Bright Minds' BMB-201 Shows Morphine-like Efficacy in Preclinical Pain Models

Bright Minds Biosciences Inc. (NASDAQ: DRUG), a leading biotechnology firm, has reported favorable results from the preclinical evaluation of its drug candidate, BMB-201. Conducted in collaboration with the National Institute of Health pain screening (PSPP) program, these tests have shown promising outcomes for treating pain.

BMB-201, a selective 5-HT2A/2C receptor agonist, was tested in various preclinical pain models, including plantar incision and L5/L6 nerve ligation in rats. Morphine and gabapentin were used as positive controls for comparison. The results revealed that BMB-201 displayed similar efficacy to morphine in alleviating mechanical allodynia and pain-related behaviors in nerve ligation models. Additionally, female rodents exhibited significant pain reduction and improved guarding behavior, particularly at higher doses, suggesting BMB-201's potential as an effective pain relief option.

The findings indicate that BMB-201 could offer an alternative to traditional opioid treatments, potentially minimizing the risks of dependency and side effects associated with opioids. Jan Torleif Pedersen, Chief Scientific Officer of Bright Minds, remarked on the importance of these findings, emphasizing the potential of serotonergic therapies in pain management.

Following these encouraging preclinical results, Bright Minds plans to advance BMB-201 into clinical trials to further investigate its safety and efficacy in humans. The company aims to establish BMB-201 as a non-opioid solution for neuropathic pain relief, addressing a substantial need in the pain management field. BMB-201 represents a novel mechanism of action for modulating pain perception.

These preclinical findings were presented at the Society for Neuroscience’s annual meeting during the NIH Satellite Forum. Further information is available on Bright Minds Biosciences' website.

BMB-201 has been designed to leverage the analgesic potential of serotonin modulation without inducing the hallucinogenic effects typically linked to 5-HT2A activation. As a prodrug of BMB-A39a, BMB-201 exhibits minimal activity at the 5-HT2B receptor, thereby reducing the likelihood of side effects.

Bright Minds Biosciences is a biotechnology company dedicated to developing advanced treatments for neurological and psychiatric conditions. The company’s pipeline consists of innovative compounds targeting key brain receptors to address conditions with significant unmet medical needs, such as epilepsy, depression, and other CNS disorders. Bright Minds is committed to delivering transformative therapies for patients.

The company's unique platform of highly selective serotonergic agonists, which exhibit selectivity across different serotonergic receptors, has resulted in a promising portfolio of new chemical entities (NCE) programs in neurology and psychiatry.