Monument Therapeutics

Monument Therapeutics is a UK-based biotechnology company that develops targeted treatments for psychiatric and neurological diseases. It was founded in 2019 by Dr. Jenny Barnett, Sheryl Caswell, and Dr. Kiri Granger, and spun out of Cambridge Cognition in 2021. The company focuses on a precision medicine approach, using proprietary digital biomarkers to identify specific patient subgroups with similar underlying neurobiology. This allows them to match these patient groups with appropriately targeted compounds, de-risking and accelerating the drug development process.

The company's co-founders bring a blend of scientific and pharmaceutical development experience. CEO Dr. Jenny Barnett was previously the Chief Scientific Officer at Cambridge Cognition and holds a PhD in Schizophrenia Epidemiology from the University of Cambridge. Chief Scientific Officer Dr. Kiri Granger is an expert in the CNS field and developed the biomarker integral to the company's schizophrenia program during her PhD. Chief Development Officer Sheryl Caswell has over 30 years of experience in global clinical development programs.

Monument's leading drug candidate is MT1988, a novel, fixed-dose combination of two small molecules intended to treat Cognitive Impairment Associated with Schizophrenia (CIAS), a condition for which there are currently no approved treatments. This drug, designed to be used alongside existing antipsychotic medications, acts on nicotinic receptors to enhance cognitive function while mitigating common side effects. Preclinical studies showed substantial cognitive improvement. A Phase 1 clinical study for MT1988 began in late 2024 to evaluate its safety and tolerability, with initial results expected in 2025. The company is also targeting other CNS conditions, including post-operative cognitive dysfunction (POCD).

Monument Therapeutics has secured significant funding to advance its pipeline. The company raised £2.625 million in a 2021 seed round and a further £850k in February 2025, led by investors such as ACF Investors, Wren Capital, o2h Ventures, and Catapult Ventures. This funding supports the clinical development of MT1988 and the company's overall growth. Keywords: precision neuroscience, digital biomarkers, schizophrenia, central nervous system disorders, CNS drug development, cognitive impairment, CIAS, stratified medicine, MT1988, neuroinflammation, biotechnology, clinical trials, pharmaceutical development, psychiatric drug development, neurology, drug discovery, venture capital-backed, life sciences, HealthTech, therapeutics