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Delix Therapeutics

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Delix Therapeutics, Inc. ("Delix")
Company typePrivate
Industry
Founded2019
HeadquartersBoston, Massachusetts
Key people
Mark Rus (Chief Executive Officer)
Websitedelixtherapeutics.com

Delix Therapeutics is an American biotech company based in Boston, Massachusetts.[1] The company develops novel neuroplasticity-promoting therapeutics for central nervous system (CNS) diseases such as depression and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).[2] It was co-founded in 2019 by David E. Olson and Nick Haft.[3]

Company History

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The company was founded to develop novel, non-hallucinogenic psychoplastogens, also known as neuroplastogens, to better treat mental health disorders at scale. David E. Olson founded the company following his discovery that psychedelics are highly potent neuroplasticity-promoting compounds.[2] In September 2021, Delix secured a Series A financing round, the largest in the space, to continue their work focused on neuroplastogens and neuroplasticity therapeutics.[4] Also in Fall of 2021, Delix joined the National Institute on Drug Abuse industry partnering program to screen psychoplastogens in models of substance use disorder.[2] In 2021, the company expanded the leadership team, adding a new CEO,[5] CSO,[1] and CMO[1]

Awards

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In 2021, Delix was named one of the Fierce 15 of Biotech.[6] In 2022, Nature named Delix Spinout of the Year[7] and Delix was awarded the Healthcare Businesswomen's Association (HBA) ACE award.[8] In 2023, Delix was a finalist for the Prix Galien award for Best Startup[9] and the BWB award for Biotech Innovation of the Year[10] and won the Biotech Breakthrough Award for Neuroscience Therapeutics Company of the Year.[11]

Product Candidates

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To date, the company has synthesized over 2000 novel psychoplastogens.[12] Many of these small molecule compounds are analogs of known psychedelics such as ibogaine and 5-MeO-DMT.[13] Delix focuses on the development of non-hallucinogenic psychoplastogens as scalable alternatives to first-generation hallucinogenic psychoplastogens like ketamine and psilocybin.[14] Their compounds have been engineered to lack cardiotoxicity and psychostimulant properties characteristic of other first-generation psychoplastogens.[15] Two of the company’s known assets are tabernanthalog and AAZ-A-154.[16] Delix has licensed these compounds from UC Davis.[17]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b c LaHucik, Kyle (2021-09-27). "Delix raises $70M to test psychedelic analogs for treating brain disorders in clinical trials next year". Fierce Biotech. Retrieved 2022-06-08.
  2. ^ a b c Yakowicz, Will. "Delix Therapeutics Pursues A Psychedelic-Inspired Medicine Without The Trip". Forbes. Retrieved 2022-05-18.
  3. ^ Kathan, Jesse (December 13, 2021). "Harnessing Psychedelics for Healing". Comstock's magazine. Retrieved 2022-06-08.
  4. ^ Salarizadeh, Cynthia (2022-03-11). "How Capital Markets Are Fueling Psychedelic Medicine Growth". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 2022-06-08.
  5. ^ "Shire neuro head lands at Delix Therapeutics as CEO". FierceBiotech. 18 March 2021. Retrieved 2021-08-27.
  6. ^ https://www.fiercebiotech.com/special-report/fierce-biotech-s-2021-fierce-15-0
  7. ^ Garber, Ken (19 August 2022). "Delix Therapeutics : psychedelics without the trip". Nature Biotechnology. doi:10.1038/d41587-022-00006-0. PMID 35986098. S2CID 251694020.
  8. ^ "Delix Therapeutics and Pfizer UK Recognized as Gender Equity Champions for Women in the Workplace by Healthcare Businesswomen's Association" (Press release).
  9. ^ "The Galien Foundation Announces 2023 Prix Galien USA Nominees for "Best Digital Health Solution," "Best Medical Technology," "Incubators, Accelerators and Equity," and "Best Startup"" (Press release).
  10. ^ "Award Categories".
  11. ^ "2023 Winners".
  12. ^ Yakowicz, Will. "U.S. Government Will Test Ibogaine Derivative As An Addiction Treatment". Forbes. Retrieved 2022-06-08.
  13. ^ Andy Extance2020-12-17T14:30:00+00:00. "Chemists tame shamanic addiction treatment". Chemistry World. Retrieved 2022-06-08.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  14. ^ "A new psychedelics player emerges to treat mental health disorders — minus the hallucinogenic effects". Endpoints News. Retrieved 2022-06-07.
  15. ^ scientificinquirer (2022-03-14). "Industry Matters: Delix Therapeutics is taking Next-Gen psychedelics out of the lab and into the clinic". Scientific Inquirer. Retrieved 2022-06-07.
  16. ^ Brown, Grace (6 March 2021). "Can we take the high out of psychedelics?". Wired UK.
  17. ^ Peters, Jamie; Olson, David E (January 2021). "Engineering Safer Psychedelics for Treating Addiction". Neuroscience Insights. 16: 263310552110338. doi:10.1177/26331055211033847. PMC 8295933. PMID 34350400.