Psychedelics sans side effects: neuroplastogens gain ground

Neuroplastogens are positioned as safer alternatives to classic psychedelics by aiming to boost neuroplasticity without hallucinogenic subjective effects. The article highlights Elkedonia’s neuroplastogen program, including its funding to advance work centered on blocking the ELK-1 pathway thought to support rapid, durable antidepressant-like effects while avoiding common psychedelic-associated risks such as sedation, dependence, hallucinations, and other side effects. It contrasts neuroplastogens with “psychoplastogens” that can induce dissociation or hallucinations via receptor effects, and frames the shift as a response to regulatory and safety uncertainty around psychedelics for depression, PTSD, and related neuropsychiatric conditions. The article also covers Transneural Therapeutics, a startup spun out to design neuroplastogens, with a lead candidate in IND-enabling stages aimed at treating depression and PTSD.