NIH awards Delix $320K to advance neuroplastogen for substance use disorders

Delix Therapeutics announced it has received a $320,000 grant from NIH’s National Institute on Drug Abuse to advance its novel, non-hallucinogenic neuroplastogen for treatment of substance use disorders, including opioid and stimulant use.

According to a company press release, DLX-007 is a first-in-class, orally bioavailable ibogaine and 5-MeO-DMT analog that promotes rapid and enduring neuroplasticity and is designed for blood-brain barrier penetration. It has been developed to avoid cardiotoxic concerns often associated with ibogaine and can be administered intramuscularly.

“While ibogaine has shown promise for treating these disorders, it is often characterized by cardiotoxic issues, hallucinogenic properties and administration limitations,” Delix Chief Scientific Officer Kurt Rasmussen, PhD, said in the release. “NIDA’s grant will enable further advancement of DLX-007, a non-hallucinogenic and non-cardiotoxic ibogaine analog.”

Research is also underway for another Delix compound designed to treat substance use disorders with cocaine, amphetamines and other substances, part of NIDA’s Addiction Treatment Discovery Program, the company stated. Clinical testing for DLX-007 is planned in 2024.

“We are grateful for NIDA’s continued support of our research platform as we develop non-hallucinogenic neuroplastogens to treat a wide range of disorders, including SUD,” Delix CEO Mark Rus said in the release.