FundaMental Pharma

About FundaMental Pharma

FundaMental Pharma GmbH is a preclinical neuroscience company operating in the biopharmaceutical sector, spun out of Heidelberg University in Germany in 2016. The company was founded by Professor Hilmar Bading, Dr. Thomas Schulze, and Professor Daniela Mauceri, building upon the pioneering research of Professor Bading and Dr. Jing Yan. This research, published in Science in 2020, identified a novel molecular mechanism to counteract glutamate neurotoxicity. Dr. Schulze, with 35 years of experience in the pharmaceutical and biotech industry, served as the initial CEO and has a history of starting and leading life sciences companies. In April 2024, Dr. Dirk Beher, a seasoned biotech executive with extensive experience in CNS drug discovery at companies like Merck Sharp & Dohme and Amgen, was appointed CEO to guide the company into its next phase.

The company's core business revolves around the development of a first-in-class category of small molecule drugs called TwinF interface inhibitors. These inhibitors work by targeting the interaction between NMDA receptors and TRPM4 channels. This approach is designed to selectively block the toxic signaling pathways of extrasynaptic glutamate, which contributes to nerve cell death, while preserving the essential, healthy functions of synaptic glutamate related to memory and neuronal survival. This method of uncoupling neurotoxicity from normal physiological function represents a distinct approach in the field. The business model focuses on advancing these drug candidates through preclinical and eventually clinical trials to treat neurodegenerative diseases. The company is open to partnerships to further develop its technology.

FundaMental Pharma's initial therapeutic focus is on Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), with plans to explore applications for other neurodegenerative conditions such as Huntington's and Alzheimer's disease. A 2024 proof-of-concept study showed that their inhibitor, FP802, reduced neurological scores and mortality in a mouse model of ALS and protected human ALS patient-derived brain organoids from glutamate-induced toxicity. To finance its development efforts, the company has successfully raised seed funding, securing €10 million in November 2022 from a consortium including BioGeneration Ventures, Thuja Capital, coparion, and High-Tech Gründerfonds. By April 2024, the total seed financing increased to €12.7 million with the addition of the Novartis Venture Fund as an investor.