DARPA Selects NRx Pharmaceuticals Defense Subsidiary for Contract Negotiations on FDA-Authorized SPARC-TMS Clinical Trial Advancing Mental Health Care
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MIAMI - Michimich -- DARPA Selects NRx Defense Systems for Potential Clinical Trial Award Negotiations

FDA-Authorized Phase 2/3 SPARC-TMS Trial to Evaluate Robotic TMS Combined with Breakthrough Therapy NRX-101

Planned Study Includes Harvard McLean Hospital, HOPE Therapeutics Clinics, and Walter Reed National Military Medical Center

Expanding Government Partnerships Could Strengthen NRx Pharmaceuticals' Precision Neuropsychiatry Platform

Mental health remains one of the U.S. military's most significant healthcare priorities, with depression, PTSD, traumatic brain injury, and suicide continuing to impact active-duty service members, veterans, and first responders. As the Department of Defense seeks innovative technologies capable of improving treatment outcomes, NRx Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (N A S D A Q: NRXP) $NRXP has announced a potentially significant milestone that could further strengthen its position in advanced neuropsychiatric medicine.

According to a Form 8-K filed on July 22, 2026, NRx Pharmaceuticals announced that its newly formed research and development subsidiary, NRx Defense Systems, Inc. (NRXD), has been selected by the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA), Defense Sciences Office (DSO) for contract negotiations regarding a potential clinical trial award.

While negotiations remain ongoing and no award has yet been finalized, management believes the selection reflects growing recognition of the company's innovative approach to treating severe depression through the combination of pharmaceutical therapy and advanced neurostimulation technologies.

DARPA Selects SPARC-TMS Proposal for Award Negotiations

On July 21, 2026, DARPA notified NRx Defense Systems that its proposal entitled Synaptic Plasticity Augmented Rapid Circuit Stimulation (SPARC-TMS) had been selected for negotiation of a potential award.

DARPA is widely recognized for supporting high-impact technologies with potential national defense applications, and selection for award negotiations represents an important milestone in the agency's competitive evaluation process.

The proposed clinical program is designed to evaluate whether robotic-enabled Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) combined with NRX-101 can improve remission rates in patients suffering from severe depression.

The announcement represents another step in NRx Pharmaceuticals' strategy of combining advanced medical technologies, precision psychiatry, and pharmaceutical innovation into an integrated treatment platform for complex neuropsychiatric disorders.

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FDA-Authorized Phase 2/3 Trial Already in Place

Importantly, the SPARC-TMS protocol has already received authorization from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration as a Phase 2/3 clinical trial and has been listed on ClinicalTrials.gov under NCT07227103.

The study is designed to evaluate robotic-enabled TMS administered alongside NRX-101, the company's proprietary combination therapy consisting of D-cycloserine and lurasidone.

NRX-101 previously received Breakthrough Therapy Designation from the FDA for suicidal treatment-resistant bipolar depression, reflecting the agency's recognition that the therapy may offer meaningful advantages over existing treatment options for a serious medical condition.

By combining pharmaceutical treatment with advanced neurostimulation technology, investigators hope to demonstrate improved remission rates while further advancing the science of precision psychiatry.

Collaboration with Leading Medical and Military Institutions

The proposed study brings together several highly regarded clinical institutions.

According to the company's filing, the trial is expected to include:

• Harvard McLean Hospital
• HOPE Therapeutics clinics operated by NRx Pharmaceuticals
• Walter Reed National Military Medical Center
• Additional designated military treatment facilities

The inclusion of both leading academic institutions and military healthcare facilities highlights the broad interest in developing innovative therapies capable of addressing some of the most challenging psychiatric conditions affecting both civilian and military populations.

Management believes these collaborations may also provide important clinical validation while expanding future opportunities within government healthcare systems.

HOPE Therapeutics Continues Expanding Commercial Platform

The DARPA announcement also complements the continued growth of HOPE Therapeutics, NRx Pharmaceuticals' wholly owned interventional psychiatry subsidiary.

HOPE Therapeutics already provides advanced treatments including ketamine therapy, Spravato®, Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation, Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy, and other neuroplastic medicine protocols through its growing clinic network.

Earlier this year, HOPE Therapeutics became the first commercial site to deploy the FDA-cleared Zeta TMS Navigation System, utilizing artificial intelligence and image-guided technology to improve treatment precision for patients with Major Depressive Disorder and other neurological conditions.

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Should the DARPA-supported program move forward, HOPE Therapeutics clinics are expected to play an important role in executing the SPARC-TMS clinical program.

Expanding Government and Defense Opportunities

The formation of NRx Defense Systems represents an expansion of the company's strategy into military and government-sponsored medical research.

Federal agencies have increasingly prioritized innovative approaches to treating depression, PTSD, suicide risk, and other behavioral health conditions affecting military personnel and veterans.

Selection by DARPA for contract negotiations may position NRx Pharmaceuticals to participate more directly in these initiatives while supporting development of therapies that could have both military and civilian applications.

A Growing Precision Psychiatry Ecosystem

The DARPA announcement further strengthens what has become a diversified neuropsychiatric platform that extends beyond traditional pharmaceutical development.

Today, NRx Pharmaceuticals is advancing:

• Late-stage pharmaceutical development through NRX-101 and preservative-free ketamine.
• Commercial interventional psychiatry clinics through HOPE Therapeutics.
• FDA-cleared AI-guided Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation technologies.
• Artificial intelligence-enabled mental health assessment platforms.
• Military and government research collaborations.
• Precision neuroplastic medicine combining advanced therapeutics with innovative medical technologies.

Together, these initiatives position the company across multiple segments of the rapidly evolving mental health market.

Looking Ahead

The selection of NRx Defense Systems by DARPA for contract negotiations represents another meaningful milestone in NRx Pharmaceuticals' ongoing evolution from a clinical-stage biotechnology company into a broader precision neuropsychiatry and commercial mental health organization.

If negotiations successfully result in a contract award, the SPARC-TMS program could further validate the company's integrated treatment strategy while expanding opportunities within military medicine and government-sponsored healthcare research.

Combined with continued progress across HOPE Therapeutics, advancement of NRX-101, commercialization initiatives, and expanding strategic partnerships, the DARPA announcement adds another potential catalyst for investors following NRx Pharmaceuticals as the company continues executing on its long-term growth strategy.

For more information on $NRXP visit: https://www.nrxpharma.com/ and https://compasslivemedia.com/case-study/nrx-pharmaceuticals/

Company Contact
NRx Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (N A S D A Q: NRXP)
Matthew Duffy – Chief Business Officer
Phone: (484) 254-6134
Email: mduffy@nrxpharma.com

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