PsychoGenics Inc. is a preclinical contract research organization (CRO) based in Paramus, New Jersey. The company describes itself as "a preclinical CRO with expertise in CNS and orphan disorders"[S1] and lists its capabilities as "behavioral testing, electrophysiology, translational EEG, quantitative histology, molecular biology, and microdialysis."[S1] This profile summarizes the services, platforms, disease models, and stated compliance information that are most relevant to US drug developers evaluating a CNS-focused nonclinical partner.
Nonclinical services relevant to US drug developers
In vivo CNS pharmacology and behavioral testing
The company's service pages present in vivo work built around behavioral assays in mice and rats, with in-house support functions that it says let a sponsor "keep your project under one roof."[S3] Named service lines include single- or dual-probe microdialysis with in-house bioanalytical support,[S3] biomarker analysis,[S3] ex vivo sample analysis for target engagement,[S3] pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic (PK/PD) assessment that combines "in vivo dosing and tissue sampling" with analytical platforms to relate drug exposure to behavioral and biomarker readouts,[S3] and electrophysiology for customized study designs.[S3] The website lists eight therapeutic areas: epilepsy and seizure disorders (EEG and behavioral identification of seizures), mental illness, neurodegenerative disorders, neurodevelopmental disorders, neuromuscular disorders, pain, rare CNS disorders, and traumatic brain and spinal cord injury.[S5]
AI-enabled phenotypic screening platforms
PsychoGenics states that "in 2002, PsychoGenics embarked on a journey to apply automation and AI to drug discovery based on mouse behavior."[S4] Four proprietary platforms are described. SmartCube? is "an automated, high-throughput testing platform that employs machine learning" to extract behavioral signatures of test compounds in mice.[S4] NeuroCube? "detects and evaluates changes in gait" to assess treatments for motor impairment and pain in rats and mice.[S4] In PhenoCube?, mice "are observed continuously, day and night," so that social, circadian, motor, and cognitive behaviors can be tracked over time.[S4] eCube is described as a pharmaco-EEG platform that compares a compound's EEG signature against a database of marketed drugs.[S4] The company positions these tools for phenotypic drug discovery, which it defines as identifying treatments "based on their ability to rescue a disease phenotype in a cell or organism."[S4] Sponsors should treat platform outputs as nonclinical screening and profiling data; a behavioral or EEG signature in rodents does not by itself establish efficacy in patients, and the translational value of any signature has to be assessed program by program.
Disease models
The homepage lists "validated mouse models including in-licensed transgenic models" for Alzheimer's disease, Huntington's disease, Parkinson's disease, autism spectrum disorders, psychosis and schizophrenia, spinal muscular atrophy, muscular dystrophy, and pain.[S1] Resource pages give examples: autism spectrum disorder models (Shank3, Cntnap2 knockout, and Fmr1 knockout mice),[S8] a Tsc2 knockout mouse model of tuberous sclerosis complex,[S9] and functional, sensorimotor, and cognitive outcome measures after unilateral middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) in rats.[S10] Availability and licensing terms for in-licensed transgenic lines should be confirmed with the company for each study.
Quality, compliance, and animal welfare (as stated by the company)
GLP. The pages reviewed for this profile (home, about, services, therapeutic areas, platforms, corporate citizenship, and contact; accessed September 3, 2026) do not state that PsychoGenics conducts studies under Good Laboratory Practice (GLP) regulations and do not name 21 CFR Part 58 or any other GLP regulation. The reviewed service and platform pages describe pharmacology, profiling and biomarker work[S1][S3][S4]. Sponsors who need a GLP study, for example a nonclinical safety study intended to support an IND, should ask the company directly whether it conducts GLP studies and, if so, under which regulation and with what quality assurance unit; GLP compliance applies to individual nonclinical laboratory studies rather than to a company as a whole.[R2]
Accreditation and animal welfare. The company refers to "our AAALAC-accredited facility"[S2] and states that it "proudly maintains AAALAC accreditation and upholds the 3Rs principles," listing "Replacement of animals with non-animal methods where possible," "Reduction in the number of animals used," and "Refinement of procedures to prioritize animal welfare."[S6] No accreditation date, USDA registration, OLAW Animal Welfare Assurance, or IACUC statement was found on the pages reviewed. AAALAC International accreditation is a voluntary evaluation of an institution's animal care and use program, re-evaluated every three years,[R3] and USDA registration and an OLAW Animal Welfare Assurance relate to the Animal Welfare Act and the PHS Policy respectively;[R4][R5] none of these establishes GLP compliance, which applies to individual studies.[R2] FDA does not approve or certify laboratories; registration with FDA does not denote approval.[R6] This profile does not evaluate the company's animal care program; the statements above are the company's own.
