Enveric Biosciences Reports Positive Preclinical Results for Lead Drug Candidate EB-003

Business Wire

28-05-2025

CAMBRIDGE, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Enveric Biosciences (NASDAQ: ENVB) ('Enveric' or the 'Company'), a biotechnology company dedicated to the development of novel neuroplastogenic small-molecule therapeutics for the treatment of psychiatric and neurological disorders, today announced positive preclinical results for its lead neuroplastogen drug candidate, EB-003, in the Open Space Forced Swim Test, a preclinical mouse model of severe depression and despair.
The Open Space Forced Swim Test, a well-established psychiatric behavioral model, is designed to induce potent and enduring chronic depression-like states in mice, leading to reduced swim distance and increased periods of despair-induced immobility. In a study performed by a third-party lab, an oral dose of EB-003 at 30 mg/kg significantly reduced depression-like behavior within 30 minutes of administration. This was indicated by the enhanced distance travelled and reduced immobility of treated mice during forced swim sessions (statistical p-value < 0.01). These results were comparable to the therapeutic effects of Imipramine, an approved tricyclic antidepressant drug.
A repeat study, conducted by the same third-party lab, produced consistent results, confirming 30 mg/kg as an efficacious oral dose for EB-003. The study also confirmed no adverse locomotor effects were observed at this dose.
The study also performed a preliminary assessment of extended, daily dosing of EB-003 to determine any potential safety concerns for chronic therapeutic administration. Mice receiving a daily oral dose of EB-003 at 30 mg/kg for 22 days showed no adverse behavioral, physiological or neurological effects. These observations demonstrate acceptable tolerance to long-term systemic drug exposure and expand the range of EB-003 dosing strategies.
'We are encouraged by these statistically significant and biologically meaningful results in a severe chronic depression animal model,' said Dr. Joseph Tucker, CEO of Enveric Biosciences. 'EB-003 has now demonstrated strong behavioral efficacy and a clean safety profile in several animal models that are relevant to chronic treatment of severe depression. These data points validate the compound's pharmacological design and provide strong support for the planned Investigational New Drug (IND) application'
EB-003 is the lead compound from Enveric's proprietary EVM301 Series, a pipeline of next-generation neuroplastogens engineered to stimulate synaptic plasticity without incurring hallucinogenic liability.
About Enveric Biosciences
Enveric Biosciences (NASDAQ: ENVB) is a biotechnology company dedicated to the development of novel neuroplastogenic small-molecule therapeutics for the treatment of psychiatric and neurological disorders. Leveraging its unique discovery and development platform Psybrary™, which houses proprietary information on the use and development of existing and novel molecules for specific mental health indications, Enveric seeks to develop a robust intellectual property portfolio of novel drug candidates. Enveric's lead molecule, EB-003, is a potential first-in-class neuroplastogen designed to promote neuroplasticity, without inducing hallucinations, in patients suffering from difficult-to-address mental health disorders. Enveric is focused on advancing EB-003 towards clinical trials for the treatment of neuropsychiatric disorders while out-licensing other novel, patented Psybrary™ platform drug candidates to third-party licensees advancing non-competitive market strategies for patient care. Enveric is headquartered in Naples, FL with offices in Cambridge, MA and Calgary, AB Canada. For more information, please visit www.enveric.com.
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