# Let’s blaze a brighter future for neuropsychiatric biomarker discovery and mental health

Our team is dedicated to advancing how neuropsychiatric conditions are assessed, diagnosed, and treated by linking mental health with its underlying biology. If you’re in the mental health space, let’s connect.

As a proof of concept, using our ADAPT Platform™ we developed a first-of-its-kind blood test for PTSD screening and triage, PTS-ID™. Clinically, biomarker-based diagnostics increase diagnostic accuracy and reduce the time it takes to match patients with effective therapies. Focusing on biology enables individualized treatment of underlying conditions, as opposed to treatments for symptoms only.

Since our founding in 2017, we have had investors, clients and partnerships across multiple sectors, including pharma, health systems, governments, academic, and research organizations.

Our biology-based tools are rewriting the way we think of mental health and brain health, how we treat it, and ultimately, how we improve the lives of people impacted every step of the way.

Let’s work together.

[Schedule a Meeting](mailto:sudhama@polarisgenomics.com?subject=Urgent%20-%20MeetingRequest%20Inquiry%20Re:%20ADAPT%20Panel)

[Our People](https://polarisgenomics.com/about-us/)

[Executive Summary](https://drive.google.com/file/d/1qVrbQ9UaYaBpQ0wBOqvW-qSaPcbchYv3/view?usp=sharing)

#### FAQs

**About Our Technology**

- **What does Polaris Genomics do?** Polaris Genomics enables researchers and therapeutic developers to apply oncology’s proven, biomarker-based approach to developing drugs and diagnostics for mental health and TBI.
- **What does your platform do?** With the ADAPT Neuropsychiatric Biomarker Discovery Platform™, researchers can develop more effective drugs and biomarker-based diagnostics (or CDx) for mental and brain health conditions. The platform analyzes biomarker signatures derived from blood samples through a multi-layered approach utilizing a targeted gene panel, deep analytics engine, and data repository. Known system pathways in the brain: The transcripts are implicated in PTSD risk; the stress response pathway; antidepressant drug responsiveness; psychedelic and cannabinoid drug response; the dopaminergic, serotonergic, and GABAnergic pathways; alcohol, substance, and opioid use disorders; neuro- and systemic inflammation, neuronal injury, and neurogenesis; and sleep regulation and circadian rhythms.
  - **What conditions does the ADAPT Platform™ cover?** The ADAPT Platform™ contains molecular biomarkers for a range of neuropsychiatric conditions, including PTSD, depression, anxiety, ADHD, TBI, and substance use disorder. It has the capacity for utilization across brain, mental, behavioural, and neuropsychiatric R&D.
  - **Is the ADAPT Platform™ proven to work?** Yes. As a proof of concept for ADAPT, Polaris developed a first-of-its-kind blood test for PTSD screening and triage, PTS-ID™, using the ADAPT Platform™. Additionally, we are currently conducting a pilot project with a large pharmaceutical company.
  - **How are biomarkers important for clinical tools?** Clinically, biomarker-based diagnostics increase diagnostic accuracy and reduce the time it takes to match patients with effective therapies. Focusing on biology enables individualized treatment of underlying conditions, as opposed to treatments for symptoms only.
  - **What is Polaris’ competitive advantage and innovation?** Our proprietary panel of neuropsychiatric biomarkers, at the core of our platform, provides insights that whole transcriptome methods can’t. Our panel is more sensitive than current methods.
  - **Why did you start with PTSD?** Inspired by their work at the Defense and Veterans Brain Injury Center and the US Department of Veterans Affairs, Polaris Genomics was founded by a veteran and a scientist to address the mental health crisis that was resulting in 22 veteran suicides each day.
  - **Why do you focus on biomarkers?** Biomarkers provide biological clues pointing toward disease states, drug responsiveness, and other important factors in research. Studies in oncology show that using biomarkers for patient selection increases the probability of clinical trial success by 2x. Biomarkers also shorten time to market, increase the likelihood of FDA approval, reduce clinical trial costs, and improve the safety and efficacy of therapeutics.

**What are Polaris Genomics’ core products and services?**

- **ADAPT Neuropsychiatric Biomarker Discovery Platform™:** analyzes genetic association, transcriptomic, and clinical phenotypic data to define RNA expression profiles correlated with neuropsychiatric conditions and treatment response. These profiles are tied to 1000+ specific genomic biomarker targets for mental and brain health; a targeted panel that measures RNA transcripts from blood samples.
- **PTS-ID™:** The first-of-its-kind blood test for PTSD screening and triage that measures blood RNA expression levels of proprietary genetic markers highly correlated with HPA axis (fight-or-flight) dysregulation associated with PTSD. Using machine learning, PTS-ID™ is 2-3 times more sensitive to measures indicative of PTSD than self-report measures.
- Polaris’ proprietary and diverse molecular biorepository data lake will be available in 2027.
- Companion diagnostics are pipelined for 2028.

**About Our Market & Regulatory Strategy**

- **Who are Polaris Genomics’ customers?** For neuropsychiatric R&D (biomarkers): researchers within pharmaceutical companies, healthcare systems, academic institutions, and government agencies. For clinical product (Dx and CDx) development: commercial payers and single-payer health systems (e.g., military and VA).
- **What is Polaris Genomics’ go-to-market strategy?** In three phases, Polaris will:
  
  1. Use the ADAPT Platform for psychiatric drug, CDx, and Dx development

2. License CDx/Dx tools

3. Monetize proprietary data repository and data lake
- **What is Polaris Genomics’ regulatory strategy?** Polaris is moving toward FDA approval of a Class II Medical device and the pathway is 510K De Novo.

## Together, let's blaze the way

Transforming the mental health landscape takes a village. At Polaris, we actively welcome collaborations with researchers and leadership across pharma, academic, clinical, CRO, government, and other neuropsychiatric partners.