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EncepHeal develops medications to treat substance abuse, starting…
EncepHeal is developing medications to treat substance abuse. Our first product is a small molecule therapeutic for stimulants like cocaine and methamphetamine, of which there are no FDA approved treatments. Our small molecule technology are atypical inhibitors of the dopamine transporter. Cocaine itself is an inhibitor of the same transporter. Directly reducing craving or positive reinforcement is a successful treatment strategy for addiction. Methadone or buprenorphine (Suboxone) are key examples of this for opioid use disorder. However, these types of medications can be addictive themselves. This has been a major hurdle for medication development for cocaine addiction and has led to many leaders in the addiction space to abandon the dopamine transporter as a target. At EncepHeal, we believe that the dopamine transporter should not be abandoned and instead focusing on fixing the abuse liability problem. Therefore with our partners at the National Institutes of Health, we have shown that these new, allosteric modulators at the dopamine transporter do not display addictive tendencies in animal models. They are also effective at curbing cocaine addiction. Our management team has two co-founders, Omeed Rahimi and Aaron Lazarus, as well as an experienced addiction pharmacologist as their research officer. The team has an advisory board with entrepreneurial and addiction drug development experience as well as expert partners at the National Institute on Drug Abuse, a subset of the NIH, and Wake Forest. Our team has had success in raising non-dilutive funding and has expertise with SBIR/STTR grants. We are looking for help in better connecting with the biotech/pharmaceutical industry.
EncepHeal is presented as an ENT clinic offering investigation and treatment for tonsillitis and tonsil stones in Singapore, including non-surgical and surgical options. The site discusses understanding tonsil stones, their causes, symptoms, and treatment pathways, including tonsillectomy techniques.
The service workflow appears to involve patient education on tonsil stones and symptoms, followed by evaluation by an ENT specialist. Treatment options range from non-surgical approaches (salt water gargles, manual removal, antibiotics) to surgical interventions (tonsillectomy using traditional, laser, or coblation techniques) for chronic or severe cases. Patients may undergo assessment to determine the appropriate intervention and may pursue surgery for long-term relief.
Who it’s for: Individuals suffering from recurring tonsil stones, chronic tonsillitis, or significant throat discomfort seeking ENT evaluation and potential tonsillectomy in Singapore.
I am the former founder and CEO of EncepHeal Therapeutics, developing medications for substance abuse. Prior to EncepHeal, I graduated with my undergraduate and graduate degrees from Wake Forest University. I currently live in North Carolina, but I am originally from South Jersey. When I am not working, I try to go skiing, which is unfortunately hard to do living in North Carolina. I am the most accessible over email.
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