An Exclusive Interview with Aaron Koenig
Chief Medical Officer, Delix Therapeutics
Building on the momentum from Cobenfy’s success, how has the psychiatric drug development landscape evolved over the past 6 to 12 months, and what is the current state of play?
The last 6 to 12 months have been a mixed bag – a few high-profile successes, but also many programs that have missed the mark. The current state of play, however, remains unchanged – there continues to be vast unmet need in the field of neuropsychiatry, and patients are waiting for better treatments.
From new targets to emerging technologies, where are the most exciting areas of innovation?
It’s been encouraging to see momentum in the neuroplastogen space, particularly from larger companies that understand their potential. I continue to see this as an exciting area of innovation. If, as an industry, we’re willing to invest the time and effort to understand the potential of these novel therapeutics, the benefit to patients could be significant.
Which specific challenges are you looking forward to addressing with colleagues at the Neuropsychiatric Drug Development Summit in order to collaboratively propel advancements?
The NDD Summit always includes a strong focus on de-risking early programs, and I’m looking forward to continuing these discussions. But this year, I’m even more enthused to discuss the PhII/III roadblock, which will be covered in a panel discussion on Day 1.
There have been some notable – and surprising – Ph III failures in the last year, and as a field we need to reflect on them. With so much uncertainty in what we do, it’s important to ensure that we’re controlling the controllables.
Which sessions in the agenda are you most looking forward to at the 8th Neuropsychiatric Drug Development Summit?
I’m looking forward to the panel discussion on “A New Era of Investment in Neuropsychiatry: What are the Biggest Catalysts Driving Deal-Making Momentum in 2025?” In the current risk-averse funding environment, how do we maintain momentum in CNS investment, which is often considered one of the riskiest corners of biotech? I’m also looking forward to David Olson’s talk on “Bolstering the Development of Novel Neuroplastogens & Deciphering Their True Classification” – should be a great session.
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