About
Courage Therapeutics is dedicated to developing new medicines for eating disorders
Our platform
Courage Therapeutics is co-founded by Dr. Roger Cone, a prominent researcher in melanocortin receptor biology. We are developing intellectual property based on Dr. Cone's research portfolio including recent patents from discoveries into novel biological mechanisms of energy homeostasis. We are a preclinical stage company investing into identification and commercialization of novel peptides and small molecules with activity towards GPCR targets.
Why Courage?
For those of us who have known loved ones with eating disorders we have seen the terror they endure. We ask them and often force them to face intense anxiety through exposure therapy in the path to recovery. At times it is so hard they would rather die than eat. Yet they overcome their fear 3-6 times each day to eat for us. It is the courage in this act that we recognize and honor with our company name.
Anorexia Nervosa is the most deadly psychiatric disease. It is poorly funded with only 88 cents per patient spent annually by the NIH. Bringing a drug to market in anorexia nervosa poses many challenges.
Companies need to prove value in adolescent patients with a high risk of suicide
Treatment is dominated by behavioral therapy with limited value in current psychiatric medications
Behaviors in anorexia nervosa create adherence challenges for any therapy
Society and scientists have a limited understanding of the etiology of the disease
There isn't a prior FDA approval and payor reimbursement precedent for anorexia
Obesity has long been stigmatized as form of laziness rather than a biological disorder. The discovery of genetic drivers of obesity such as MC4R biology and the success of GLP1 drugs have demonstrated that people can be helped. We seek to overcome challenges for patients where the currently available GLP1 or GLP1/GIP are not an ideal option because of challenges.
Treatments often cause nausea and gastroinestinal problems as common side effects
Doses can become too high to be tolerable leading to discontinuation in up to 45%, for example in T2Diabetes, of patients in the first 12 months
Patients rapidly regain weight when taken off of GLP1 therapies
Treatments reach plateaus preventing full normalization of body weight
Lean mass is lost during GLP1 weight loss causing longer term issues with strength and health
We have the courage to face these challenges and others as they arise. Courage Therapeutics is dedicated to conducting continuous research to discover and develop promising new medicines for eating disorders in a long term battle to make recovery from these devastating diseases faster and easier.
Our Investors
We will not compromise our mission for profits and work to balance the need to rapidly fund key research and development to support our goal with establishing a path for sustainable and enduring progress.
We are currently funded by our founders and are raising our initial seed financing round. The market potential for our intellectual property goes beyond anorexia and extends as a platform into cachexia, obesity, ARFID, binge eating disorder, veterinary health, agricultural pharmaceuticals, and beyond. Our team has the experience to balance licensing and R&D investments. We are applying for non-dilutive grant funding, matching funds, and licensing opportunities to maximize the value for seed investors. Our team has the experience to bring a product into the clinic for clinical trials and through FDA approval.
Ideal investors are individuals or family offices with a strong personal connection or mission to impact the lives of people with eating disorders. We are considering seed investment from experienced venture capital organizations able to bring more than funding and willing to participate in the risks and rewards for early stage development. Please reach out to us if you are interested in investing.
For information on the Courage Conflicts of Interest please read the company COI policy.