Alumni News: Sherwood Pharmaceuticals wins Investor Forum at Dutch Life Sciences Conference 2025
We are proud to share that Sherwood Pharmaceuticals — alumni of the Drug Repurposing Venture Challenge 2025 — has won the Investor Forum Award at the Dutch Life Sciences Conference. Congratulations to Dr. Karen E. Malone, Yannick L., and the entire Sherwood team on this well-deserved recognition.
Developing the First Targeted Therapy for Cri du Chat Syndrome
Sherwood Pharmaceuticals was founded through a collaboration between GeneScape CEO Dr. Karen E. Malone and the Cri du Chat Patient Foundation. The company is pioneering the first-ever pharmacological treatment for Cri du Chat Syndrome (CdCS) — a rare genetic disorder associated with severe developmental delays, challenging neurobehavioral symptoms, and a high caregiver burden. Currently, no approved therapies exist, and care relies on supportive interventions and off-label medications with limited efficacy.
Using GeneScape’s bioinformatics platform, Sherwood identified a key neuropsychiatric pathway linked to the genetic cause of CdCS. The team subsequently shortlisted several small-molecule compounds with established safety profiles. Their therapeutic concept — developed as either an oral solution or a once-daily transdermal patch — aims to address the most disruptive and care-impeding behaviors in CdCS.
Because each candidate drug is already approved for unrelated indications, Sherwood can build on known safety and pharmacokinetic data, significantly accelerating development.
A Growing Network of Strategic Partners
Sherwood collaborates closely with the Cri du Chat Foundation, the Emma Center for Personalized Medicine, and IP specialists at HGF and NLO. Looking forward, the team aims to expand its platform to other rare neurobehavioral syndromes — including Angelman and Dravet Syndromes — to advance precision therapies for underserved patient groups.
Recognition at the Dutch Life Sciences Conference
The Investor Forum jury praised Sherwood Pharmaceuticals for:
- its compelling scientific rationale,
- strong alignment with patient needs, and
- clear strategy for clinical and regulatory progression.
This recognition underscores the strong momentum of the project and strengthens its position for follow-on partnerships and investment.
About the Drug Repurposing Venture Challenge
The Drug Repurposing Venture Challenge, organised by FAST and ZonMw, supports early-stage teams in validating the business feasibility of drug repurposing concepts. Sherwood Pharmaceuticals participated in the 2025 edition, where they developed a strong venture plan and sharpened their strategy for clinical translation.
