What PsychoGenics does

PsychoGenics is a private, CNS-focused preclinical contract research organization (CRO) headquartered in Paramus, New Jersey, founded in 1999. The company combines a comprehensive suite of standard preclinical services (behavioral testing, electrophysiology, EEG, biomarker analysis, histology, microdialysis, PK/PD, receptor occupancy) with four proprietary AI-enabled phenotypic drug discovery platforms branded as the Cube technologies: SmartCube (high-throughput automated behavioral phenotyping with ML classifiers trained on thousands of reference compounds), NeuroCube (computer vision-based gait analysis for motor and pain disorders), PhenoCube (continuous day-and-night observation of social, circadian, motor, and cognitive behaviors), and eCube (pharmaco-EEG with proprietary qEEG reference database). The SmartCube platform notably contributed to the discovery of ulotaront, now in Phase III clinical trials with Sumitomo Pharma for schizophrenia, depression, and anxiety. The company maintains AAALAC International accreditation (since 2007), PHS OLAW Assurance (since 2005), and DEA Schedule 1 handling capability, and has established more than 400 client relationships with a >70% client return rate.

PsychoGenics generates revenue through three primary streams: (1) fee-for-service preclinical CRO contracts for biopharmaceutical companies, academic institutions, and disease research foundations; (2) shared-risk drug discovery partnerships with major pharma (Sunovion, Roche, Karuna Therapeutics, Sumitomo Pharma), where the company applies its Cube platforms to discover novel compounds potentially yielding licensing/milestone revenue; and (3) non-dilutive government research grants and contracts, including a recent $80M NIH HEAL Initiative IDIQ contract over five years for pain therapeutic screening and SBIR grants from NIMH for rare disease and mental health programs. The company serves named customers including Sumitomo Pharma, Sunovion, Roche, Karuna Therapeutics, NIH/NIMH, the SMA Foundation, CHDI Foundation, TSC Alliance, CMTA, Michael J. Fox Foundation, Christopher & Dana Reeve Foundation, and Grace Science. Recent product line extensions include cell and gene therapy preclinical testing, psychedelics research, and microbiome studies, expanding beyond traditional CNS behavioral services.

The go-to-market motion is sales-led and B2B, relying on direct enterprise field sales, conference engagement (Society for Neuroscience, NNT, AHS), the Scientist.com marketplace (where the company achieved top supplier status), and long-term disease foundation partnerships that serve as both collaborators and referral channels. Pricing is quote-based and project-specific rather than publicly disclosed. The company has 101-250 employees, over 20% holding Ph.D.s, and is led by President and CEO Emer Leahy, Ph.D., MBA, with a Ph.D.-credentialed executive team across innovation, operations, research, and commercial functions.

Name

PsychoGenics

Legal name

PsychoGenics Inc.

Website

https://psychogenics.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2002

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

PsychoGenics is a private CNS-focused preclinical CRO that combines AI-enabled phenotypic drug discovery platforms (SmartCube, NeuroCube, PhenoCube, eCube) with full-service preclinical testing for biopharma, disease foundations, government agencies, and academic institutions.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Preclinical Contract Research Services

NAICS

Research and Development in Biotechnology (except Nanobiotechnology) (541714), Scientific Research and Development Services (5417), Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences (54171)

SIC

Services-Commercial Physical & Biological Research (8731)

akta.pro primary industry

Preclinical CROs (Discovery/Pharmacology/DMPK) (HLAGAAAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Specialty Therapeutic-Area CROs (e.g., oncology/rare disease) (HLAGAAAL), Nonclinical Study Management & Regulatory Writing (IND-enabling) (HLAGAFAN), Bioanalytical & Biomarker CROs (PK/PD/Immunogenicity) (HLAGAAAD)

Keywords

• Preclinical CNS research
• Contract research organization
• Phenotypic drug discovery
• Behavioral pharmacology services
• AI-enabled in vivo platforms

Headquarters

HQ city

Paramus

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Preclinical CRO Contract Services: PsychoGenics generates revenue primarily through fee-for-service contracts for preclinical CNS drug discovery research. Services include behavioral testing, electrophysiology, EEG studies, biomarker analysis, histology, microdialysis, PK/PD, and receptor occupancy studies. Revenue is project-based and recurring as clients return for additional studies (>70% client return rate).
2. Shared-Risk Drug Discovery Partnerships: PsychoGenics enters shared-risk partnerships with biopharma companies (Sunovion, Roche, Karuna) where the company applies its Cube platforms to discover novel compounds. Partnerships may include licensing of discovered compounds or milestone payments, representing an additional revenue stream alongside service fees.
3. Government Research Grants: PsychoGenics receives SBIR grants from NIH (NIMH) and government contracts (NIH HEAL Initiative) to fund specific drug discovery programs. These grants (e.g., $3M SBIR, $80M NIH IDIQ contract) provide non-dilutive funding for research activities.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

PsychoGenics is a preclinical contract research organization (CRO) that provides CNS-focused drug discovery and research services to biopharmaceutical companies, disease foundations, and government agencies. The company combines proprietary AI-enabled phenotypic platforms (SmartCube, NeuroCube, PhenoCube, eCube) with a full suite of preclinical services including behavioral testing, electrophysiology, EEG, biomarker analysis, histology, microdialysis, PK/PD, and receptor occupancy studies. It also engages in shared-risk drug discovery partnerships with major pharma, leading to clinical-stage compounds such as ulotaront.

