Sage Therapeutics, Inc. is a biopharmaceutical company headquartered in Cambridge, Massachusetts, focused on developing novel treatments for mood disorders and neurological conditions through the modulation of GABA and NMDA receptor systems. The company was founded in 2010 by Dr. Steven M. Paul and Dr. Michael W. Jann.
Sage Therapeutics pioneered the development of GABA-A receptor modulators and NMDA receptor antagonists for the treatment of depression, epilepsy, and other CNS disorders. The company's platform leverages neurosteroid science to develop treatments targeting the brain's inhibitory and excitatory signaling systems[1].
Sage was founded in 2010 based on research from Cornell University and Washington University on neurosteroid biology. The company's founding insight was that allopregnanolone and related neurosteroids could be developed into novel CNS therapeutics.
ZULRESSO represents a breakthrough in postpartum depression treatment[2]:
Key Clinical Results:
ZURZUVAE provides oral treatment option for PPD[3]:
| Drug Candidate | Indication | Mechanism | Stage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Zuranolone | Major depressive disorder | GABA-A modulator | Phase 3[4] |
| Zuranolone | Generalized anxiety disorder | GABA-A modulator | Phase 3 |
| SAGE-718 | Alzheimer's disease (cognitive) | NMDA receptor antagonist | Phase 2 |
| SAGE-718 | Parkinson's disease (cognitive) | NMDA receptor antagonist | Phase 2 |
| SAGE-718 | Huntington's disease | NMDA receptor antagonist | Phase 2 |
| SAGE-324 | Essential tremor | GABA-A modulator | Phase 2 |
| SAGE-689 | CNS disorders | GABA-A modulator | Phase 1 |
Sage's platform is built on understanding of neurosteroids - endogenous compounds that modulate GABA-A receptors:
GABA (gamma-aminobutyric acid) is the brain's main inhibitory neurotransmitter:
SAGE-718 targets NMDA receptors differently than ketamine:
Sage's pipeline addresses major unmet needs in neurology and psychiatry[6]:
SAGE-718 (Navoximod) is an NMDA receptor antagonist with potential for:
The GABA-A receptor modulators have applications beyond mood disorders:
Market Cap: Approximately $3 billion USD (2025)
Biogen Partnership: $1.5 billion upfront, $1.6 billion milestones
ZURZUVAE Projected Peak Sales: $500 million - $1 billion USD
Major Depressive Disorder
Brexanolone
Sage Platform Science. Corporate Presentation. ↩︎
ZULRESSO FDA Approval. FDA Press Release. ↩︎
ZURZUVAE FDA Approval. FDA Press Release. ↩︎
Zuranolone Depression Trials. [The Lancet Psychiatry](https://doi.org/10.1016/S2215-0366(21). ↩︎
NMDA Modulation in Neurodegeneration. Nature Reviews Neurology. ↩︎
SAGE-718 Development. ClinicalTrials.gov. ↩︎