What Balance Therapeutics does

Balance Therapeutics is a privately held clinical-stage R&D company developing small-molecule therapeutics for cognitive deficits associated with neurological disabilities resulting from excess inhibition of the brain. The company was founded in 2009 and is headquartered in San Bruno, California, with a wholly owned subsidiary in Melbourne, Australia supporting clinical operations. Its core technology is a pharmacological platform licensed from Stanford University that antagonizes excessive inhibitory circuits at neuronal synapses to restore the balance between inhibition and excitation, addressing what the company identifies as a common mechanism underlying cognitive impairment across different conditions.

The company's lead product candidate, DS102, is an oral small molecule being developed to address cognitive deficits in Down syndrome. Clinical study DS102 is a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial enrolling 90 subjects with Down syndrome ages 13 to 35 in Australia, with primary endpoints covering safety and preliminary efficacy across memory, language, and electrophysiological measures. The company has also disclosed research activity targeting cognitive impairment in Alzheimer's disease using the same mechanistic rationale, and has received significant R&D support from the U.S. National Institutes of Health alongside three rounds of private venture financing from Mohr Davidow Ventures, OrbiMed Advisors, Rock Springs Capital, Pappas Ventures, and Oakmont Corporation.

Balance Therapeutics has no commercialized products and therefore generates no product revenue. Its business model is pre-commercial and dependent on equity financing and non-dilutive grant funding to advance its clinical pipeline. End markets are large and fragmented: the company cites a Down syndrome population of approximately 400,000 in the U.S. and nearly 6 million worldwide, and an Alzheimer's population of over 6 million in the U.S. and 27 million globally. Pricing and go-to-market strategy are not yet applicable given the early clinical stage.

Name

Balance Therapeutics

Legal name

Balance Therapeutics, Inc.

Website

https://balance-therapeutics.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2009

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Balance Therapeutics is a clinical-stage R&D company developing an oral small molecule (DS102) that targets over-inhibition in the brain to treat cognitive deficits in Down syndrome, with additional research activity in Alzheimer's disease. It is privately held and pre-revenue.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Neurology Therapeutics

NAICS

Research and Development in Biotechnology (except Nanobiotechnology) (541714)

akta.pro primary industry

Neurology & CNS Specialty Pharmaceuticals (HLAIACAC)

Keywords

• Central nervous system therapeutics
• Down syndrome therapeutics
• Alzheimer's disease treatment
• Clinical-stage biotechnology
• Small molecule drug development

Headquarters

HQ city

San Bruno

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, Infrastructure

Core offering

Balance Therapeutics develops small molecule therapeutics that address neurological disabilities caused by excess inhibition of the brain. Its lead candidate, DS102, is an oral small molecule in clinical trials for cognitive deficits associated with Down syndrome, antagonizing excessive inhibitory circuits at neuronal synapses to restore synaptic balance. The company also pursues research programs targeting Alzheimer's disease cognitive impairment.

Product overview

Balance Therapeutics is a R&D company developing therapeutics for neurological disabilities resulting from excess inhibition of the brain. The company's core product is DS102, a small molecule therapeutic administered orally for cognitive deficits associated with Down syndrome. Balance Therapeutics also maintains research programs targeting Alzheimer's disease. Their pharmacological approach, licensed from Stanford University, antagonizes excessive inhibitory circuits to restore proper synaptic balance for memory and learning.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• DS102 DS102 is an oral small molecule therapeutic developed to address cognitive deficits in Down syndrome. It antagonizes excessive inhibitory circuits in the brain to restore proper balance between inhibition and excitation at neuronal synapses, based on technology licensed from Stanford University. It is currently being evaluated in clinical trials for individuals with Down syndrome ages 13-35.

Quantifiable outcome

• 10-20% cognitive improvement could enable greater independence and community integration for Down syndrome patients

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• Stanford UniversitycoreTechnology or IntegrationTechnology licensed from Stanford University for developing therapeutics addressing neurological disabilities from excess brain inhibition. The licensed technology is based on research showing over-inhibition as the molecular basis for cognitive impairment.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Intra-Cellular Therapies: CNS specialty pharma (Caplyta) founded on small molecule neuroscience research — directly comparable business model, target indication space, and specialty pharma commercialization pathway.
• Marinus Pharmaceuticals: Clinical-stage CNS biotech focused on seizure disorders and rare neurological conditions with a small molecule pipeline — matches Balance's clinical-stage CNS drug developer profile.
• Sage Therapeutics: CNS-focused small molecule developer (Zulresso, Zurzuvae) targeting neurological and psychiatric disorders with novel mechanisms — same core model as Balance Therapeutics' CNS small molecule strategy.
• Anavex Life Sciences: Clinical-stage biotech developing small molecules for Alzheimer's disease, Rett syndrome, and other CNS disorders — directly comparable neurology specialty pharma with shared mechanism-driven CNS approach.
• Axsome Therapeutics: CNS-focused clinical-stage company developing novel small molecules for neurological and psychiatric indications (e.g., Auvelity) — directly analogous CNS small molecule strategy and stage.

Broad incumbents

• Denali Therapeutics: Biotech developing small molecules and biologics for neurodegenerative diseases (Alzheimer's, Parkinson's) — matches CNS mechanism-based R&D approach and Down syndrome/Alzheimer's therapeutic area, with broader pipeline and resources.
• Acadia Pharmaceuticals: Established CNS specialty pharma (Nuplazid, Daybue) with broader neurology portfolio and commercial-stage revenues — comparable CNS therapeutic area and patient populations, but larger and commercial-stage.

Emerging players

• Cortexyme: Clinical-stage biotech developing small molecule therapies targeting neurodegenerative disease mechanisms — overlaps with Balance's CNS small molecule approach and Down syndrome/Alzheimer's indication.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights5 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/balance-therapeutics-inc-

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds2 records

Investors3 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 Balance Therapeutics