Tempero Bio is a private, clinical-stage biotech developing TMP-301, a negative allosteric modulator of the mGluR5 receptor, for multiple substance use disorders. The company, an Aditum Bio portfolio company, has secured substantial Series B financing ($70M) to advance its lead candidate into Phase 2 trials following FDA IND clearance. Operating in a high-need, underserved market with limited pharmacological options, Tempero aims to provide a new class of treatment for addiction, a leading cause of preventable death in the U.S.
Substance Use DisordersAddiction MedicineCentral Nervous System
Technology Platform
Small molecule negative allosteric modulators (NAMs) targeting the metabotropic glutamate receptor 5 (mGluR5) to dampen dysregulated glutamate signaling in addiction pathways.
Funding History
2
Total raised:$150M
Venture$70MUndisclosed
Series A$80MGV
Opportunities
The massive, underserved patient population for substance use disorders, particularly the complete lack of FDA-approved pharmacotherapies for Cocaine Use Disorder, presents a greenfield market opportunity.
A novel mechanism of action validated in clinical trials could capture significant share in the Alcohol Use Disorder market, where treatment options are limited and old.
Successful proof-of-concept could lead to expansion into other stimulant and polysubstance disorders.
Risk Factors
High clinical development risk inherent to novel CNS drug candidates; the mGluR5 mechanism, while promising, may fail to show efficacy in late-stage trials.
Regulatory pathways for addiction treatments, especially in new drug classes, can be challenging and require large, expensive trials.
Market adoption faces hurdles including stigma, reimbursement complexities, and integration into existing behavioral health frameworks.
Competitive Landscape
For Cocaine Use Disorder, there are no FDA-approved pharmacotherapies, so TMP-301 faces no direct drug competition but competes with behavioral therapies and investigational agents. In Alcohol Use Disorder, it competes with established generic drugs (naltrexone, acamprosate, disulfiram) and newer entrants like gabapentin (off-label). Its primary differentiation is its novel mGluR5 mechanism targeting a different neurocircuitry than existing options.
