Tortugas Neuroscience

What Tortugas Neuroscience does

Tortugas Neuroscience is a clinical-stage, neurology-focused biotechnology company founded in Framingham, Massachusetts in April 2026 by former Sage Therapeutics executives Jeff Jonas, M.D. (CEO) and Albert Robichaud, Ph.D. (President and Head of R&D). The company is organized around a single integrated pipeline of small-molecule central nervous system (CNS) drug candidates rather than a platform technology. Its portfolio comprises four in-licensed clinical-stage new chemical entities — TRTL-107 (a D2/D3 partial agonist and 5-HT2A antagonist for schizophrenia, sourced from Jiangsu Hansoh Pharmaceutical Group), TRTL-913 (a GABAAR positive allosteric modulator for tinnitus), TRTL-729 (an uncompetitive GAT-1 inhibitor for focal epilepsy, sourced from Eisai Co., Ltd.), and TRTL-118 (a PDE9 inhibitor for reversible encephalopathies) — together with a fifth undisclosed discovery-stage program. All clinical assets are positioned as once-daily oral formulations with derisked mechanisms of action, and the company's stated development strategy emphasizes building on existing clinical validation from its Asian pharma licensors to advance candidates through Phase 2 trials.

The business model is that of a pre-revenue, venture-backed clinical biotech. Tortugas launched with $106 million in combined Seed and Series A financing from Cure Ventures (founding investor), The Column Group, and AN Venture Partners, and has no commercial products, no current pricing, and no sales infrastructure; future revenue is expected to derive from pharmaceutical sales of CNS therapeutics and/or from out-licensing and royalty arrangements. The leadership team comprises eight named executives drawn predominantly from Sage Therapeutics (where many of them contributed to the FDA approvals of Zulresso and Zurzuvae) and from Shire, Lundbeck, Wyeth, Merck, BMS, AstraZeneca, GSK, and other large pharma. The Board of Directors is composed of representatives from each of the three founding investors. Today the company is focused entirely on advancing its lead schizophrenia and tinnitus programs through Phase 2 development, with no operational footprint outside its Framingham headquarters beyond the asset-licensing relationships with Eisai in Japan and Hansoh in Greater China.

Name

Tortugas Neuroscience

Legal name

Tortugas Neuroscience, Inc.

Website

https://tortugasneuro.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2026

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Tortugas Neuroscience is a clinical-stage, neurology-focused biotech developing in-licensed small-molecule CNS therapeutics for schizophrenia, tinnitus, focal epilepsy, and reversible encephalopathies. Founded in 2026 by former Sage Therapeutics executives with $106M in Seed and Series A funding.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

CNS Therapeutics

NAICS

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

SIC

Services-Commercial Physical & Biological Research (8731)

akta.pro primary industry

Neurology & CNS Specialty Pharmaceuticals (HLAIACAC)

akta.pro secondary industry

General Neurology (HLAKAIAA)

Keywords

• CNS drug development
• Clinical-stage biotech
• Small molecule therapeutics
• Neurology drug pipeline
• Central nervous system therapies

Headquarters

HQ city

Framingham

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Pre-revenue / clinical development stage: Tortugas Neuroscience is a pre-revenue, clinical-stage biotech that has not yet commercialized any product. Current operations are funded by $106 million in combined Seed and Series A financing. Future revenue, once products reach market, is expected to derive from pharmaceutical sales of CNS therapeutics (e.g., schizophrenia, tinnitus, focal epilepsy, reversible encephalopathies) and/or from out-licensing/royalty arrangements.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

Tortugas Neuroscience is a clinical-stage neurology-focused biotech that develops small-molecule central nervous system (CNS) drug candidates. The company in-licensed four clinical-stage assets from Eisai Co., Ltd. and Jiangsu Hansoh Pharmaceutical Group — TRTL-107 (D2/D3 partial agonist + 5-HT2A antagonist for schizophrenia), TRTL-913 (GABAAR PAM for tinnitus), TRTL-729 (uncompetitive GAT-1 inhibitor for focal epilepsy), and TRTL-118 (PDE9 inhibitor for reversible encephalopathies) — plus a discovery-stage undisclosed program. Operations focus on advancing the two lead candidates (TRTL-107 and TRTL-913) through Phase 2 clinical trials.

