/or licensing.
Is Engrail Therapeutics a public or private company?
Engrail Therapeutics is a private company. It is classified as venture growth investor backed and is currently operating.
When was Engrail Therapeutics founded?
Engrail Therapeutics was founded in 2019. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Engrail Therapeutics based?
Engrail Therapeutics is headquartered in San Diego, United States, in the North America region.
How does Engrail Therapeutics make money?
One revenue line is on record: pharmaceutical Development and Commercialization.
Who are Engrail Therapeutics's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Intra-Cellular Therapies, Sage Therapeutics, Axsome Therapeutics, Cerevel Therapeutics, Praxis Precision Medicines and Neumora Therapeutics. Broad incumbents are Karuna Therapeutics and Acadia Pharmaceuticals. Emerging players are BioXcel Therapeutics and Tonix Pharmaceuticals.
Does Engrail Therapeutics have an API?
No public API is recorded for Engrail Therapeutics.
What industry is Engrail Therapeutics in?
Engrail Therapeutics's product category is Neuroscience / CNS Therapeutics. Its primary akta.pro industry code is HLAIAAAF, Neurology & Psychiatry (CNS) Pharmaceuticals, with a secondary code of HLAIACAC, Neurology & CNS Specialty Pharmaceuticals. Its NAICS code is 541714 and its SIC code is 2834.