Ovid Therapeutics Appoints Dr. Petra Kaufmann as Chief Medical Officer to Advance CNS Drug Development
Written by Emily J. Thompson, Senior Investment Analyst
Updated: Dec 02 2025
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Source: Newsfilter
- Leadership Enhancement: Ovid Therapeutics has appointed Dr. Petra Kaufmann as Chief Medical Officer, who will guide clinical, medical, and regulatory strategies to advance the company's clinical pipeline of potential best- and first-in-class therapeutic candidates for neuronal imbalance.
- Extensive Experience: Dr. Kaufmann brings a wealth of experience in CNS therapeutics from her previous roles at Vigil Neuroscience and Novartis Gene Therapies, where she played a key role in the global approval of Zolgensma®, which is expected to significantly enhance Ovid's R&D capabilities.
- Patient-Focused Development: Emphasizing a patient-centered approach, Dr. Kaufmann is dedicated to advancing therapies for complex neurological conditions, aligning closely with Ovid's mission and potentially accelerating the progress of its GABA-AT inhibitor, OV329.
- Strategic Collaboration Outlook: Ovid looks forward to collaborating with Dr. Kaufmann to leverage her regulatory experience and clinical principles to advance its broad portfolio of KCC2 direct activators, thereby enhancing the company's competitiveness in the CNS drug market.
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Analyst Views on OVID
Wall Street analysts forecast OVID stock price to rise over the next 12 months. According to Wall Street analysts, the average 1-year price target for OVID is 4.17 USD with a low forecast of 2.00 USD and a high forecast of 7.00 USD. However, analyst price targets are subjective and often lag stock prices, so investors should focus on the objective reasons behind analyst rating changes, which better reflect the company's fundamentals.
8 Analyst Rating
8 Buy
0 Hold
0 Sell
Strong Buy
Current: 1.550
Low
2.00
Averages
4.17
High
7.00
Current: 1.550
Low
2.00
Averages
4.17
High
7.00
About OVID
Ovid Therapeutics Inc. is a biopharmaceutical company dedicated to developing small-molecule medicines for brain conditions with significant unmet need. It is advancing a pipeline of novel, targeted small-molecule candidates that modulate the intrinsic and extrinsic factors involved in neuronal hyperexcitability causative of multiple neurological and neuropsychiatric disorders. It develops OV329, which is a GABA-aminotransferase inhibitor, as a potential therapy for treatment-resistant seizures and other undisclosed indications; OV350, OV4071 and others within a library of compounds that directly activate the KCC2 transporter, for multiple CNS disorders. It also maintains the KCC2 library, which is a portfolio of potential first-in-class direct activators of potassium chloride cotransporter2. Both OV350 and OV4071 are intended for the potential treatment of psychosis associated with neuronal-synuclein diseases (NSD), which include Parkinson’s disease and Lewy body dementia (LBD).
About the author
Emily J. Thompson
Emily J. Thompson, a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) with 12 years in investment research, graduated with honors from the Wharton School. Specializing in industrial and technology stocks, she provides in-depth analysis for Intellectia’s earnings and market brief reports.
Ovid Therapeutics Advances KCC2 Oral Activator OV4071 Clinical Trial Plans
- Successful Safety Evaluation: The Phase 1 study of OV350 in 16 healthy participants demonstrated a good safety profile with no treatment-related serious adverse events, indicating its potential for future clinical applications in KCC2 activator development.
- Pharmacokinetics as Expected: The pharmacokinetic results for OV350 were as predicted, supporting further research into KCC2 activators, particularly the clinical trial plans for OV4071.
- Clinical Trial Plans: Ovid plans to submit a regulatory application for a Phase 1/1b clinical trial of OV4071 in Q1 2026, targeting psychosis associated with Parkinson's disease and Lewy body dementia, addressing a high unmet need.
- Investment in Drug Development: Ovid is prioritizing resources to accelerate the development of oral KCC2 activators, reflecting the company's commitment to new mechanism drugs that could open new avenues in the treatment of neuropsychiatric disorders.
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Ovid Therapeutics Appoints Dr. Petra Kaufmann as Chief Medical Officer to Advance CNS Drug Development
- New Chief Medical Officer: Ovid Therapeutics has appointed Dr. Petra Kaufmann as Chief Medical Officer, responsible for guiding clinical, medical, and regulatory strategies to advance the company’s pipeline of potential best- and first-in-class therapeutic candidates for neuronal imbalance.
- Extensive Drug Development Experience: Dr. Kaufmann brings a wealth of experience in CNS therapeutics, having served as CMO at Vigil Neuroscience and Novartis Gene Therapies, where she played a key role in the global approval of Zolgensma®, showcasing her expertise in developing drugs for complex neurological conditions.
- Patient-Focused R&D Philosophy: Dr. Kaufmann emphasizes a patient-focused development approach, committed to advancing OV329 and the KCC2 portfolio through rigorous scientific mechanisms, ensuring that each program is guided by sound clinical principles and a deep understanding of patient needs.
- Strategic Leadership Team Enhancement: Ovid's President Meg Alexander stated that Dr. Kaufmann's appointment will strengthen the company’s R&D organization, driving innovation and enhancing market competitiveness in the field of neurological therapeutics.
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