Product overview

PsychoGenics is a preclinical Contract Research Organization (CRO) specializing in CNS and orphan disorder drug discovery. The company offers a platform-plus-services architecture centered on four proprietary AI-enabled Cube platforms: SmartCube (high-throughput behavioral phenotyping), NeuroCube (gait analysis for motor disorders), PhenoCube (continuous behavioral observation), and eCube (pharmaco-EEG analysis). These platforms work synergistically to predict therapeutic potential of compounds through machine learning. The service portfolio includes behavioral testing, electrophysiology, translational EEG, quantitative histology, molecular biology, microdialysis, PK/PD analysis, and receptor occupancy studies. PsychoGenics supports multiple therapeutic areas including mental illness, neurodegenerative disorders, neurodevelopmental disorders, neuromuscular disorders, pain disorders, rare CNS disorders, and sleep/seizure disorders. Emerging therapy capabilities include cell and gene therapy, psychedelics, and microbiome research.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• SmartCube® Automated high-throughput behavioral phenotyping platform that uses machine learning classifiers to extract behavioral signatures from millions of data points per mouse per session and predict therapeutic potential of novel compounds by comparison with a proprietary reference database of marketed drugs. Used for neuropsychiatric disorder drug discovery.
• NeuroCube® AI-driven gait analysis platform using computer vision to detect changes in gait geometry and dynamics in rodent models for assessing motor impairment disorders and pain treatments.
• PhenoCube® Continuous day-and-night observation platform that tracks social, circadian, motor, and cognitive behaviors in mice over extended periods using complex computer vision and automation to detect subtle disease phenotype changes.
• eCube® Pharmaco-EEG platform that records actigraphy and quantitative EEG from unanesthetized mice before and after drug administration, using proprietary machine learning classifiers and reference database to predict therapeutic utility at drug class and subclass levels.
• Behavioral and In Vivo Testing Comprehensive behavioral testing services offering over 50 behavioral assays applicable to most CNS disorders, with over 30 validated rodent disease models and surgical expertise for CNS dosing and implant placement.
• Drug Abuse Liability Services Specialized preclinical testing for drug abuse potential including self-administration, drug discrimination, conditioned place preference, relapse, and withdrawal models using rodent models.
• EEG Studies Full suite of preclinical EEG services including auditory evoked potentials, sleep/wake analyses, pharmaco-EEG, seizure analyses, longitudinal studies, power analysis, local field potential, and telemetry (tethered, wireless, piezoelectric), capable of recording up to 64 rats or mice simultaneously.
• Electrophysiology Preclinical electrophysiology services including slice electrophysiology, in vivo electrophysiology, long-term potentiation (LTP), long-term depression (LTD), whole-cell patch clamp, and neuronal network stimulation, recording, and analysis.
• Ex Vivo Sample Biomarker Analysis Biomarker analysis services including cell culture assays, transcript analysis by qPCR and RNAscope in situ hybridization, protein quantification by Western blot, and single/multiplex immunoassays using MesoScale, Luminex, Quanterix, and LC-MS/MS platforms.
• Histology and Immunohistochemistry (IHC) High-throughput quantitative histology services with expertise in sectioning and staining all rodent tissue types, specialized in CNS tissues, with advanced multiple immunohistochemical labeling procedures.
• Microdialysis Single or dual probe microdialysis studies for measuring neurotransmitters, peptides, and proteins in brain, blood, and other tissues, including push-pull microdialysis for large molecules and retrodialysis for drug delivery.
• Pharmacokinetic and Pharmacodynamic (PK/PD) Services Comprehensive preclinical PK and biomarker assessment combining in vivo dosing and tissue sampling with analytical platforms including LC-MS/MS for small molecules and peptides, and ELISA-based assays for larger molecules.
• Receptor Occupancy Services In vivo and ex vivo receptor occupancy services using selective radioligands and receptor autoradiography with the BeaQuant digital real-time autoradiography system, including in vivo receptor occupancy using LC-MS/MS for cold RO studies.
• Cell and Gene Therapy Development Preclinical testing services for cell and gene therapy products including AAV viral vectors, oligonucleotides, small molecules, and adoptive cell therapies, with BSL2 facilities and CNS dosing capabilities.
• Psychedelics Research Preclinical psychedelic research services with DEA schedule 1 drug handling capabilities, including secure storage infrastructure and custody protocols for studies with psilocybin, MDMA analogs, and CBD compounds.
• Microbiome Research Preclinical microbiome research services exploring interactions between microbiome, drug products, and health outcomes with controlled environment for consistency and minimized variability.

