HMNC Brain Health and Spruce Biosciences Announce First Patient Dosed in Phase 2 TAMARIND Trial For Major Depressive Disorder

Core Insights - HMNC Brain Health and Spruce Biosciences have initiated the Phase 2 clinical trial named TAMARIND to evaluate tildacerfont as a treatment for major depressive disorder (MDD) [2][3] - The trial aims to redefine depression treatment by targeting biological roots and utilizing a proprietary patient selection tool to identify patients likely to respond to the treatment [4][7] - Topline results from the TAMARIND trial are expected in the first half of 2026 [5] Company Overview - HMNC Brain Health is a global precision psychiatry biopharmaceutical company focused on developing personalized therapies for MDD [8] - Spruce Biosciences is a late-stage biopharmaceutical company that develops novel therapies for neurological disorders with significant unmet medical needs [8] Clinical Trial Details - The TAMARIND trial is a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study involving 88 adults with MDD, selected using HMNC's proprietary patient selection tool [5] - The primary endpoint is the change in depression total scores from baseline using the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale, with secondary endpoints assessing functional impairment and overall quality of life [5] Treatment Mechanism - Tildacerfont is a selective, non-steroidal oral antagonist of the CRF1 receptor, which regulates the HPA axis and is implicated in MDD [6] - By blocking the CRF1 receptor, tildacerfont may address hyperactive CRF neurotransmission and HPA axis dysfunction in MDD patients [6] Patient Selection Tool - HMNC's investigational-stage patient selection tool uses genetic markers to identify MDD patients who are more likely to benefit from CRF1 receptor antagonism [7] - This approach aims to improve treatment efficacy and reduce costs and time by moving away from a trial-and-error treatment paradigm [7]