About Us

Synendos emerged from a decade of bold scientific exploration at the University of Bern and NCCR TransCure. Founded in Basel in 2019 by Prof. Jürg Gertsch, Dr. Andrea Chicca and Dr. Simon Russell, the company was built to go beyond what’s currently possible in endocannabinoid system pharmacology.

The journey to identify the first Selective Endocannabinoid Reuptake Inhibitor (SERI) was relentless. Millions of compounds were screened and through careful selection, one stood out: SYT-510, the first SERI entering development.

From discovery to the clinic, Synendos moved fast, advancing SYT-510 through preclinical development and completing Phase 1 clinical studies in 2025. Today, SYT-510 leads a growing pipeline, as the platform behind it continues to deliver new therapeutic candidates with transformative potential.

Our Story

Our Mission

Synendos aims to change the face of medicine in brain health.

We target the Endocannabinoid System using a novel mode of action with the potential to restore brain function in many major neuropsychiatric disorders.Our strategy aims to maximize early probability of success across selected indications with the potential to revolutionize neuroscience and positively impact the lives of millions of patients in need.

Management Team

Dr. Andrea Chicca

Co-Founder & Chief Executive Officer

Dr. George Garibaldi, MD

Chief Medical Officer

Dr. Simon Russell

Co-Founder & Chief Commercial Officer

Board of Directors

Prof. Dr. Jutta Heim

Chairperson of the Board

Dr. Andrea Chicca

Chief Executive Officer

Dr. Bettina Ernst

Bernina BioInvest

Dr. Søren Lemonius

Sunstone Life Science Ventures

Dr. Peter Neubeck

Kurma Partners

Dr. Karen Wagner

Ysios Capital

Clinical & Scientific Advisors

Prof. Dr. Anahita Bassir Nia, MD

Professor of Psychiatry at Yale School of Medicine

Prof. Dr. Diego García-Borreguero, MD

Director of the Sleep Research Institute Madrid

Dr. Pierandrea Muglia, MD

Clinical Development & Neuropsychiatrist, CMO Saniona AB

Prof. Dr. Kirsten Müller-Vahl, MD

Professor of Psychiatry at the Hannover Medical School

Dr. Andreas Wallnöffer

Senior Executive, Board Director and Advisor in Biotech and Pharma former Global Head Roche Pharma pRED Development

Prof. Dr. Allan Young, MD

Principal Investigator and Scientific Advisor. Head of Brain Sciences, Imperial College London. Director of Centre for Affective Disorders, King’s College London