Minerva Neurosciences Secures $200 Million for Schizophrenia Treatment Trial

BURLINGTON, Mass., Oct. 21, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Minerva Neurosciences, Inc. (Nasdaq: NERV), a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company, announced a significant financing plan today. The company has finalized a securities purchase agreement with institutional investors to raise up to $200 million.

The agreement includes an initial $80 million in upfront funding for shares of Series A preferred stock and offers the potential for an additional $80 million from Tranche A warrant exercises. An extra $40 million may also be acquired upon meeting specific milestone events linked to Tranche B warrants.

According to Minerva, the funding will primarily support the confirmatory Phase 3 trial of its drug, roluperidone, which is aimed at treating the negative symptoms of schizophrenia. The company expects the trial to be significantly expanded, alongside preparations for resubmitting its New Drug Application (NDA) to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

Dr. Remy Luthringer, CEO of Minerva, expressed appreciation for the FDA’s support in defining a path forward for roluperidone’s development. “We will now refocus all of our efforts on the successful execution of the confirmatory trial,” he noted.

The private placement is set to close around October 23, 2025, provided customary closing conditions are met. Minerva plans to appoint up to three directors with significant schizophrenia clinical trial experience to its board, enhancing operational management.

This financing follows a recent alignment with the FDA regarding the trial design, which will include patients diagnosed with stable negative symptoms of schizophrenia. The trial will assess the efficacy of a 64 mg dose of roluperidone over a 12-week period.

Given that approximately 50-60% of individuals with schizophrenia experience debilitating negative symptoms, Minerva’s efforts could address a substantial unmet medical need in this field. The company’s proactive financing and research strategies may lead to innovative treatment options for patients worldwide.