Focus Areas

SMPA is deeply committed to accelerating breakthroughs in psychiatry & neurology, oncology, urology, women’s health, rare disease, and cell & gene therapy to bring needed therapies to patients sooner.

Women's Health

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Supporting science, medicine, and advocacy to improve the lives of people suffering from uterine fibroids, endometriosis, or infertility. We believe the first step to progress is understanding the problem.

Uterine Health Guide

We see people as more than the health conditions they are managing. To support those with questions about their uterine health, we created a series of resources to learn more about how to talk with healthcare providers and find support in the community.

View the Guide

Women's Health

Uterine Fibroids

Uterine fibroids, also known as uterine myomas or leiomyomas, are non-cancerous tumors that develop in the muscle of the uterus. Uterine fibroids may cause debilitating symptoms such as heavy and prolonged menstrual bleeding, anemia, and pelvic pain.

View resources & learn more

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171 M
Cases of uterine fibroids worldwide
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>25%
Of women of reproductive age have uterine fibroids (more prevalent in African Americans)
Illustration of a surgical knife or scalpel.
250,000
Hysterectomies for uterine fibroids in the U.S. each year

Women's Health

Endometriosis

Endometriosis is a condition in which tissue similar to the uterine lining is found outside the uterine cavity, commonly in the lower abdomen or pelvis. Endometriosis may cause debilitating symptoms such as dysmenorrhea (menstrual pain), non-menstrual pelvic pain, and dyspareunia (painful intercourse).

Illustration of a world globe.
176 M
Women worldwide are living with endometriosis
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10%
Of reproductive age women have endometriosis
Illustration of a surgical knife or scalpel.
100,000
Hysterectomies are performed in the U.S. each year for endometriosis

Women's Health

Infertility

Infertility is defined as the inability to get pregnant after 12 months of regular intercourse without use of contraception. Causes of infertility include ovulatory disorders, endometriosis, and abnormal sperm.

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~50 M
Couples worldwide experienced infertility in 2010
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1 in 10
People of reproductive age in the U.S. experience fertility problems
Illustration of human female egg and male sperm.
300K
Cycles of assisted reproductive technology (ART) performed in 2018 in the U.S.

Urology

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We are focused on making a meaningful difference for patients by developing and commercializing innovative therapies for a range of urologic conditions, beginning with overactive bladder.

Understanding Overactive Bladder

Overactive Bladder (OAB) is not a disease but a collection of symptoms that can significantly impact a person's quality of life. This condition is characterized by a frequent and sudden urge to urinate and other distressing symptoms.

Learn more

Urology

Overactive Bladder (OAB)

For people with OAB, the symptoms of urgency, frequency (specifically the need to urinate eight or more times a day), and accidental leakage episodes can be disruptive and disturbing.

While OAB is not a life-threatening condition, coping with its daily symptoms can certainly be limiting. People living with symptoms of OAB may not realize that it's more common than they might think.

Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) is a condition in men in which the prostate gland is enlarged. About 60% of men with BPH are treated for lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS), such as OAB. LUTS can be divided into storage, voiding, and postmicturition symptoms. Over half of men with BPH report storage symptoms and about a quarter report voiding symptoms. This suggests that many men with a diagnosis of BPH may have overactive bladder. About half of all men between ages 51 and 60 have BPH and up to 90% of men over age 80 are living with the condition.

Learn more

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546 M
Estimated number of people aged ≥20 years affected by OAB worldwide
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33 M
Estimated number of U.S. adults who experience symptoms of OAB

Psychiatry

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We are committed to the research and discovery of novel pathways and therapies to address some of the world’s most serious and persistent psychiatric conditions. Our goal is to develop therapies that transform the lives of people living with these conditions.

