Tortugas Neuroscience

Tortugas Neuroscience is a clinical-stage biotechnology company specializing in the development of medicines for neurological and neuropsychiatric disorders. The company launched on April 21, 2026, with $106 million in Seed and Series A financing. The funding rounds were led by founding investor Cure Ventures, with co-leadership from The Column Group and AN Venture Partners.

The company is led by CEO Jeff Jonas, M.D., and President, Head of Research & Development, Al Robichaud, Ph.D., both of whom were formerly executives at Sage Therapeutics. Their strategy centers on advancing novel medicines that have de-risked mechanisms of action and clear regulatory pathways, aiming for a significant positive impact on patients' lives.

Tortugas Neuroscience's business model is based on in-licensing promising drug candidates and advancing them through clinical development. Its current pipeline includes four Phase 2-stage assets licensed from Eisai Co., Ltd. and Jiangsu Hansoh Pharmaceutical Group Ltd. These small molecule drug candidates are being developed as once-daily, oral formulations to treat a range of high-unmet-need central nervous system (CNS) conditions. The lead programs target schizophrenia, tinnitus, focal epilepsy, and reversible encephalopathies.

The company's core focus is on neurology and neuropsychiatry, developing therapeutics for what it identifies as large and well-defined patient markets. By acquiring and developing clinical-stage assets, Tortugas aims to shorten the development timeline and increase the probability of bringing new treatments for brain disorders to market.

Keywords: neurology therapeutics, neuropsychiatric disorders, clinical-stage biotech, CNS disorders, drug development, derisked mechanisms, small molecule drugs, schizophrenia treatment, tinnitus treatment, epilepsy treatment, central nervous system, Jeff Jonas, Al Robichaud, Cure Ventures, The Column Group, oral formulations, clinical trials, biotechnology, pharmaceutical