Sherwood Pharmacuticals

Sherwood Pharmaceuticals was founded through a collaboration between GeneScape CEO Dr. Karen E. Malone and the Cri du Chat Foundation. The company is developing the first targeted therapy for Cri du Chat syndrome (CdCS) — a rare genetic disorder that causes severe developmental delays and behavioral challenges, with no approved treatments currently available. Present care relies solely on rehabilitative therapies and off-label medications with limited efficacy and a high caregiver burden.

Leveraging GeneScape’s bioinformatics platform, Sherwood identified a key neuropsychiatric pathway linked to the genetic cause of CdCS and shortlisted several small molecule candidates with known safety profiles. The therapy is designed as either an oral solution or once-daily transdermal patch to address the most harmful and care-impeding behaviors associated with the condition.

Each candidate drug has existing approval for unrelated indications, allowing Sherwood to build on established safety and pharmacokinetic data. The company maintains strong alliances with the Cri du Chat Patient Foundation, the Emma Center for Personalized Medicine, and IP experts at HGF and NLO. Looking ahead, Sherwood plans to expand its approach to other rare syndromes with overlapping neurobehavioral features, such as Angelman and Dravet syndromes, to further advance personalized medicine.