4M Therapeutics Unveils Promising Preclinical Data on GSK3β Inhibitors for Bipolar Disorder at SOBP 2024

4M Therapeutics Inc., a nascent biotechnology firm dedicated to developing therapies for neuropsychiatric and neurodegenerative conditions, recently presented a poster at the Society of Biological Psychiatry (SOBP) Annual Meeting held from May 9-11, 2024, in Austin, Texas. The poster, titled “The Effects of Novel Small Molecules in a Preclinical Model of Positive Affective State,” was showcased on May 11, 2024.

Dr. Pablo Lapuerta, Chief Executive Officer and Co-Founder of 4M Therapeutics, emphasized the significance of their novel small molecules in effectively targeting GSK3β, demonstrating their potential for treating bipolar disorder and acute mania. Dr. Lapuerta expressed the company's dedication to advancing therapeutic options that could offer substantial improvements in safety and efficacy over current standard treatments for neuropsychiatric conditions. The company is progressing towards initiating a Phase 1 clinical trial for their leading investigational compound in 2025.

The poster detailed the effects of two of 4M Therapeutics’ glycogen synthase kinase 3 beta (GSK3β) inhibitors, 4MT-A and 4MT-B. These inhibitors were tested on amphetamine (AMP)-induced positive appetitive ultrasonic vocalizations (USVs), a recognized model of positive affective state. When treated with AMP, there was a significant increase in USVs; however, this increase was mitigated by lithium. More notably, 4MT-A and 4MT-B, even at concentrations 1/500th to 1/1000th of that of lithium, showed equal or greater reductions in USVs. This trend was consistent across different USV categories and throughout the first and second hour following AMP administration.

Further supporting data demonstrated that 4MT-A engaged its target effectively by reducing pCRMP2 in vitro in excitatory cortical neurons and in vivo in rat brain. These reductions in pCRMP2 were statistically significant, indicating successful GSK3β inhibition and its impact on an important biomarker.

4M Therapeutics Inc. focuses on advancing treatments for a broad range of neuropsychiatric and neurodegenerative conditions. The company leverages unique insights from its living human brain cell platform, developed through a collaboration involving Harvard, MIT, and the University of Washington. This platform aids in identifying and designing more effective and safer therapeutic treatments. The company's pipeline includes potential breakthrough treatments for various central nervous system (CNS) disorders, including bipolar mania, agitation in Alzheimer’s disease, and neurodegeneration.