Founded in 2005, CeNeRx is a biopharmaceutical company developing and commercializing innovative treatments for diseases of the central nervous system (CNS) and for the enhancement of positive mental and physical health. We are based in the Research Triangle Park region of North Carolina, an area rich in world-class medical research and biopharmaceutical expertise and resources.
The company focuses on identifying and developing therapeutics to treat disorders related to neurotransmitters and the nervous system. CeNeRx is developing a balanced portfolio that includes clinical-stage therapeutics related to depression and anxiety and an earlier-stage pipeline of candidates for treating pain, epilepsy, glaucoma, spasticity and a variety of other CNS-related conditions.
Our most advanced program includes a series of compounds known as RIMAs (reversible inhibitors of monoamine oxidase-A). Our lead product candidate, TriRima™, is in Phase II development for the treatment of major depressive disorder. It offers a unique triple action mechanism and may help patients who have not previously responded to traditional antidepressant therapy. In addition to helping patients with major depressive disorder, TriRima may uniquely address symptoms of fatigue and low energy, which are commonly reported by patients with atypical depression, a subtype for which there are currently no FDA-approved treatments. TriRima is unique in its selective and reversible binding to monoamine oxidase-A (MAO-A), which minimizes the food interactions that limited the use of earlier generations of related compounds.
In addition to our RIMA program, CeNeRx is also advancing an HPA axis modulator program. CXB722 and its prodrug Ayrene (CXB724) are hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis modulators being developed for the treatment of a variety of CNS disorders including anxiety and depression. In a recent clinical trial, CXB722 showed potential as a novel anxiolytic, demonstrating a significant effect on both endocrine and cardiovascular biomarkers associated with stress. Based on clinical and preclinical studies, the CeNeRx HPA axis modulator drugs are not expected to show the impairment of motor performance seen with traditional anxiolytic drugs.
CeNeRx is also advancing a promising preclinical program that includes multiple cannabinoid compounds that have demonstrated application in the treatment of pain, glaucoma and spasticity. Unlike other cannabinoid programs, a subset of the CeNeRx cannabinoids do not penetrate the CNS or brain, thus potentially eliminating the unwanted CNS depression and abuse and scheduling issues associated with other cannabinoid programs.
Our team consists of accomplished pharmaceutical industry veterans who have direct experience in developing and launching important new drugs and proven business development success in identifying and accessing novel preclinical and development-stage compounds.