Delix Therapeutics

Delix Therapeutics

Company type	Private
Industry	Biotechnology, Pharmaceutical
Founded	2019 (2019)
Founder	David E. Olson, Nick Haft
Headquarters	Boston , United States
Area served	Worldwide
Products	Psychoplastogens (e.g., zalsupindole (DLX-001), tabernanthalog (DLX-007), DLX-159)

Delix Therapeutics is a biotechnology firm located in Boston, Massachusetts, specializing in the creation of innovative therapeutics that enhance neuroplasticity for central nervous system (CNS) conditions, including depression and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The enterprise was established in 2019 by David E. Olson alongside Nick Haft.

Company History

The inception of Delix centered on producing non-hallucinogenic psychoplastogens—also known as neuroplastogens—aimed at improving scalable treatments for mental health conditions. This venture emerged after Olson’s identification of psychedelics as powerful agents that stimulate neuroplasticity. In September 2021, Delix completed a Series A funding round, marking the largest investment within this sector, to propel its neuroplastogen and neuroplasticity therapeutic initiatives forward. Later that year, the company became part of the National Institute on Drug Abuse's industry collaboration program to evaluate psychoplastogens in substance use disorder models. Additionally, 2021 saw Delix enhance its executive leadership by appointing a new CEO, CSO, and CMO to bolster its clinical development and organizational expansion.

Awards

Delix earned recognition as one of Biotech's Fierce 15 in 2021. The following year, Nature honored the company with the Spinout of the Year title, and it received the Healthcare Businesswomen's Association (HBA) ACE award. In 2023, Delix was shortlisted for both the Prix Galien Best Startup award and the BWB Biotech Innovation of the Year, while also securing the Biotech Breakthrough Award for Neuroscience Therapeutics Company of the Year.

Product Candidates

To date, Delix has developed over 2,000 unique psychoplastogens, many derived as analogs from psychedelics such as ibogaine and 5-MeO-DMT. The company's emphasis lies on non-hallucinogenic psychoplastogens that serve as scalable alternatives to first-generation hallucinogens like ketamine and psilocybin. Their proprietary compounds are designed to minimize risks associated with cardiotoxicity and psychostimulant side effects observed in earlier therapies. Prominent drug candidates include zalsupindole (DLX-001; AAZ-A-154), tabernanthalog (DLX-007), and DLX-159, all licensed through UC Davis.

See also

• Psychoplastogen
• Zalsupindole (DLX-001; AAZ-A-154)
• Tabernanthalog (DLX-007)
• DLX-159
• David E. Olson