Program Rationale
Program #1: Acute Pain in Fragile Patients
Post-operative patients with pre-existing health conditions face a heightened risk of opioid-induced respiratory depression (OIRD) when treated with conventional opioids1. At the same time, under-treating pain can prolong patient suffering and lead to longer, more costly hospital stays2,3. This creates a clear need for effective pain management options that do not carry the same safety risks.
Opioid-like analgesics with a lower risk of OIRD represent a significant opportunity to improve acute pain care while also delivering meaningful value for payers. One promising direction comes from analogs of the alkaloids found in kratom, a plant used by approximately 15 million Americans—primarily for pain relief, but also for other conditions4. Notably, kratom has been associated with a substantially lower risk of respiratory depression, with some estimates suggesting it may be up to 1,000 times safer than conventional opioids5.
Building on this potential, Singularity Research has identified and is advancing a lead compound derived from its portfolio of novel kratom-inspired molecules. Early data indicate that this lead compound delivers analgesic effects comparable to buprenorphine, with no safety signals observed to date. The program is supported by multiple composition-of-matter patent applications, including four PCT filings—three of which have already received favorable preliminary reviews from the Canadian Patent Office—potentially securing patent protection through 2045.
Program #2: Refractory and Rare Epilepsies
Refractory and rare forms of epilepsy remain significantly undertreated, despite affecting approximately 65 million people worldwide. An estimated 30–40% of patients do not achieve adequate seizure control, highlighting a persistent gap in effective therapies1.
One established approach, the ketogenic diet—introduced in 1921 by Johns Hopkins Hospital—has been shown to reduce seizures in refractory patients. However, its success depends on strict, near-perfect adherence, which is difficult to sustain. Notably, ketones produced through this diet have been shown to enhance the efficacy of anti-epileptic drugs (AEDs), pointing to an opportunity to embed this mechanism directly into drug design2.
Building on this insight, Singularity Research has acquired intellectual property for a portfolio of novel compounds supported by strong preclinical data demonstrating superior seizure control relative to a leading blockbuster AED. These molecules combine a proven anti-epileptic agent with ketone-generating groups (KGGs) in a single therapy, significantly enhancing performance beyond the drug alone. The assets are protected by a granted patent and are positioned to move quickly into IND-enabling studies, with additional backup compounds under exploration for other indications.