Our Mission

Transformative treatments, restoring lives

 

About Us

Freedom Biosciences is a leading biotechnology platform developing next-generation neuropsychiatric therapeutics.

Co-founded and led by Dr. John Krystal, Chair of the Department of Psychiatry at Yale University, and Dina Burkitbayeva, co-founder of PsyMed Ventures, Freedom Biosciences has brought together a team of pioneering professionals in the fields of science and business to focus on fulfilling the great promise of a novel class of antidepressants.

Dr. Krystal is one of the pioneering researchers in psychiatry and alongside Dr. Robert Berman, Freedom Bio’s Head of Scientific Advisory Board, first demonstrated ketamine’s rapid antidepressant effects in the 1990s, the discovery of which directly led to FDA approval of Jannsen’s Spravato Esketamine spray. Through Dr. Krystal’s work with military veterans and those living with severe mental health and substance use disorders, Dr. Krystal has witnessed the need for novel treatment options—and the life-changing benefits for those who receive them.

Freedom Biosciences is creating the next generation of ketamine-based and neuropsychiatric pharmaceuticals to develop more viable and efficacious treatment alternatives for millions of people currently suffering from debilitating mental health disorders.

Programs

Pipeline of innovative clinical and preclinical stage programs:

TherapyIndicationPreclinicalPhase 1Phase 2Phase 3
FREE-001
Extended Efficacy Ketamine
Treatment Resistant Depression20222023
FREE-002
Reduced Addiction Liability Ketamine
Comorbid Major Depressive
Disorder & Substance Use Disorder
20222023
FREE-003
Undisclosed
Undisclosed202320242026
FREE-004
Undisclosed
Undisclosed202320242026
FREE-005
Undisclosed
Undisclosed202320242026
FREE-006
Undisclosed
Undisclosed202320242026

Freedom Biosciences is developing next generation combination therapies with ketamine and other neuropsychiatric therapeutics

Our discovery platform allows us to identify the most efficacious combinations of chemicals to advance the safety and therapeutic profiles of existing therapeutics. By leveraging the known pharmacology of ketamine, 5ht2a and other novel therapeutics, we are able to uncover potentially revolutionary breakthroughs in the burgeoning field of novel neuropsychiatric drugs. With programs with clinical data and multiple exploratory programs, Freedom Bio has a diverse portfolio of assets that are positioned to significantly improve on the existing therapeutics and change the way we treat mental health indications. 

Our Team

We are passionate professionals developing next generation ketamine and 5th2a-based mental health and substance use disorder treatments. Freedom Bio is led by its CEO and co-founder, Dina Burkitbayeva, building on her deep experience investing in emerging pharmaceutical companies, particularly in the novel antidepressants space. Freedom Bio builds on the discovery by our co-founder, Dr. John Krystal, and Senior Medical Advisor, Dr. Robert Berman, of the rapid antidepressant effects of ketamine (Berman et al. 2000). Dr. Krystal’s prior work included contributions to patents licensed to Janssen Pharmaceuticals that served as a foundation for the development of Esketamine (Spravato). Freedom Bio’s initial programs have licensed from Yale University products of over 20 years of the work of Dr. Krystal and his collaborators, which have aimed to understand and optimize ketamine treatments for depression, related psychiatric conditions, and substance use disorders. Although a new company, the Freedom Bio Scientific Team (Berman, Bhagwagar, Krystal, Sanacora, Sprouse) emerged from the Yale University Department of Psychiatry, with Berman, Sprouse and Bhagwagar moving on to develop extensive experience in pharmaceutical development at companies including Pfizer, Bristol Myers Squibb and Biohaven.

Scientific Advisory Board