CAMBRIDGE, Mass.– Enveric Biosciences has announced the discovery of a new group of neuroplastogen molecules that may hold promise in treating neurodegenerative diseases, a breakthrough that could expand the company’s therapeutic pipeline into a new area of unmet medical need.
The biotechnology firm, which focuses on developing novel neuroplastogenic small molecules for psychiatric and neurological disorders, has filed a provisional patent application covering methods and pharmaceutical formulations involving the newly identified compounds. These molecules are believed to enhance brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) activity—a key mechanism in brain health and function.
Neurodegenerative diseases, including Alzheimer’s disease, affect approximately 50 million people globally and around seven million in the United States, according to estimates from the World Health Organization. These diseases are marked by the progressive loss of neurons and result in a decline in cognitive, motor, and other neurological functions.
The compounds identified by Enveric are designed to act on the BDNF/TrKB pathway, a critical neurobiological system associated with neuroprotection, adult neurogenesis, and improved myelination. Preliminary cell-based studies have demonstrated that the molecules can promote neuronal development, suggesting potential utility in addressing conditions such as Alzheimer’s and other neurodegenerative disorders.
“Based on our team’s research, future molecules that emerge from this family could represent therapeutic candidates to develop for Alzheimer’s Disease and other neurodegenerative diseases,” said Dr. Joseph Tucker, CEO and Director of Enveric. “In addition to promoting BDNF signaling, a prototype molecule from the group has already shown encouraging pharmaceutical and pharmacokinetic properties in early testing.”
Initial preclinical testing revealed that the orally administered prototype compound effectively entered the bloodstream, crossed the blood-brain barrier, and cleared quickly from plasma—key traits for neurological drug development. Importantly, the molecule did not show activation of the 5HT2B receptor, which is associated with cardiovascular risks and could otherwise be a safety concern.
Tucker emphasized that while additional research is needed, the early data supports further investigation of this molecule family for its therapeutic potential. The discovery represents a notable development in Enveric’s mission to address complex neurological conditions through next-generation neuroplasticity-enhancing compounds.
The company plans to advance its preclinical studies to further validate the therapeutic promise of the newly identified molecules.
