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

Stock photo of a healthy Caucasian woman in her mid-50’s standing on a street outside.

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

Menstrual Mysteries—Mothers and Daughters Talk About Periods

Talking about periods can feel uncomfortable. But why is discussing something that millions of people experience still taboo? With this video series, we want to support open conversations around menstruation. When stigma keeps people quiet about periods, it can take longer to get care. To encourage these frank conversations, we invited mothers and daughters to talk openly with each other—and all of us—about periods.

Watch the video Series

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

Illustration of a world globe.
171 M
Cases of uterine fibroids worldwide
Illustration of the map of the United States.
>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
Illustration of the map of the United States.
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.

Illustration of a world globe.
~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.

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.

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546 M
Estimated number of people aged ≥20 years affected by OAB worldwide
Illustration of the map of the United States.
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
Illustration of the map of the United States.
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.

Illustration of a world globe.
29 M
Estimated number of people affected by bipolar depression worldwide
Illustration of the map of the United States.
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
Illustration of the map of the United States.
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.

Men with Prostate Cancer Find Support

One in eight men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer, according to the American Cancer Society. But sometimes men with prostate cancer find it difficult to talk about. This video series brought together men from diverse prostate cancer support groups to share their experiences and how being part of a community can be a source of strength. By confiding in other men with prostate cancer, they’ve found information and support.

Watch the video series

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.

Watch our video series: Men with prostate cancer find support

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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 where either limited options exist or current options fail to address the underlying disease. After delivering a first-of-its-kind advancement to improve the lives of pediatric patients with congenital athymia, we are advancing promising therapies for rare respiratory diseases including pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) and chemical lung injury.

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.

Rare Disease

Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension

Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) is a rare disease characterized by a thickening and constriction of the smooth muscle layer of pulmonary arteries that is in part driven by excess serotonin signaling. This causes remodeling of pulmonary arteries, which leads to an increase in blood pressure and workload for the heart over time. Over 50,000 people have been diagnosed with PAH (WHO Group 1) in the United States, and this disease is almost twice as common in women than men.

PAH is a rapidly progressive disease carrying an approximate 50 percent mortality rate at five years, with those affected typically succumbing to right ventricular heart failure. The condition is currently treated with vasodilators, which offer some benefit but fail to address the underlying vessel remodeling believed to be responsible for the disease’s high morbidity and mortality rates. Reducing peripheral serotonin production is a novel approach for the treatment of PAH and has the potential to halt or reverse pulmonary remodeling. We are developing our peripherally acting tryptophan hydroxylase (TPH) inhibitor as an adjunctive treatment for PAH as our research suggests its mechanism of action is additive to the effects of standard of care.

Illustration of the map of the United States.
50,000+
People diagnosed with PAH in the U.S., twice as common in women than men

Rare Disease

Chemical Lung Injury

Chemical lung injuries can result from the inhalation of noxious or irritant chemical gases (e.g., sulfur mustard, chlorine, ammonia, or components of vaping products) as well as other toxicants such as smoke and particulates. These injuries may be a result of intentional or accidental exposure and may cause lifelong disability or possibly death.

Incidence figures are difficult to calculate owing to the diversity of compounds that may cause lung injury and the settings in which such injury may occur, such as accidental exposure in industrial or home settings or via chemical attack. It has been estimated by the National Occupational Exposure Survey, conducted by the CDC, that at least one million U.S. workers are at risk of exposure to respiratory irritants, with injuries occurring more frequently at home.

Illustration of the map of the United States.
~1 M
Workers at risk of exposure to respiratory irritants 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

Stay up-to-date with the latest news from SMPA.