Bright Minds Biosciences Inc. (NASDAQ: DRUG) has announced the appointment of Stephen D. Collins, M.D., Ph.D., as its Chief Medical Officer (CMO). Dr. Collins, an accomplished pharmaceutical leader with extensive expertise in epilepsy and CNS drug development, will assume the role immediately.
Dr. Collins' appointment comes as Bright Minds Biosciences focuses on addressing conditions with high unmet medical needs, including epilepsy, depression, and other central nervous system (CNS) disorders. Ian McDonald, CEO and Co-founder of Bright Minds Biosciences, expressed enthusiasm for Dr. Collins' arrival, citing his proven track record in R&D leadership and strategic oversight, from preclinical development to successful commercialization of drugs across various therapeutic areas.
Focus on Epilepsy and CNS Disorders
Dr. Collins stated his eagerness to investigate new chemical entities for treating rare epilepsies, highlighting the importance of this underserved therapeutic area. He will be involved in the BREAKTHROUGH Study, an open-label Phase 2 clinical trial evaluating the safety, tolerability, and efficacy of BMB-101 in adult patients with classic Absence Epilepsy and Developmental Epileptic Encephalopathy (DEE).
BMB-101: A Novel Approach to Seizure Relief
BMB-101, a novel scaffold 5-HT2CGq-protein biased agonist, was developed using structure-based drug design. It is explicitly designed for chronic treatment of neurological disorders where tolerance and drug resistance are common issues. The drug works exclusively via the Gq-protein signaling pathway and avoids beta-arrestin activation, which is crucial to minimize the risk of receptor desensitization and tolerance development.
In Phase 1 clinical studies, BMB-101 demonstrated a favorable safety profile and was well-tolerated at all doses. Target engagement studies using fluid and physical biomarkers confirmed robust central target engagement, with a qEEG signature typical for anti-epileptic drugs observed.
Dr. Collins' Background
Prior to joining Bright Minds, Dr. Collins served as CEO of Biscayne Neurotherapeutics and Biscayne Pharmaceuticals. He also held leadership positions at Neurotherapeutics Pharma and Ovation Pharmaceuticals, where he oversaw the development and approval of three anti-convulsant therapies, including Sabril for Infantile Spasms and Frisium for Lennox-Gastaut Syndrome.
Dr. Collins also served as a Global Director at Johnson & Johnson and worked in Abbott Laboratories’ Pharmaceutical and Hospital Products Divisions, contributing to the development of drugs for CNS indications, including Depakote, Depakote ER, Depacon, and Gabitril.
Bright Minds Biosciences: Pioneering CNS Therapies
Bright Minds Biosciences is dedicated to developing innovative treatments for patients with neurological and psychiatric disorders. Their pipeline includes novel compounds targeting key receptors in the brain to address conditions with high unmet medical needs. The company's focus is on delivering breakthrough therapies that can transform patients’ lives through a unique platform of highly selective serotonergic agonists.
