From Target to Clinical Candidate, Together
Integrated chemistry & biology discovery company creating small molecules for CNS and lysosomal diseases
OUR APPROACH
Integrated by design
We unite medicinal chemistry and disease-driven biology into a single discovery engine. From target hypothesis to candidate ready molecules, science moves forward without hand offs. We operate full scientific responsibility and clarity
What we do
- Design and optimize small molecules
- Decode mechanisms of action
- Advance preclinical assets
What we focus on
- Central Nervous System Targets
- Ion channels
- Lysosomes and Neurological disease
- Small molecules that require Potency, Selectivity, and Biological relevance to the Target
“OUR MODEL”
A different way to discover drugs
Our model is designed for programs that demand tight chemistry-biology integration and deep mechanistic understanding
Integrated Chemistry and Biology
We focus on the two disciplines that truly shape high quality drug candidates: Biology and Chemistry Our teams, all under the same roof in our Padua Labs, work as a single, connected unit where insights flow quickly, design is informed in real time, and communication is constant.
This tight Biology Chemistry integration keeps cycles short, reduces risk, and drives candidate quality
Selective Engagement
We partner only when we can create real impact. By limiting the number of projects we engage with, we offer our collaborators focused attention, scientific depth, and strategic consistency.
Quality over volume is central to how we operate
Full Accountability
Every project we take on is driven by clear responsibility for strategy, data quality, and decision‑making. Our teams stand behind the science end to end
Collaboration model
We operate as an extension of our partners’ scientific teams, combining advanced electrophysiology and medicinal chemistry with program-level expertise. Our program-based collaborations integrate dedicated teams, milestone-driven funding, and optional success-based components, ensuring transparency, flexibility, and alignment around outcomes
We sit between service providers and traditional biotech
- We build and advance your assets and your IP
- We bring appropriate platforms to a project
- We design experiments with purpose
- Pay Premium only when successful
“We take programs personally. Because accountability is the only way to make CNS innovation real”
Giuseppe Alvaro, PhD
Co Founder and CEO
Giuseppe is a highly experienced drug discovery scientist with over 30 years of expertise in the pharmaceutical and biotechnology sectors. Trained as a chemist, he obtained his Ph.D. in Organic Chemistry from the University of Bologna. He held senior leadership positions at GlaxoSmithKline (GSK), including Scientific Director of Chemistry within the Neuroscience Centre of Excellence for Drug Discovery, where he led major research programs and contributed significantly to CNS drug discovery.
During this time he strongly contributed to the identification of several molecules including Elinzanetant, Vestipitant, Casopitant, Orvepitant, Vixotrigine, that have progressed through clinical development, with Elinzanetant, which achieved regulatory approval and commercialization
He later co-founded Autifony Therapeutics Ltd. and served as Chief Research Officer, establishing a pioneering ion channel drug discovery platform dedicated to developing innovative treatments for central nervous system disorders. During his tenure at Autifony, he developed and advanced three molecules (AUT00063, AUT00206, AUT00201) to Phase I/Ib clinical trials.
In 2025, he founded BioTiChe, a biotechnology company focused on discovering and developing novel small-molecule modulators of CNS ion channels to address unmet medical needs.
Giuseppe has an outstanding track record in advancing drug candidates into clinical development and is a co-inventor and author of more than 100 patents and scientific publications.
Nadia Pilati, PhD
Co Founder and Biology Lead
Nadia is an experienced neuroscientist and electrophysiologist with over 20 years of expertise in ion channel biology and central nervous system research. She obtained her Ph.D. in Neuroscience from the University of Leicester, where she investigated the role of voltage-gated ion channels in cellular excitability and conducted postdoctoral research on the neural circuits underlying the auditory system. During her postdoctoral training, she consistently focused on the relationship between ion channel modulation, genetic mutations, and changes in cellular excitability. She served as Head of Biology at Autifony Therapeutics Ltd., where she led the biological and electrophysiological aspects of drug discovery programs. Her work spanned target validation, mechanism-of-action studies, translational biology, and proof-of-concept development. Over the course of her career, Nadia has developed deep expertise in voltage-gated and organelle ion channels associated with CNS and peripheral disorders. Her strong background in elucidating ion channel mechanisms and downstream biological processes has been fundamental to achieving clinical proof of concept. She is a lead author and co-author of more than 20 peer-reviewed scientific publications.
Agostino Marasco
Co Founder and Chemistry Lead
Agostino is an accomplished medicinal chemist with over 20 years of experience in drug discovery and preclinical development across the pharmaceutical and biotechnology sectors. He obtained his Master’s degree in Chemistry and Pharmaceutical Technologies from the University of Pisa, where his early research focused on matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs). He held senior scientific leadership roles at GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) as a Senior Research Scientist within the Neuroscience Centre of Excellence for Drug Discovery and later served as Head of Chemistry at Autifony Therapeutics Ltd. In these positions, he led high-impact medicinal chemistry programs that delivered multiple optimized candidates for CNS and peripheral indications. Throughout his career, Agostino has driven the design, optimization, and preclinical characterization of drug candidates, developing deep expertise in regulatory-enabling studies and in meeting ICH requirements for successful transition into first-in-human trials. His strong command of structure–activity relationships, developability assessment, and translational chemistry has been instrumental in advancing compounds from early discovery to clinical readiness. He is a co-inventor and author of more than 50 patents and scientific publications.
