Neuropsychiatry Franchise

Sage is working to understand the underlying reasons for disorders of the brain and central nervous system (CNS). We hope this science will help us develop potential therapies that may address treatment gaps for patients with brain health disorders.

Our lead neuropsychiatry investigational compound, SAGE-718, has a unique way of modulating certain receptors in the brain. These receptors are thought to play a key role in how our brain processes information.

Sage is exploring SAGE-718 in neurodegenerative disorders like Huntington's Disease, Alzheimer's Disease, and Parkinson's Disease. Ongoing studies aim to evaluate whether SAGE-718 may have the potential to improve cognitive and/or behavioral symptoms for these difficult-to-treat disorders.

We are using our unique development approach to systemically evaluate our drug candidates in a range of neuropsychiatric disorders associated with cognitive impairment, including:

Huntington’s Disease
Parkinson’s Disease
Alzheimer’s Disease

LEARN MORE ABOUT OUR APPROACH TO BRAIN HEALTH DISORDERS

Huntington's Disease

Huntington’s Disease is a rare, inherited neurodegenerative disease that progresses over time. Up to 30,000 adults are diagnosed with Huntington’s Disease in the U.S. each year. Symptoms usually appear between ages 30–45, worsen over the following 15–20 years, and ultimately lead to death. Psychiatric and cognitive symptoms can severely affect people with Huntington’s Disease, particularly in the earlier stages of the disease.

Parkinson’s Disease

Parkinson’s Disease is recognized as a disorder that affects multiple systems within the body. Approximately 60,000 adults in the U.S. are diagnosed with Parkinson’s Disease each year. About 19-38% of those diagnosed with Parkinson’s Disease also have mild cognitive impairment (MCI). Data suggest that changes at a specific receptor in the brain, called the NMDA receptor, may contribute to the cognitive deficits seen in Parkinson’s Disease.

Alzheimer’s Disease

Alzheimer’s Disease is the most common cause of dementia, with about 5.8 million Americans (age 65 and older) living with Alzheimer’s Disease in 2020. People with Alzheimer’s Disease experience a decline in cognitive function, including memory impairment, changes in language abilities, and executive dysfunction. Preclinical evidence suggests that positive modulation of NMDA receptors in the brain could potentially treat several types of dementia, including dementia due to Alzheimer’s Disease.