Business
Model
Today’s antidepressant market is dominated by therapeutic concepts that are decades old. Shortcomings of existing drugs consist of undesired side effects, delayed onset of action and a significant number of patients who will not respond to the drug at all.
Essentially, all available antidepressants are based on the idea that the disease is caused by decreased levels of certain chemicals (called monoamines) in the brain. Today, depression is thought to be the outcome of complex environmental-gene interactions, with monoamines being only one factor relevant to the development of the disease. However, a more comprehensive understanding of biological mechanisms and genetic predispositions for the disease needs to be developed.
Affectis is in a very advantageous position, having identified and validated several innovative target genes that play an important role in depression and anxiety. These targets are directly drugable and can lead to the discovery of entirely new classes of antidepressant and anxiolytic drugs which do not only suppress the symptoms but address the underlying mechanisms of the disease.
The Company has excellent capabilities to move its proprietary drug candidates all the way through from discovery to clinical development. In parallel, Affectis will pursue partnerships with top-tier companies for joint drug discovery and development activities.
Furthermore, Affectis´ extensive expertise in behavioural pharmacology has led to selected research agreements with the pharmaceutical industry.
Today’s antidepressant market is dominated by therapeutic concepts that are decades old. Shortcomings of existing drugs consist of undesired side effects, delayed onset of action and a significant number of patients who will not respond to the drug at all.
Essentially, all available antidepressants are based on the idea that the disease is caused by decreased levels of certain chemicals (called monoamines) in the brain. Today, depression is thought to be the outcome of complex environmental-gene interactions, with monoamines being only one factor relevant to the development of the disease. However, a more comprehensive understanding of biological mechanisms and genetic predispositions for the disease needs to be developed.
Affectis is in a very advantageous position, having identified and validated several innovative target genes that play an important role in depression and anxiety. These targets are directly drugable and can lead to the discovery of entirely new classes of antidepressant and anxiolytic drugs which do not only suppress the symptoms but address the underlying mechanisms of the disease.
The Company has excellent capabilities to move its proprietary drug candidates all the way through from discovery to clinical development. In parallel, Affectis will pursue partnerships with top-tier companies for joint drug discovery and development activities.
Furthermore, Affectis´ extensive expertise in behavioural pharmacology has led to selected research agreements with the pharmaceutical industry.