A new partnership between NRx Pharmaceuticals Inc. and neurocare Group AG aims to transform mental health care in the United States. The companies plan to establish a nationwide network of clinics that will offer integrated neuroplastic care for conditions such as depression and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). This initiative responds to the ongoing challenges posed by what both organizations describe as a fragmented treatment landscape.
The collaboration combines neurocare’s advanced neuromodulation technology and clinic infrastructure with NRx’s expertise in neuroplastic drug development via its HOPE Therapeutics brand. A key advantage of this partnership is immediate access to over 400 Apollo transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) machines already installed across the country. This enables rapid scaling of services without the need to build new facilities from the ground up.
Pilot programs have shown promising results, such as one conducted with a state first-responder agency. These programs demonstrated high remission rates among first responders struggling with PTSD and depression. By integrating TMS with ketamine, other neuroplastic medications, hyperbaric oxygen therapy, and structured psychotherapy, the approach yielded a response rate of up to 87 percent and remission rates of 72 percent in patients who had not responded to traditional treatments. While the companies acknowledge that this data is preliminary and requires further validation, they believe it supports broader clinical deployment.
Expanding Treatment Options
Beyond addressing depression and PTSD, NRx and neurocare are collaborating on additional clinical trials and regulatory pathways targeting conditions such as bipolar depression, autism spectrum disorder, and traumatic brain injury. This includes studies involving NRx’s investigational drug NRX-101. The partnership reflects a broader ambition to industrialize mental health care delivery, drawing parallels to how complex specialty care has been standardized in other medical fields.
Founded by former executives of Fresenius Medical Care, neurocare has dedicated over a decade to developing a comprehensive platform that includes neuromodulation technologies, clinician training programs, and proprietary software. This platform is designed to standardize patient intake, treatment selection, and ongoing monitoring. NRx contributes its experience in neuroplastic drug development and clinic-based care, having established contracts with government programs, including the VA Community Care Network and the Department of Defense’s TRICARE system.
Both companies emphasize that accountable, integrated care models are crucial for gaining payer participation in a market often dominated by standalone clinics offering isolated therapies. The initial phase of the alliance will rely on the existing neurocare and HOPE Therapeutics clinics, which number around 20 in the United States, while also inviting independent providers operating Apollo TMS systems to join the effort.
Aiming for Accessibility
The ultimate goal of this initiative is to make integrated neuroplastic treatment accessible to most U.S. households by the end of 2026. Leaders from both organizations view this as a pivotal moment, both clinically and commercially. Serious central nervous system disorders currently affect more than 50 million people in the United States and approximately 500 million worldwide, highlighting one of the largest unmet needs in healthcare.
By providing a single point of accountable care for patients and insurers, NRx and neurocare aim to reduce treatment fragmentation and create a scalable business model in a sector facing increasing scrutiny over outcomes and cost control. The partnership’s leaders are scheduled to present their strategy at the upcoming JP Morgan Healthcare Conference in San Francisco, signaling their ambition to establish a national platform rather than merely a limited clinical collaboration.
