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PDE4B Inhibitors For Treating Major Depression

Award Information
Agency: Department of Health and Human Services
Branch: National Institutes of Health
Contract: 2R44MH091791-03
Agency Tracking Number: R44MH091791
Amount: $3,003,708.00
Phase: Phase II
Program: SBIR
Solicitation Topic Code: NIMH
Solicitation Number: PA12-088
Timeline
Solicitation Year: 2013
Award Year: 2013
Award Start Date (Proposal Award Date): N/A
Award End Date (Contract End Date): 2019-08-31
Small Business Information
910 ROSEWOOD AVE SE
GRAND RAPIDS, MI 49506-3362
United States
DUNS: 967529939
HUBZone Owned: No
Woman Owned: No
Socially and Economically Disadvantaged: No
Principal Investigator
 MARK GURNEY
 (616) 635-0937
 mark@tetradiscovery.com
Business Contact
 MARK GURNEY
Phone: (616) 635-0937
Email: mark@tetradiscovery.com
Research Institution
 Stub
Abstract

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): Tetra Discovery Partners proposes to develop a new treatment for major depressive disorder based on inhibition of phosphodiesterase 4B (PDE4B). Uniquely, the Tetra drug will address inflammation as a contributor to depression. This is a new mechanism of action for an antidepressant drug which should prove complimentary to current therapeutics. Addressing inflammation will target currently untreatable patients, such as those receiving interferon-a (IFNa) for viral illness, depressed patients with co-morbid psoriasis, inflammatory bowel disease, traumatic brain injury, or post-traumatic stress disorder. Given the limitations of current treatments, there is a need for new medications with novel mechanisms of action. The prevalence of major depression is staggering with around 20% of people experiencing depression at some point in their lives. The company estimates that 10-20% of patients with depression have inflammation and will be ideal candidates for the Tetra drug. The market for antidepressant drugs is expected to grow at a CAGR of 3.2% to US 10.9 billion by 2018. The World Health Organization predicts that by 2020, depression will rival heart disease as the health disorder with the highest disease burden in the world. The Phase II SBIR project will complete chemical optimization of a PDE4B inhibitor for use in human and the preclinical safety and toxicity studies needed for filing an Investigational New Drug (IND) application with the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for human clinical trials in major depression. PUBLIC HEALTH RELEVANCE PUBLIC HEALTH RELEVANCE: The prevalence of major depression is staggering with around 20% of people experiencing depression at some point in their lives. Thus, there is a need for new medications with novel mechanisms of action. The company proposes to develop phosphodiesterase-4B (PDE4B) inhibitors with a unique antidepressant/anti-inflammatory profile for treating depression.

* Information listed above is at the time of submission. *

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