Bexorg, Inc., a pioneering techbio company working to decode the human brain and advance new therapies for central nervous system (CNS) disorders, announced a multi-programme research collaboration with Biohaven Ltd. to identify, de-risk, and advance next-generation therapies for CNS disorders. As part of the collaboration, Bexorg’s novel whole-brain discovery platform will be used to demonstrate target engagement in relevant cell types and tissues and generate novel biomarkers, pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic relationships, and other mechanistic data to support two preclinical development programs at Biohaven. 

Bexorg’s whole-brain discovery platform is the only technology capable of perfusing isolated, cadaver human and pig brains with custom-made artificial blood, thereby restoring metabolic and molecular activity for prolonged periods. Bexorg’s founders developed the whole-brain perfusion technology at Yale University. Using it, the company can extract high-resolution transcriptomic, proteomic, and metabolic insights in disease-relevant states. With this information, Bexorg is building the largest and most physiologically relevant datasets in human neurodegeneration to enable machine learning and artificial intelligence (AI)-centered CNS drug discovery and development. This breakthrough aims to provide unparalleled insights into human brain molecular activity and advances in the understanding of CNS disorders.

“Our technology enables preclinical testing of almost any therapeutic in metabolically active whole human brains, whether diseased or non-diseased, providing a significant advantage over any other preclinical model in neuroscience,” said Zvonimir Vrselja, MD, PhD, CEO and co-founder at Bexorg. “Our ability to collect longitudinal data from our whole-brain discovery platform allows us to validate new targets and biomarkers and understand the pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic profiles and potential safety and effectiveness of drugs before going into the clinic. We are thrilled to team up with Biohaven to help advance two preclinical programmes and potentially unlock a faster, more precise path to new CNS therapies.”

“The lack of robust translational preclinical models that adequately capture the complexity of human brain structure and function, including the architecture and dynamics of neural networks comprised of billions of neurons and glial cells and the trillions of connections that exist between them, and account for physiological gradients of drug exposure throughout the brain associated with distinct profiles of drug transport across the blood-brain barrier, has, until now, severely handicapped CNS drug discovery and development,” said Bruce D. Car, DVM, PhD, DACVP, chief scientific officer at Biohaven. “Bexorg’s novel platform effectively overcomes the myriad deficiencies inherent in this translational gap, permitting unprecedented and detailed insights into the CNS pharmacology, dosimetry, and potential efficacy of drug candidates before advancing to costly and time-consuming clinical trials.”

As part of the collaboration, Bexorg aims to deliver insights from systemic delivery of Biohaven’s therapeutics, including analysis of pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics, and mechanism of action. Data generated from the platform may also potentially point to the responsiveness of patient subpopulations and identify novel biomarkers to inform clinical trials. Financial terms of the collaboration were not disclosed. 

Biohaven is a biopharmaceutical company focused on the discovery, development, and commercialization of life-changing treatments in key therapeutic areas, including immunology, neuroscience, and oncology. 

Bexorg is a privately held techbio company with the first-ever full-stack tech platform to support central nervous system (CNS) drug discovery and development in the human brain in a way that has not been possible before.