Psychiatry

Schizophrenia

Schizophrenia is a chronic, serious, and often severely disabling brain disorder that affects more than 20 million people worldwide and approximately 1 million people in the U.S. It is characterized by positive symptoms, such as hallucinations, delusions, and disorganized thinking, as well as negative symptoms, such as lack of emotion, social withdrawal, lack of spontaneity, and cognitive impairment that includes problems with memory, attention, and the ability to plan, organize, and make decisions.

Illustration of a world globe.
20 M
Estimated number of people affected by schizophrenia worldwide
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1 M
Estimated number of U.S. adults who are diagnosed with schizophrenia

Psychiatry

Bipolar Disorder

Bipolar disorder affects approximately 12.6 million individuals in the U.S. and an estimated 29 million people worldwide. A person is usually diagnosed with bipolar disorder after experiencing at least one manic episode, with symptoms that are not better explained by another mental health condition, such as schizophrenia. Bipolar disorder is characterized by debilitating mood swings, interspersed with periods of stable mood and behavior. When individuals with bipolar disorder are experiencing symptoms, most tend to be depressed rather than manic.

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29 M
Estimated number of people affected by bipolar depression worldwide
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12.6 M
Estimated number of U.S. adults who experience symptoms of bipolar depression

Neurology

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We explore the depths of the brain to develop solutions for neurological conditions that impact millions of people worldwide. This constant driver of innovation enables us to charter new paths to life-transforming treatments.

Neurology

Epilepsy

Epilepsy is one of the most common neurological diseases globally, affecting approximately 50 million people worldwide. The condition is characterized by unpredictable seizures, which are caused by disturbances in the electrical activity in the brain. Someone is said to have epilepsy if they experience two or more unprovoked seizures separated by at least 24 hours or after one seizure with a high risk for more. It is estimated that up to 70% of people living with epilepsy could live seizure-free if properly diagnosed and treated.

Illustration of a world globe.
50 M
Estimated number of people affected by epilepsy worldwide
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3.4 M
Estimated number of U.S. adults who experience symptoms of epilepsy

Oncology

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We dedicate our resources and talent to the pursuit of emerging, purposeful science in oncology through innovative research and industry-leading development.

Our team is relentless in their pursuit of life-changing discoveries. By integrating industry-leading research and development with a truly global network of experts, we aim to uncover the most impactful treatments of tomorrow.

Oncology

Prostate Cancer

Prostate cancer is a potentially lethal disease that starts in the prostate gland in men. Most prostate cancer is diagnosed while men are asymptomatic. Symptoms of metastatic prostate cancer may include weight loss, bone pain, fatigue, and urinary symptoms.

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1.2 M
New prostate cancer diagnoses in 2018 worldwide
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~3 M
Men diagnosed with prostate cancer alive in the U.S.
2nd most common
Cause of cancer death in the U.S.

Rare Disease

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We aim to develop life-altering medicines for rare diseases, such as congenital athymia, where either limited options exist or current options fail to address the underlying disease.

Rare Disease

Pediatric Congenital Athymia

Pediatric congenital athymia is an ultra-rare condition in which children are born without a thymus, which may cause profound immunodeficiency, vulnerability to potentially fatal infections, and life-threatening immune dysregulation. Pediatric congenital athymia affects 17 to 24 infants born each year in the United States. In a natural history study, congenital athymia patients on supportive care alone did not survive beyond 2-3 years of age.

Pediatric congenital athymia is initially detected by T-cell deficiency observed in newborn screening for SCID (severe combined immune deficiency), which is now required in all 50 U.S. states. The “T” in T cell stands for thymus because it is where T cells are selected to fight infections or are destroyed if they have the potential to attack the body instead of invaders. SCID and congenital athymia are both primary immunodeficiency disorders, but they are distinct conditions.

Illustration of the map of the United States.
17 to 24
Infants born each year affected with congenital athymia in the U.S.

Additional Resources

Pipeline

Our preclinical and clinical programs span numerous modalities and indications where patient needs remain high or unmet.

Newsroom

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