Zena Therapeutics Inc
June 24, 2026
5B
Type: Start-Up Stadium Session
Focus Area:
Brain Health
Zena Therapeutics is developing safer alternatives to benzodiazepines by leveraging a novel GABA-A receptor binding site. Our partial positive allosteric modulators (PAMs) deliver anxiolytic and anti-seizure efficacy while eliminating the fatal overdose risk that has plagued benzodiazepines for decades, addressing a critical unmet need in anxiety treatment, substance withdrawal, and epilepsy. With lead compounds demonstrating equal efficacy in preclinical models to benzodiazepines and improved safety, Zena is advancing toward IND-enabling studies with support from NIH/NIDA funding and strategic partnerships
Company HQ City:
North Brunswick
Company HQ State:
New Jersey
Company HQ Country:
United States
Year Founded:
2021
CEO
Ariane Vasilatis, PhD



