Mimetic Medicine
Summary
Mimetic Medicines is developing MM-1001, a novel therapeutic dubbed the “Ozempic for pain.” By combining a new pharmacological pathway with advanced peptide lipidation, MM-1001 targets an inflammation-induced NMDA receptor isoform associated with chronic pain—without the dissociative side effects seen in drugs like ketamine. Designed to remain localized in the spinal region and bypass the brain, MM-1001 offers longer-lasting relief with fewer side effects. With plans to enter the market via Orphan Drug designation for conditions like CRPS, Mimetic Medicines could redefine how we treat chronic pain at scale.
Team
John Strumbos, PhD Co-Founder & CEO
John Strumbos is the Chief Executive Officer at Mimetic Medicines. He brings over two decades of experience across life sciences investment, corporate finance, and biotech leadership. Prior to founding Mimetic, he held executive roles at Scipher Medicine and Immunovant (Nasdaq: IMVT), where he raised a combined $670 million in growth capital and led the successful scaling of both companies. Earlier in his career, Dr. Strumbos spent 15 years as a life sciences investor and corporate finance advisor, including roles at Goldman Sachs and Morgan Stanley. He holds a Ph.D. in Neuroscience and an MBA from Yale, and a B.A. in Neuroscience from Columbia University.
Arin Bhattacharjee, PhD Co-Founder & Scientific Advisor
Dr. Arin Bhattacharjee is a Professor of Pharmacology and Toxicology at the University at Buffalo and the scientific co-founder of Mimetic Medicines. An expert in ion channel biology and neuropharmacology, his lab pioneered mimetic peptides that selectively target inflammation-responsive NMDA receptor isoforms for chronic pain relief. He holds a Ph.D. in Pharmacology, completed postdoctoral training at Yale, and has authored over 38 peer-reviewed papers and multiple patents in non-opioid pain therapeutics.