215 College Road, Paramus, NJ 07652, United States[S7]
Ownership
Not stated on the company website (no parent company or stock listing is shown)[S2]
History
The company states that it began applying automation and AI to drug discovery based on mouse behavior in 2002; a founding year is not stated on the website[S4]
Sites
Paramus, New Jersey (the only site named on the website)[S7]
FDA ? "Is It Really FDA Approved?" (FDA does not approve health care providers, including laboratories; registration does not denote approval); FDA Compliance Program 7348.808 (GLP inspections of nonclinical laboratories). https://www.fda.gov/consumers/consumer-updates/it-really-fda-approved (accessed 2026-09-03)
3 Recommended Contract Research Organizations
for Non-Clinical Studies
— by Target goal and Expertise
In non-clinical development, the choice of contract research organization shapes the quality of the data and the time it takes to reach the next decision. Below, three CROs are introduced by the type of study they support: pharmacology (efficacy) studies, safety studies, and pharmacokinetic (PK/PD) studies. Each summary describes the services the company offers so that you can match a provider to your target and development objective.
Pharmacology (Efficacy) StudiesDisease-Relevant Models for Translational Drug Evaluation
Reference: SMC Laboratories, Inc. official website (https://www.smccro-lab.com/)
SMC Laboratories, Inc.
SMC Laboratories is a specialized non-clinical CRO focused on in vivo pharmacology and efficacy studies using disease-relevant animal models, particularly in fibrosis, inflammation, metabolic diseases, and oncology.
Areas of Expertise
Disease-Relevant Model Portfolio
SMC Laboratories offers models covering the liver, lung, kidney, intestine, and oncology. Its portfolio includes the proprietary STAM™ model for MASH, fibrosis, and hepatocellular carcinoma.
Study Design Based on Target Biology
Study plans are developed around the target biology, mechanism of action, disease stage, and development objective. Pharmacological endpoints can be combined with histopathology, biomarkers, and disease-specific readouts.
Support from Target Validation to Proof of Concept
With experience from more than 1,000 studies for clients in 30 countries, SMC Laboratories supports programs from target validation and candidate selection through in vivo proof-of-concept studies.
Safety StudiesComprehensive Safety Assessment for Preclinical Development
Reference: Charles River Laboratories official website (https://www.criver.com/)
Charles River Laboratories
Charles River provides non-clinical toxicology and safety assessment services for programs ranging from exploratory safety studies to IND-enabling development.
Areas of Expertise
General Toxicology Across Study Designs
Services include single- and repeat-dose toxicology, dose-range finding, and general toxicology studies across multiple species and administration routes.
Non-GLP and GLP Study Support
Charles River supports both non-GLP and GLP studies, allowing sponsors to progress from early safety characterization to studies intended for regulatory submissions.
Integrated IND-Enabling Safety Assessment
Toxicology studies can be integrated with toxicokinetics, clinical pathology, histopathology, and safety pharmacology to support interpretation and IND-enabling safety packages.
Pharmacokinetic (PK/PD) StudiesConnecting Drug Exposure with Pharmacological Response
Reference: Inotiv official website (https://www.inotiv.com/)
Inotiv
Inotiv provides integrated PK/PD, DMPK, and bioanalytical services to characterize drug exposure and its relationship with pharmacological response.
Areas of Expertise
Pharmacokinetic Characterization
PK studies characterize exposure, half-life, clearance, and other pharmacokinetic parameters needed to understand how a candidate behaves in the selected model.
Exposure–Response Evaluation
Pharmacokinetic data can be combined with pharmacodynamic endpoints and bioanalysis to evaluate the relationship between drug exposure and pharmacological response.
Integrated DMPK and Development Support
Integrated DMPK, pharmacology, and safety information supports candidate comparison, dose selection, dosing-frequency optimization, and decisions about subsequent preclinical development.
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