Initiation of AI supported CNS drug discovery

Solvonis Therapeutics plc (LSE: SVNS), a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company developing novel medicines for addiction and mental health disorders, is pleased to announce the initiation of an artificial intelligence ("AI") supported drug discovery programme focused on its proprietary central nervous system ("CNS") compound library.

The library, acquired through the Company's recent acquisition of Awakn Life Sciences Corp. ("Awakn"), includes multiple patent-pending chemical series developed through a completed hit-to-lead programme. This body of work incorporated in silico design, in vitro screening and in vivo characterisation. The resulting dataset forms a structurally differentiated early-stage portfolio with therapeutic potential across a range of neuropsychiatric indications.

The new programme will apply AI and computational modelling techniques to enable data-driven asset prioritisation, structure-activity relationship ("SAR") analysis and translational hypothesis generation. The objective is to accelerate the identification and optimisation of high-value development candidates within the library.

Under the scientific leadership of Professor David Nutt, Solvonis' Chief Scientific Officer, the AI enabled programme will initially prioritise indications in depression and stimulant use disorders.

This initiative is distinct from Solvonis' existing preclinical programme, SVN-SDN-014, which targets post-traumatic stress disorder ("PTSD"). Together, these efforts comprise a strategically diversified R&D pipeline spanning late-stage clinical assets in Alcohol Use Disorder, a novel preclinical PTSD programme and a discovery platform focused on comorbid, high-burden neuropsychiatric conditions.

Professor David Nutt, Chief Scientific Officer of Solvonis, commented: "The integration of AI supported analytics into our discovery workflow enhances our ability to identify high-potential compounds for further development. The underlying chemistry is robust and scientifically validated, and we believe this approach will bring forward differentiated candidates in areas of persistent clinical need."

Anthony Tennyson, Chief Executive Officer of Solvonis, added: "Following the acquisition of Awakn, we now possess a CNS compound library with strong early validation. This initiative reflects our strategy to combine capital-efficient innovation with rigorous translational science as we develop next-generation therapeutics for depression, addiction, and other high-burden mental health conditions."