atai Life Sciences' Glenn Short discusses the company's NIH grant and innovative discovery program – ICYMI

Core Insights - atai Life Sciences has received a highly competitive NIH grant to support its innovative discovery program targeting opioid use disorder (OUD) [1][6][13] - The company's approach focuses on developing serotonergic 2A/2C agonists with non-hallucinogenic potential, aiming to address the urgent need for new OUD treatments [3][8][15] Company Overview - atai Life Sciences began its discovery program in 2019, utilizing artificial intelligence to develop novel compounds for OUD [2][9] - The collaboration with Cyclica (now part of Recursion Pharma) enabled the company to design molecules with desired pharmacology while minimizing adverse effects [2][10] Scientific Approach - The discovery program has led to promising compounds that may reduce cravings and relapse risk by targeting serotonergic pathways [3][15] - The NIH grant validates the novelty and potential impact of atai's approach, which was positively reviewed by independent experts [7][8] Market Need - OUD affects approximately 16 million people globally, resulting in over 120,000 deaths annually, highlighting the pressing need for effective treatments [3][5][14] - Current therapies are limited, primarily targeting the mu opioid receptor, which does not adequately address trauma or compulsive drug-seeking behaviors [14][15] Future Directions - The NIH grant will provide non-dilutive funding to accelerate lead optimization and advance candidates into pre-clinical testing [13][16] - Public-private partnerships, such as the collaboration with the NIH, are expected to enhance the speed and efficiency of the development process [16]