Solvonis Therapeutics PLC (LSE:SVNS) has appointed Professor David Nutt as chief scientific officer, handing the prominent neuroscientist a key role in shaping the company’s development of new treatments for addiction and psychiatric disorders.
The move, announced on Tuesday, formalises a relationship that began in mid-2024, when Professor Nutt joined as a senior scientific adviser.
He now takes an executive role with immediate effect, overseeing Solvonis’ drug pipeline and scientific strategy as it advances several candidates through late-stage trials.
Professor Nutt is one of the UK’s most widely respected figures in brain science, known for his work on addiction, depression and anxiety.
He holds the Edmond J. Safra Chair in Neuropsychopharmacology at Imperial College London, where he leads research into how medicines affect the brain.
Over a career spanning more than 40 years, he has published more than 600 peer-reviewed papers and has played a central role in shaping clinical approaches to mental health disorders.
He has also advised UK and European medical regulators and is a fellow of several major scientific academies.
“It’s a privilege to take on this expanded role at Solvonis at such a pivotal stage in the company’s growth,” he said.
“The pipeline reflects both ambition and focus, with the potential to deliver transformative treatments for brain disorders that continue to impose an immense personal and societal burden.”
Solvonis is developing medicines aimed at central nervous system conditions, with a particular focus on alcohol use disorder (AUD) and trauma-related illnesses such as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
Its lead programme, SVN-001, combines intravenous ketamine with cognitive behavioural therapy and is currently being tested in a phase III trial across eight NHS Trusts in the UK.
The study is co-funded by the Medical Research Council, the National Institute for Health and Care Research, and the company.
A second candidate, SVN-002, is a sublingual form of esketamine aimed at the US market. It is in the planning stages for a mid-stage trial under a regulatory route that allows companies to use existing data on approved drugs to speed up development.
Solvonis is also advancing early research on a preclinical candidate known as SVN-SDN-14, which targets multiple brain receptors to support emotional regulation and reduce side effects linked to other treatments for PTSD.
In addition, the company has a proprietary library of patented compounds at the early discovery stage, which Professor Nutt will help shape through scientific prioritisation and translational development.
CEO Anthony Tennyson said: "David is one of the most accomplished neuroscientists of his generation. His contributions to our understanding of brain chemistry and psychiatric illness are unmatched, and his leadership will be central to advancing Solvonis' pipeline of novel therapeutics for addiction and mental health disorders. We are delighted that David has agreed to become Solvonis' CSO."