Addex Therapeutics leads CHF 2 million investment in Stalicla

Geneva-based biotech Stalicla secures funding to advance precision medicine programs for autism and substance use disorders.

Geneva’s life sciences ecosystem continues to gain momentum as Stalicla SA, a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company developing precision medicine treatments for neurodevelopmental and neuropsychiatric disorders, has secured CHF 2 million in a financing round led by fellow Geneva-based company Addex Therapeutics. The investment will sustain Stalicla’s operations and support the progression of its clinical programs as it prepares for a Series C financing round.

Founded with a focus on precision medicine in complex brain disorders, Stalicla has developed a proprietary platform, DEPI (Databased Endophenotyping Precision Identification), designed to identify biologically defined patient subgroups within heterogeneous conditions like autism spectrum disorder (ASD). The company is preparing to launch Phase 2 trials for its lead assets, STP1 and STP2, both targeting stratified subpopulations within ASD. In parallel, STP7 (Mavoglurant) is advancing toward Phase 3, following a Phase 3-enabling drug-drug interaction study completed in October 2024 and funded by the US NIH–National Institute on Drug Abuse.

As part of the investment agreement, Tim Dyer, CEO of Addex Therapeutics, has joined Stalicla’s Board of Directors and has been appointed Chairman. “Stalicla has built a world-leading precision medicine platform for neurodevelopmental disorders,” Dyer stated, highlighting the company’s clinical-stage portfolio and its STP7 program, aimed at addressing substance use disorders.

A hub for neurotherapeutic innovation

The collaboration reflects growing synergies within Geneva’s neuroscience innovation landscape. In April 2024, Addex itself launched the spin-off Neurosterix, in partnership with US-based Perceptive Advisors, to accelerate the development of allosteric modulators for neurological diseases. The CHF 2 million investment in Stalicla aligns with Addex’s broader strategy to support promising neurotherapeutic platforms.

“This financing is a key step in securing our runway to reach a number of important milestones,” said Lynn Durham, CEO of Stalicla. “We are grateful for the support from the Addex-led syndicate, which enables us to continue advancing our precision medicine programs.”