Synphatec Raises $50M Series A Led by Decheng Capital for CNS Therapies

Synphatec Secures $50M Series A to Advance CNS Pipeline

Shanghai-based biopharmaceutical company Synphatec (斯莱普泰) has raised a $50 million Series A round led by Decheng Capital. The financing, dated September 27, 2026, brings together a syndicate of investors including Shunwei Capital (顺为资本), Morningside, China Merchants Venture (招商局创投), Huatai GenScript Fund (华泰金斯瑞基金), and 仟驹资本.

Founded in 2021, Synphatec is focused on developing next-generation therapies for central nervous system (CNS) disorders, with an emphasis on neuropsychiatry. The company's pipeline spans seven programs built on two internal drug-discovery platforms, i-NaS and SynX.

Pipeline Highlights

The company's lead asset, SP-101, is a rapid-acting NMDA-receptor-targeted antidepressant that has completed Phase I. This program targets depression, a core area within the company's neuropsychiatry focus.

A second notable program, SP-201, is an amyloid-beta gene therapy approaching investigator-initiated trials. This asset addresses Alzheimer's disease, another major CNS indication within Synphatec's scope.

Together, these programs illustrate a dual approach: a clinical-stage small-molecule or receptor-targeted therapy for depression and a gene therapy for a neurodegenerative condition.

Platforms and Infrastructure

Synphatec's pipeline is built on two internal drug-discovery platforms:

• i-NaS
• SynX

These platforms support the seven programs across the company's portfolio. The company operates within the Johnson & Johnson JLABS network, maintaining a JLABS Singapore base and a virtual residency. This affiliation provides access to a broader life-science innovation ecosystem.

Funding Details

• Round type: Series A
• Amount: $50,000,000
• Currency: USD
• Date: September 27, 2026
• Lead investor: Decheng Capital
• Participating investors: Shunwei Capital (顺为资本), Morningside, Decheng Capital, China Merchants Venture (招商局创投), Huatai GenScript Fund (华泰金斯瑞基金), 仟驹资本

The presence of both China-focused and cross-border life-science investors in the round reflects continued interest in CNS drug development, a therapeutic area known for high unmet need and significant development risk.

What This Means for the CNS Space

Synphatec's Series A comes as the company advances SP-101 beyond Phase I and prepares SP-201 for investigator-initiated trials. The $50 million infusion is positioned to support these clinical and preclinical activities across its seven-program pipeline.

For observers of the biopharmaceutical sector, the round highlights several themes:

• CNS remains an active investment area, particularly for companies with differentiated mechanisms such as NMDA-receptor targeting.
• Gene therapy approaches for neurodegenerative disease continue to attract attention, as seen with SP-201's amyloid-beta focus.
• Platform-based discovery — here, i-NaS and SynX — remains a common structuring element for early-stage biotech pipelines.

Synphatec's base in Shanghai and its JLABS Singapore presence position it within a cross-border research and development network. The company's stated focus on neuropsychiatry narrows its therapeutic scope while allowing depth across depression and Alzheimer's disease programs.

Summary

Synphatec has closed a $50 million Series A led by Decheng Capital, with participation from Shunwei Capital, Morningside, China Merchants Venture, Huatai GenScript Fund, and 仟驹资本. The Shanghai-based company, founded in 2021, is developing CNS therapies across seven programs built on its i-NaS and SynX platforms. Its lead asset, SP-101, has completed Phase I, while SP-201 is approaching investigator-initiated trials. The funding supports the company's continued work in neuropsychiatry, including depression and Alzheimer's disease.