Quantifiable outcome

• A potential clinical candidate can be identified after screening fewer than 300 compounds in lead optimization — a fraction of compounds typically tested in target-based approaches — substantially reducing discovery timelines and costs.
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers13 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability7 records

Feature7 records

Partnerships

Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Collaborations PharmaceuticalscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 5 September 2023Awarded a $1 million SBIR grant to use AI tools for drug discovery targeting mental health disorders. The project aims to develop new treatments for complex neuropsychiatric disorders through machine learning and novel chemistry exploration.
• Karuna TherapeuticscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 11 October 2022Ongoing drug discovery collaboration extended in October 2022. PsychoGenics applies its Cube platforms and preclinical capabilities to discover novel CNS therapeutics.
• SunovioncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerShared-risk partnership for drug discovery using PsychoGenics' Cube platforms. Sunovion has collaborated with PsychoGenics to discover novel compounds for neuropsychiatric disorders.
• RochecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerShared-risk partnership using PsychoGenics' AI-enabled drug discovery platforms for CNS therapeutic programs.
• Sumitomo PharmacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration using SmartCube platform to discover ulotaront (SPD-503), an antipsychotic devoid of dopamine D2 receptor activity. Compound progressed to Phase III clinical trials for schizophrenia, depression, and anxiety.
• TSC AlliancecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLong-term collaboration and member of the TSC Preclinical Consortium. PsychoGenics characterizes mouse models of tuberous sclerosis complex and provides robust protocols for preclinical screening of novel therapies. Collaboration highlighted on Rare Disease Day.
• SMA FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for spinal muscular atrophy drug discovery research. PsychoGenics provides preclinical testing services and disease model expertise.
• CHDI FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner20+ year collaboration on Huntington's disease research. PsychoGenics has worked closely with CHDI characterizing mouse models of Huntington's disease, resulting in numerous publications and validated disease models.
• CMTAminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCharcot-Marie-Tooth Association partnership for preclinical research in neuromuscular disorders. PsychoGenics supports CMT disease model characterization and drug discovery.
• Michael J. Fox FoundationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for Parkinson's disease drug discovery research, utilizing PsychoGenics' disease models and preclinical capabilities.
• Christopher & Dana Reeve FoundationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for spinal cord injury research. PsychoGenics supports preclinical studies for neuroprotection and functional recovery therapeutics.
• Grace ScienceminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for rare disease drug discovery research using PsychoGenics' preclinical platforms.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• WuXi AppTec: Global CRO/CDMO with broad preclinical capabilities including CNS and behavioral testing. Comparable in preclinical service delivery to biopharma clients, though vastly larger and more diversified across geographies and modalities.
• Charles River Laboratories: One of the largest preclinical CROs globally with significant CNS and behavioral services. Comparable as a direct competitor in preclinical safety, behavioral, and CNS efficacy studies, though Charles River is far broader and more diversified across therapeutic areas.
• Labcorp Drug Development (Covance): Large clinical and preclinical CRO offering CNS, safety assessment, and biomarker services. Comparable in offering preclinical CNS studies alongside a much broader clinical and diagnostic portfolio.
• Eurofins Scientific: Global testing services group with preclinical and central laboratory capabilities relevant to CNS research. Comparable as a contract research services provider to biopharma clients in pharma discovery.

Emerging players

• Recursion Pharmaceuticals: AI-driven drug discovery company using phenotypic high-content imaging and machine learning. Comparable as a tech-forward phenotypic drug discovery platform, though Recursion is asset-driven rather than a fee-for-service CRO.

Direct peers

• Bionova Scientific: U.S.-based preclinical CRO providing GLP and research-grade services to biologics developers. Comparable as a mid-sized preclinical CRO targeting biopharma sponsors, with growing CNS-adjacent capabilities.
• Evotec SE: European-headquartered CRO/CDMO with deep CNS and neuroscience discovery capabilities, including AI-enabled drug discovery and shared-risk partnerships with pharma. Highly comparable as a discovery-focused CRO with strong CNS emphasis and tech-forward platforms.
• Porsolt: French preclinical CRO specialized in behavioral pharmacology and CNS efficacy models. Highly comparable as a smaller, specialist CNS preclinical CRO competing for similar biopharma and academic clients.
• Crown Bioscience: Preclinical CRO with translational platforms for oncology and other therapeutic areas, including CNS-related efficacy and biomarker work. Comparable in the preclinical CRO business model and pharma/biotech client base.
• Inotiv: U.S.-based preclinical CRO providing safety assessment, neurobehavioral, and research models. Directly comparable in preclinical CNS services, particularly behavioral and surgical models used in CNS drug discovery.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/psychogenicsinc

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds3 records

Investors2 records

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M&A

Investments

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

Frequently asked questions about PsychoGenics