What Gate Neurosciences does

Syndeio Biosciences (formerly Gate Neurosciences) is a clinical-stage, synapse-focused biotechnology company headquartered in Indianapolis, Indiana, with an R&D facility in Menlo Park, California. It is developing a new class of therapies for neuropsychiatric and cognitive disorders — including major depressive disorder, Alzheimer's disease, and schizophrenia — that act as positive allosteric modulators (PAMs) of the NMDA receptor to restore synaptic function through event-driven pharmacology, in which a single dose is intended to trigger lasting biological changes that strengthen neuronal connections.

The company's scientific engine is the Boost Platform™, a proprietary synapse pharmacology model originated in Nobel laureate Thomas C. Südhof's Stanford laboratory and extended through the February 2025 acquisition of Boost Neuroscience, which contributed a human induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC)-based human synapse network platform. Its clinical pipeline is led by zelquistinel, an oral NMDAR PAM currently in two Phase 2 studies in MDD at nearly 30 US sites (with 500 participants dosed across three trials to date) and an imminent Alzheimer's biomarker trial, and by apimostinel, an injectable NMDAR PAM that has completed three clinical trials and is in an ongoing Phase 2a study pairing the drug with digital therapy at the University of Pittsburgh. Clinical operations use precision-neuroscience tools — quantitative EEG, machine learning, and polysomnography — via a partnership with Beacon Biosignals.

Syndeio is pre-revenue and does not yet generate product sales. Its business model is licensing/royalty-oriented: the company funds R&D and clinical trials through equity financing (approximately $41.1M raised across 2020–2022 from investors including BioCrossroads, Innoviva, Luson Bioventures, and Thornapple River Capital) and intends to commercialize or license drug candidates upon regulatory approval. Customer-facing activity is currently limited to clinical trial sites and academic collaborators rather than commercial prescribers or payers.

Name

Gate Neurosciences

Legal name

Syndeio Biosciences

Website

https://www.gateneuro.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2018

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Syndeio Biosciences is a clinical-stage biotech developing oral and injectable NMDA receptor positive allosteric modulators (zelquistinel, apimostinel) that restore synaptic function to treat major depressive disorder, Alzheimer's disease, and other CNS disorders, using its proprietary Boost Platform™ derived from Nobel laureate Thomas Südhof's Stanford laboratory.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Biopharmaceutical CNS Drug Development

NAICS

Research and Development in Biotechnology (except Nanobiotechnology) (541714), Other Scientific and Technical Consulting Services (54169)

SIC

Pharmaceutical Preparations (2834), In Vitro & In Vivo Diagnostic Substances (2835)

akta.pro primary industry

Neurology & Psychiatry (CNS) Pharmaceuticals (HLAIAAAF)

akta.pro secondary industry

Neurology & CNS Specialty Pharmaceuticals (HLAIACAC)

Keywords

• Clinical-stage biotechnology
• Neuropsychiatric drug development
• Synapse-targeted therapies
• CNS disorder treatments
• NMDA receptor modulators

Headquarters

HQ city

Carmel

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Pharmaceutical Development: As a clinical-stage biotech company, Gate Neurosciences/Syndeio Biosciences does not yet generate product revenue. The company is focused on developing drug candidates through clinical trials with plans to commercialize or license therapies upon approval.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Gate Neurosciences (now operating as Syndeio Biosciences) is a synapse-focused, clinical-stage biotech that develops drug candidates targeting central nervous system (CNS) disorders, including major depressive disorder and Alzheimer's disease. Its pipeline is led by Zelquistinel, an oral NMDAR positive allosteric modulator in Phase 2 studies for MDD, and Apimostinel, a rapid-acting injectable NMDAR PAM for severe CNS disorders, both discovered and characterized using its proprietary Boost Platform™ synapse pharmacology technology.

