Sparian Biosciences Receives $19.5M NIH/NIDA Grant for SBS-226 Development

Sparian Biosciences, Inc., a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company specializing in central nervous system (CNS) disorders, has secured a significant financial boost to advance the development of their novel drug, SBS-226. This $19.5 million grant, awarded by the National Institutes of Health / National Institute of Drug Abuse (NIH/NIDA) under the Help End Addiction Long-Term (HEAL) initiative, will fund the drug’s development from Investigational New Drug (IND) submission through Phase 1 clinical trials.

SBS-226 stands out as a first-in-class dual-action compound, functioning as a partial agonist at the mu opiate receptor (MOR) and a full antagonist at the delta opiate receptor (DOR). This unique mechanism makes SBS-226 particularly promising for treating opiate use disorder (OUD) and opiate withdrawal syndrome (OWS). Pre-clinical models have demonstrated the drug’s efficacy in reducing withdrawal symptoms even in cases where acute opiate intoxication has been reversed. Notably, SBS-226 does not trigger withdrawal symptoms in subjects chronically exposed to highly potent opioids, distinguishing it from current market medications for OUD.

Jeff Reich, M.D., Chief Executive Officer and Co-founder of Sparian Biosciences, emphasized the urgent need for innovative treatments in the field of substance use disorders, particularly given the limited advancement in drug development despite the ongoing opiate crisis. Reich expressed optimism that SBS-226 could provide a safer and more effective alternative to existing treatments, notably by avoiding the issue of precipitated withdrawal.

This recent funding marks the third grant awarded to Sparian by NIH/NIDA, bringing the company’s total government grant support to over $60 million. This funding has been instrumental in advancing four key programs, including SBS-1000, a non-opioid analgesic that has just completed Phase 1 clinical trials, and SBS-518, a dual sigma receptor antagonist and dopamine transporter inhibitor aimed at treating stimulant use disorder (StUD).

Dr. Reich also highlighted the critical role of NIH/NIDA’s HEAL initiative in fostering innovation and entrepreneurship focused on treating substance use disorders. He expressed pride in Sparian’s ongoing collaboration with esteemed academic partners such as Washington University, the National Institute of Drug Abuse (NIDA), and Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center.

Opiate Use Disorder (OUD) remains a significant public health challenge in the United States, with over four million people affected and approximately 75,000 opioid-related overdose deaths reported in 2023. Despite the availability of U.S. Food and Drug Administration-approved treatments, various barriers have hindered their widespread and effective adoption. A new drug like SBS-226, with its novel mechanism of action, presents an opportunity to overcome these challenges, potentially transforming the treatment landscape and addressing this pressing health crisis more effectively.

Sparian Biosciences is dedicated to developing groundbreaking therapies to meet significant medical needs, with a focus on both acute and chronic pain, opioid use disorder (OUD), acute opioid overdose, and stimulant use disorder (StUD). Co-founded by Jeff Reich, M.D., and Gavril Pasternak, M.D., Ph.D., the company originated from Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center. To date, Sparian has received substantial support from NIH, including three NIDA UG3/UH3 grants and an SBIR grant, totaling over $60 million.

The recent grant for SBS-226 underscores the ongoing commitment to advancing treatments for substance use disorders, promising new hope for those struggling with addiction and withdrawal.