- A distinguished history of success in numerous depression clinical development programs, with three achieving regulatory approval
- The hiring bolsters confidence in clinical preparedness and operational execution as the Company moves closer to initial human trials
(SeaPRwire) – HEIDELBERG, Germany, June 02, 2026 — FundaMental Pharma GmbH (“the Company”), a preclinical biopharmaceutical firm dedicated to creating novel, dual-acting N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor (NMDAR) modulators for fast and lasting symptom relief in treatment-resistant depression (TRD) patients, today announced the hiring of Dr. Hans Eriksson as Chief Medical Officer.
Dr. Eriksson contributes over 25 years of clinical development expertise from both pharmaceutical and biotechnology sectors, having directed clinical programs at AstraZeneca, Lundbeck, Compass Pathways, and HMNC Brain Health. He has played a key role in eight late-stage clinical development initiatives for depression, three of which secured regulatory approvals for Major Depressive Disorder (MDD).
Prior to this, Dr. Eriksson was Chief Medical Officer at HMNC Brain Health, overseeing the clinical development of Ketabon (KET01), an oral extended-release ketamine formulation for MDD and TRD. Earlier, he served as Chief Medical Officer at Compass Pathways, leading the clinical development of the psychedelic therapy psilocybin (COMP360) for TRD. Dr. Eriksson has also occupied senior clinical research and leadership positions at AstraZeneca, where he was the global medical lead for Seroquel, Seroquel XR, and TC5214, and at Lundbeck, where he was the clinical lead for the co-development of brexpiprazole for depression. He earned an MD and a PhD from Lund University in Sweden and an Executive MBA from the Stockholm School of Economics. His clinical experience includes work as a consultant psychiatrist treating patients with depression and schizophrenia.
Dr. Dirk Beher, Chief Executive Officer of FundaMental Pharma, stated: “Hans possesses an outstanding history in depression drug development within both pharma and biotech, with hands-on experience guiding programs through advanced development to commercialization. His profound knowledge will be vital to our goal of tackling the difficulties of treatment-resistant depression and advancing into clinical trials.”
Dr. Hans Eriksson, the newly appointed Chief Medical Officer of FundaMental Pharma, remarked: “FundaMental Pharma’s strategy could provide a genuinely distinct therapeutic alternative for individuals suffering from treatment-resistant depression. FMP374 tackles a major unmet medical need and has exhibited a promising preclinical profile. I am thrilled to collaborate with the team to advance this innovative treatment toward clinical development.”
In his role as Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Eriksson will bear full responsibility for the Company’s clinical strategy for FMP374, focused on swift value creation, and will aid in scientific and clinical interactions with investors and partners.
Dr. Eriksson’s appointment coincides with FundaMental Pharma intensifying its groundwork for IND-enabling studies of FMP374, an orally available, dual-acting NMDAR modulator that uniquely merges disruption of the NMDAR/TRPM4 complex with NMDAR antagonism. This distinct mechanism is intended to boost antidepressant effectiveness while circumventing the excessive NMDAR activity that constrains existing standard treatments.
Representatives from the FundaMental Pharma leadership team will be present at the BIO International Convention 2026, occurring from 22–25 June in San Diego, USA. To arrange a meeting, email info@fundamentalpharma.com.
For further details, please reach out to:
FundaMental Pharma
CEO, Dr. Dirk Beher
info@fundamentalpharma.com
Optimum Strategic Communications
Zoe Bolt, Elena Bates, Nellie Stephens
+44 (0) 203 882 9621
fundamentalpharma@optimumcomms.com
About FundaMental Pharma
FundaMental Pharma GmbH is a preclinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on improving mental health by targeting treatment-resistant depression (TRD). The Company is based in Heidelberg, Germany, and its research is founded on the groundbreaking work of Professor Hilmar Bading and Dr. Jing Yan, published in Science (Yan et al., 2020), which led to the creation of proprietary dual-acting N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor (NMDAR) modulators.
These dual-acting compounds uniquely break apart the complex formed by NMDAR and the transient receptor potential cation channel subfamily M member 4 (TRPM4), while also functioning as powerful NMDAR antagonists.
In preclinical proof-of-concept studies, FMP374 has displayed strong antidepressant-like effectiveness at low nanomolar concentrations of unbound drug, with no signs of dissociation-related behaviors, ataxia, or hyperactivity at effective doses, indicating its promise as a take-home therapy. The compound is orally bioavailable and prepared for IND-enabling studies. With its innovative, neurobiology-based method, FundaMental Pharma seeks to transform the treatment model for TRD and substantially enhance results for patients with serious unmet medical needs. More information is available at https://fundamentalpharma.com/.
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