Bright Minds Biosciences

Bright Minds Biosciences
IndustryPharmaceutical
Founded2017 (2017)[1]
FounderIan McDonald, Gideon Shapiro
Headquarters
New York City, New York[1]
,
United States[1]
Key people
Alan Kozikowski[2][3][1]
ProductsBMB-101, BMB-105, BMB-201, BMB-202
Websitebrightmindsbio.com

Bright Minds Biosciences (BMB) is an American pharmaceutical company which is developing serotonin 5-HT2 receptor agonists for potential medical use.[1][4][5][6][7]

It has a particular focus on serotonin 5-HT2C receptor agonists, for instance to treat rare epilepsies and other conditions.[4][5] Another area of focus for the company is serotonergic psychedelics and non-hallucinogenic psychoplastogens.[7][3][8]

The company was co-founded by Ian McDonald and Gideon Shapiro.[2][3][1] The lead scientist at Bright Minds Biosciences was previously Alan Kozikowski.[7] Bright Mind Biosciences was founded in 2017 and its headquarters are in New York City, New York.[1]

Drug candidates

Bright Minds Biosciences' drug candidates include the following:[9][10]

Bright Minds Biosciences drug candidates
DrugActionStructural scaffoldIndicationsHighest phaseRef
BMB‑101Selective serotonin 5-HT2C receptor biased agonist (Gq over β-arrestin)PhenylcyclopropylmethylamineAbsence epilepsy, binge-eating disorder, Dravet syndrome, Lennox–Gastaut syndrome, Pitt–Hopkins syndrome, Prader–Willi syndrome, and Rett syndromePhase 2 (entering phase 3)[11]
BMB‑105Selective serotonin 5-HT2C receptor biased agonist (Gq over β-arrestin)PhenylcyclopropylmethylaminePrader–Willi syndromePhase 1[12]
BMB‑201Serotonin 5-HT2A and 5-HT2C receptor agonist, other actions (non-hallucinogenic psychoplastogen; prodrug of BMB-A39a)TryptamineDepressive disorders, painPreclinical[13]
BMB‑202Selective serotonin 5-HT2A receptor agonist (serotonergic psychedelic)N-BenzylphenethylamineDepressive disorders, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)Preclinical[14]

The company has also patented azepinoindoles acting as potent serotonin 5-HT2 receptor agonists and psychedelics, such as Pharm-136.[15][16]

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 "Bright Minds Biosciences Inc. (DRUG.CN) Company Profile & Facts". Yahoo Finance. 31 December 2025. Retrieved 3 April 2026.
  2. 1 2 "Phase 1 Study of BMB-101 in Healthy Volunteers Moves to Last Part". CURE Epilepsy. 18 June 2024. Retrieved 3 April 2026.
  3. 1 2 3 "Interview with VP and Co-Founder of Bright Minds Biosciences, Dr. Gideon Shapiro, Ph.D." Bioneex. 16 August 2021. Retrieved 3 April 2026.
  4. 1 2 Incorvaia, Darren (6 January 2026). "Bright Minds shines with phase 2 win for anti-seizure serotonin receptor activator". Fierce Biotech. Retrieved 3 April 2026.
  5. 1 2 Meglio, Marco (3 April 2026). "BMB-101 Heads for Registrational Trials Following Positive Phase 2 Data in Absence Seizures, Developmental Encephalopathies". NeurologyLive. Retrieved 3 April 2026.
  6. ↑ "BMB-101 5-HT2C biased agonist overcomes tolerance in chronic epilepsy treatment". BioWorld. 2024. Retrieved 3 April 2026.
  7. 1 2 3 Joshi, Shamani (15 May 2020). "This Drug Designer Is Creating a New Psychedelic to Treat Anxiety and Depression". VICE. [Alan Kozikowski] currently serves as the lead scientist at a lab called Bright Minds Biosciences, where he is leading a team creating a compound similar to a psychedelic, but without the bad trip or downer.
  8. ↑ "Pα+ Psychedelic Bulletin #177: Bright Minds Surges on Longboard's Seizure Drug Success; Kasvu Therapeutics Is Developing Psychoplastogens With a TrkB Twist". Psychedelic Alpha. 18 October 2024. Retrieved 3 April 2026.
  9. ↑ "Delving into the Latest Updates on Bright Minds Biosciences, Inc. with Synapse". Synapse. 1 February 2026. Retrieved 3 April 2026.
  10. ↑ Vasilkevich A, Lovera A, Duan J, McDonald I, Collins SD, Pedersen JT (7 December 2025). Overview of Bright Minds Biosciences: Pioneering Serotonin Pharmacology (PDF). 2025 AES Annual Meeting, December 5–9, Atlanta, Georgia.
  11. ↑ "BMB 101". AdisInsight. 15 January 2026. Retrieved 3 April 2026.
  12. ↑ "BMB 105". AdisInsight. 28 January 2026. Retrieved 3 April 2026.
  13. ↑ "BMB 201". AdisInsight. 10 September 2025. Retrieved 3 April 2026.
  14. ↑ "BMB 202". AdisInsight. 24 April 2023. Retrieved 3 April 2026.
  15. ↑ Sabnis RW (August 2025). "Novel Azepinoindoles as 5‑HT2C Agonists for Treating Depression, Drug Addiction, Alcoholism, PTSD, and Neuropathic Pain". ACS Med Chem Lett. 16 (8): 1507–1508. doi:10.1021/acsmedchemlett.5c00426. PMID 40832530.
  16. ↑ "Azepinoindoles and methods of preparation thereof". Google Patents. 2 May 2023. Retrieved 3 April 2026.
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