“We take programs personally. Because accountability is the only way to make CNS innovation real”
Giuseppe Alvaro, PhD
Co Founder and CEO
Giuseppe is a highly experienced drug discovery scientist with over 30 years of expertise in the pharmaceutical and biotechnology sectors. Trained as a chemist, he obtained his Ph.D. in Organic Chemistry from the University of Bologna. He held senior leadership positions at GlaxoSmithKline (GSK), including Scientific Director of Chemistry within the Neuroscience Centre of Excellence for Drug Discovery, where he led major research programs and contributed significantly to CNS drug discovery.
During this time he strongly contributed to the identification of several molecules including Elinzanetant, Vestipitant, Casopitant, Orvepitant, Vixotrigine, that have progressed through clinical development, with Elinzanetant, which achieved regulatory approval and commercialization
He later co-founded Autifony Therapeutics Ltd. and served as Chief Research Officer, establishing a pioneering ion channel drug discovery platform dedicated to developing innovative treatments for central nervous system disorders. During his tenure at Autifony, he developed and advanced three molecules (AUT00063, AUT00206, AUT00201) to Phase I/Ib clinical trials.
In 2025, he founded BioTiChe, a biotechnology company focused on discovering and developing novel small-molecule modulators of CNS ion channels to address unmet medical needs.
Giuseppe has an outstanding track record in advancing drug candidates into clinical development and is a co-inventor and author of more than 100 patents and scientific publications.
Nadia Pilati, PhD
Co Founder and Biology Lead
Nadia is an experienced neuroscientist and electrophysiologist with over 20 years of expertise in ion channel biology and central nervous system research. She obtained her Ph.D. in Neuroscience from the University of Leicester, where she investigated the role of voltage-gated ion channels in cellular excitability and conducted postdoctoral research on the neural circuits underlying the auditory system. During her postdoctoral training, she consistently focused on the relationship between ion channel modulation, genetic mutations, and changes in cellular excitability. She served as Head of Biology at Autifony Therapeutics Ltd., where she led the biological and electrophysiological aspects of drug discovery programs. Her work spanned target validation, mechanism-of-action studies, translational biology, and proof-of-concept development. Over the course of her career, Nadia has developed deep expertise in voltage-gated and organelle ion channels associated with CNS and peripheral disorders. Her strong background in elucidating ion channel mechanisms and downstream biological processes has been fundamental to achieving clinical proof of concept. She is a lead author and co-author of more than 20 peer-reviewed scientific publications.
Agostino Marasco
Co Founder and Chemestry Lead
Agostino is an accomplished medicinal chemist with over 20 years of experience in drug discovery and preclinical development across the pharmaceutical and biotechnology sectors. He obtained his Master’s degree in Chemistry and Pharmaceutical Technologies from the University of Pisa, where his early research focused on matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs). He held senior scientific leadership roles at GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) as a Senior Research Scientist within the Neuroscience Centre of Excellence for Drug Discovery and later served as Head of Chemistry at Autifony Therapeutics Ltd. In these positions, he led high-impact medicinal chemistry programs that delivered multiple optimized candidates for CNS and peripheral indications. Throughout his career, Agostino has driven the design, optimization, and preclinical characterization of drug candidates, developing deep expertise in regulatory-enabling studies and in meeting ICH requirements for successful transition into first-in-human trials. His strong command of structure–activity relationships, developability assessment, and translational chemistry has been instrumental in advancing compounds from early discovery to clinical readiness. He is a co-inventor and author of more than 50 patents and scientific publications.
Our numbers
Candidate Delivered (*)
Years of experience in CNS drug discovery
Experienced electrophysiologists, biologists and medicinal chemists
Patents co-invented by our team
Candidate Delivered (*)
Years of experience in CNS drug discovery
Experienced electrophysiologists, biologists and medicinal chemists
Patents co-invented by our team
* These compounds reflect our work prior to funding the company. The majority subsequently advanced to clinical development by third parties; one has reached market approval
Our Mission
Our mission is to discover and develop high-quality small-molecules for the central nervous system, with precision, speed, and scientific rigor
We are intentionally small and we plan to stay that way. Our size allows us to remain deeply focused on a limited number of projects, chosen selectively and pursued with full commitment. Rather than spreading our efforts across multiple therapeutic areas, we concentrate exclusively on fields where we have strong expertise and a proven track record
By integrating all key stages of drug discovery, from hit identification to candidate selection, we ensure continuity, efficiency, and clarity at every step. We do not fragment the work across disconnected teams; instead, we follow each program end-to-end, preserving knowledge, minimizing data loss, and accelerating decision-making
Our Vision
We envision a biotech model where focus beats scale, and depth beats breadth
We believe that meaningful innovation in CNS drug discovery comes from specialization, tight integration, and teams that stay close to the science. By remaining small, agile, and highly specialized, we can move faster, make better decisions, and maintain full ownership of each project’s scientific trajectory
Our goal is to build exceptional small-molecule programs by combining efficiency, expertise, and continuity delivering well characterized drug candidates without compromise, and setting a new standard for focused, integrated CNS drug discovery
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