Product overview

Tortugas Neuroscience is a neurology-focused biotech company organized around a single integrated pipeline of small-molecule central nervous system (CNS) drug candidates, rather than a software platform. Its offering consists of four in-licensed clinical-stage assets — TRTL-107 (D2/D3 Partial Agonist, 5-HT2A Antagonist for Schizophrenia, from Hansoh), TRTL-913 (GABAAR PAM for Tinnitus), TRTL-729 (Uncompetitive GAT-1 Inhibitor for Focal Epilepsy, from Eisai), and TRTL-118 (PDE9 Inhibitor for Reversible Encephalopathies) — together with a discovery-stage undisclosed program. The two lead programs, TRTL-107 and TRTL-913, are being progressed through Phase 2 clinical trials under the unified "derisked mechanism of action" development strategy led by CEO Jeff Jonas and President/Head of R&D Al Robichaud, both formerly of Sage Therapeutics.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• TRTL-107 Small-molecule new chemical entity (NCE) characterized as a D2/D3 partial agonist and 5-HT2A antagonist, in-licensed from Jiangsu Hansoh Pharmaceutical Group and being developed as a once-daily, oral therapy for schizophrenia. Currently in Phase II clinical development.
• TRTL-913 Small-molecule GABAAR positive allosteric modulator (PAM) being developed as a once-daily, oral therapy for tinnitus. Part of the Phase 2-stage CNS pipeline prioritized for clinical advancement alongside TRTL-107.
• TRTL-729 Small-molecule uncompetitive GABA transporter-1 (GAT-1) inhibitor being developed for focal epilepsy. In-licensed from Eisai Co., Ltd., and part of Tortugas Neuroscience's clinical-stage CNS pipeline.
• TRTL-118 Small-molecule phosphodiesterase 9 (PDE9) inhibitor being developed for reversible encephalopathies. Designed for once-daily, oral dosing with potential for indication expansion.
• Discovery Program (Undisclosed) Early-stage discovery asset with undisclosed target and indication, positioned as the fifth entry in Tortugas Neuroscience's therapeutic pipeline to complement the four in-licensed clinical-stage CNS programs.

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Two partnerships are on record, tiered core / asset source.

• Eisai Co., Ltd.core / asset sourceOEM/ Whitelabel/ Licensing Partner · 21 April 2026Japanese pharmaceutical company Eisai Co., Ltd. (Tokyo) is the originator of clinical-stage CNS programs in-licensed by Tortugas, including the uncompetitive GAT-1 inhibitor TRTL-729 for focal epilepsy. Tortugas is advancing these Phase 2-stage assets under license.
• Jiangsu Hansoh Pharmaceutical Group Ltd.core / asset sourceOEM/ Whitelabel/ Licensing Partner · 21 April 2026Chinese pharmaceutical company Jiangsu Hansoh Pharmaceutical Group Ltd. (Greater China) is the originator of clinical-stage CNS programs in-licensed by Tortugas, including the D2/D3 partial agonist + 5-HT2A antagonist TRTL-107 for schizophrenia. Tortugas is advancing these Phase 2-stage assets under license.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Sage Therapeutics: Most directly comparable — Tortugas was founded by former Sage CEO Jeff Jonas and founding CSO Al Robichaud, who led Sage's discovery and approval of Zulresso and Zurzuvae. Sage was a CNS-focused biotech targeting neurological and neuropsychiatric disorders with small molecules, making it the closest analogue in business model, pipeline focus, and team DNA.
• Noema Therapeutics: Clinical-stage CNS biotech developing therapies for neurological disorders; CEO Jeff Jonas also serves as Chairman of Noema. Directly comparable CNS focus and team overlap, with both companies sharing Jonas as a senior leader.
• Karuna Therapeutics: CNS-focused clinical-stage biotech that developed xanomeline-trospium (Cobenfy) for schizophrenia, now part of BMS following acquisition. Directly comparable target indication (schizophrenia, where Tortugas' TRTL-107 is positioned) and similarly small-molecule CNS approach.
• Praxis Precision Medicines: Clinical-stage biotech focused on CNS disorders including focal epilepsy — directly comparable to Tortugas' TRTL-729 (focal epilepsy) program. Small-molecule approach with multiple indications, similar pre-revenue clinical-stage profile.
• Neumora Therapeutics: Clinical-stage CNS biotech with a broad pipeline targeting neuroscience indications including schizophrenia and neurological disorders. Comparable in business model (multi-asset CNS biotech), stage (clinical), and therapeutic focus.
• Cerevel Therapeutics: Clinical-stage CNS biotech with a portfolio of small-molecule candidates across schizophrenia, epilepsy, and Parkinson's disease. Acquired by AbbVie in 2024. Closely aligned in therapeutic focus (CNS small molecules, multiple indications) and business model (pre-commercial clinical-stage development).

Broad incumbents

• Acadia Pharmaceuticals: Established CNS biopharmaceutical company with commercial products (Nuplazid, Daybue) targeting neurological and psychiatric disorders. Comparable CNS therapeutic focus, but operates as a broad commercial-stage incumbent with diversified revenue.
• Axsome Therapeutics: Commercial-stage CNS biopharmaceutical company with approved therapies (Auvelity, Sunosi) in depression, narcolepsy, and migraine. Comparable CNS focus and oral small-molecule approach, but a more advanced stage with commercial revenue.

Emerging players

• Longboard Pharmaceuticals: Clinical-stage CNS biotech developing therapies for focal epilepsy — directly overlapping with Tortugas' TRTL-729 program. Comparable small-molecule approach, pre-commercial clinical stage, and epilepsy indication focus. Acquired by Lundbeck in 2024.
• BioXcel Therapeutics: Clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company applying AI to develop CNS therapies, including agitation in dementia and schizophrenia. Comparable clinical-stage CNS focus with small-molecule candidates targeting neuropsychiatric indications.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/tortugasneuro

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles13 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds3 records

Investors3 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 Tortugas Neuroscience