Transneural Therapeutics Inc, a neuroscience-focused biotechnology company, on Wednesday reported new data on its lead candidate, TN-001, at the 64th Annual Meeting of the American College of Neuropsychopharmacology (ACNP) in Nassau, Bahamas.

The product is under development for both major depressive disorder (MDD) and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). It rapidly induces neuroplasticity, including synaptogenesis.

TN-001 is a potent partial agonist at the 5HT2A receptor, and full antagonist at the 5HT2B receptor.

In a rat neuronal cell culture assay, TN-001 rapidly induces statistically significant and dose-dependent structural neuroplasticity shown by increased number of neurons, synapses, and neurite network. Mice treated with TN-001 display an antidepressant phenotype, demonstrated by reduced immobility time in the forced swim test, a preclinical screening model for antidepressants. In the mouse head twitch response assay, TN-001 shows no activity, suggesting a lack of hallucinogenic or dissociative effects.

Additionally, TN-001 does not impair locomotor activity in mice at relevant therapeutic doses.

Roger McIntyre, MD, FRCPC, said: "Research has shown that neuroplasticity plays a crucial role in the pathophysiology of various neuropsychiatric disorders, including depression and PTSD. With a significant unmet need in both conditions, new treatment approaches are clearly needed. Given this reality, I believe that the neuroplasticity data seen with TN-001 are very encouraging."