Product overview

Gate Neurosciences (now operating as Syndeio Biosciences) is a synapse-focused biotech pioneering a new class of therapies for neuropsychiatric and cognitive disorders. The company operates the Boost Platform™ (a proprietary synapse pharmacology technology developed at Stanford University) to develop drug candidates with differentiated mechanisms of action. The product portfolio includes Zelquistinel (an oral NMDAR PAM in Phase 2 for MDD) and Apimostinel (an injectable NMDAR PAM in Phase 2a for severe CNS disorders), both designed to restore synaptic function through event-driven pharmacology. The company employs precision neuroscience approaches including quantitative EEG, machine learning, and polysomnography for patient enrichment.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Quantifiable outcome

• 22.9% CAGR projected growth in neuroplasticity market through 2030
• +1 more outcomes

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Boost NeurosciencecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 February 2025Gate Neurosciences acquired Boost Neuroscience, a California-based biotech startup, to enhance its technological capabilities by incorporating Boost's proprietary human synapse network platform. The acquisition includes Boost's discovery platform and facilities, contributing to Gate's development of CNS disorder treatments including Phase 2 depression drug.
• Beacon BiosignalscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerClinical partnership employing FDA 510(k)-cleared DREEM 3S device to capture biomarkers in clinical studies. The company uses Beacon Biosignals' technology for objective biomarker measurement and quantitative EEG analysis.
• University of PittsburghminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerOngoing Phase 2a trial evaluating apimostinel paired with digital therapy to enhance neuroplasticity-driven benefits, conducted in collaboration with University of Pittsburgh.
• Thomas C. Südhof Laboratory (Stanford University)coreTechnology or IntegrationOrigin of Boost Platform technology created out of Nobel laureate Thomas C. Südhof's Stanford University laboratory. The platform integrates molecular, functional, and behavioral models to explore synapse biology and drug candidate optimization.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Axsome Therapeutics: Axsome developed Auvelity, an NMDA-receptor-targeting therapy for major depressive disorder. Closely comparable as a CNS-focused biotech commercializing rapid-acting NMDA-mechanism antidepressants.
• Sage Therapeutics: Sage Therapeutics develops CNS therapies including Zurzuvae (zuranolone) for postpartum depression, and previously pursued NMDA-related mechanisms. Directly comparable as a CNS-focused clinical-stage pharma targeting depression with novel mechanisms.
• Neumora Therapeutics: Neumora Therapeutics is a clinical-stage neuroscience company developing precision medicines for neuropsychiatric disorders and neurodegenerative diseases, with a pipeline including NMDA-targeting assets. Directly comparable CNS biotech with similar therapeutic focus.
• Alto Neuroscience: Alto Neuroscience is a clinical-stage CNS biotech developing precision psychiatry medicines for depression and other neuropsychiatric conditions using biomarker-driven patient stratification. Directly comparable in target indication, stage, and precision-neuroscience approach.

Emerging players

• COMPASS Pathways: COMPASS Pathways develops psilocybin-based therapies for treatment-resistant depression, addressing the same depression population as Gate/Syndeio with an alternative novel mechanism. Comparable as a clinical-stage emerging CNS player pursuing rapid-acting depression therapies.
• Karuna Therapeutics: Karuna Therapeutics (acquired by Bristol-Myers Squibb) developed xanomeline-trospium (Cobenfy) for schizophrenia, targeting muscarinic receptors for CNS indications. Comparable as a CNS-focused clinical-stage biotech with a novel neurotransmitter-based mechanism for neuropsychiatric disorders.
• Minerva Neurosciences: Minerva Neurosciences is a clinical-stage CNS biotech developing roluperidone for schizophrenia and other neuropsychiatric indications. Comparable as a small-cap CNS clinical-stage company pursuing novel mechanisms in schizophrenia and depression.

Broad incumbents

• Intra-Cellular Therapies: Intra-Cellular Therapies (now part of J&J) developed Caplyta for schizophrenia and bipolar depression, serving overlapping patient populations in CNS. Comparable as a CNS-focused pharma with approved/de-risked CNS assets and commercial infrastructure.
• Acadia Pharmaceuticals: Acadia Pharmaceuticals commercializes CNS therapies including Nuplazid for Parkinson's disease psychosis and Daybue for Rett syndrome. Comparable as a broader CNS pharma serving overlapping neuropsychiatric patient populations with specialized mechanisms.
• Janssen Pharmaceuticals (Johnson & Johnson): Janssen developed and commercializes Spravato (esketamine) for treatment-resistant depression, the benchmark NMDAR-targeted rapid-acting antidepressant. Highly comparable as the incumbent in the NMDAR depression space that Gate/Syndeio aims to differentiate against.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/gate-neurosciences-inc

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles11 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds3 records

Investors4 records

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

M&A1 record

Investments

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

Frequently asked questions about Gate Neurosciences