The Future Of Psychedelic-Inspired Therapeutics: No-Trip Neuroplastogens
By Joseph Tucker, Ph.D.
We are now well into what is often called the “psychedelic renaissance,” and the field has made genuine progress alongside all the early excitement. Many groups new to the realities of FDA oversight and the complexity of clinical development have learned that translating classic psychedelics into approved treatments is far more challenging than initially imagined. Still, this early work has significantly expanded our understanding of how to target key regions of the brain and reframe mental healthcare.
This renewed interest in classic psychedelics is helping to reshape a psychiatric treatment landscape where traditional drug discovery and development has too often failed to deliver new mechanisms or meaningful breakthroughs for for patients with severe neuropsychiatric conditions. Encouraging Phase 2 and 3 data from classic psychedelics suggest that some of these compounds may eventually reach the market, with the goal of bringing real relief to patients who need better treatment options. But even with regulatory approval, clinical adoption of psychedelic therapies is likely to be challenging as the limited clinical capacity, burdensome treatment protocols, high costs, and societal acceptance, will represent major obstacles for patients, providers, and payors.
Non-Hallucinogenic Neuroplastogens Represent A Clearer Path Forward
Against this backdrop, momentum is building around a more practical path: non-hallucinogenic neuroplastogens that aim to deliver the same neuroplasticity benefits of classical psychedelics without inducing hallucinations. This next generation of non-hallucinogenic compounds holds the potential to fit much more readily into real-world mental healthcare, making them more accessible for patients, less disruptive for providers, and more acceptable to payors and regulators alike. There are seven key reasons why this novel approach could unlock broader adoption and more durable impact:
1. Safety And Tolerability
Non-hallucinogenic neuroplastogens are being designed to avoid the acute psychological risks associated with hallucinogenic trips, such as panic, anxiety, or disorientation, making them safer for a broader range of patients. By their nature, these compounds should also reduce the risk of misuse or recreational abuse, since they are carefully designed to not produce euphoric or hallucinogenic effects. This safer profile may also enable treatment plans for repeated or long-term dosing for patients who may need ongoing treatment.
2. Simpler, Scalable Delivery
Without the need for multi-hour, supervised sessions, non-hallucinogenic neuroplastogens could be administered through standard care settings rather than dedicated psychedelic clinics. This would dramatically improve scalability and lower the operational barriers to adoption. Primary care providers and psychiatrists would be able to integrate these therapies alongside existing mental health treatments.
3. Lower Cost And Greater Reimbursement Potential
Treatments using non-hallucinogenic neuroplastogens have the potential to cut costs dramatically by eliminating the need for multi-hour, in-clinic administration and specialist monitoring of patient responses. This would make them more appealing to insurers and public health systems, which may be reluctant to reimburse expensive psychedelic-assisted therapy. Patients would also save on indirect costs, like travel and time off work, and families would avoid the burden of providing support during and after sessions.
4. Broader Access And Real-World Reach
By eliminating the hallucinatory effect, these therapies are expected to be better suited for patients who would otherwise opt out of hallucinogenic-based treatments for medical, cultural, or religious reasons. This would expand the addressable patient population and align well with the push toward remote and home-based mental healthcare, especially in underserved communities.
5. More Streamlined And Reliable Clinical Development Pathway
A key challenge for psychedelic trials is the difficulty of maintaining true placebo blinding. Non-hallucinogenic neuroplastogens make rigorous, placebo-controlled studies far more feasible, which supports stronger data generation and regulatory confidence. They also produce more consistent pharmacology, which is critical for safety and reproducibility.
6. Regulatory Practicality
Classic psychedelics face restrictive legal scheduling and significant stigma that can complicate development and commercialization. In contrast, non-hallucinogenic neuroplastogens, especially when developed as novel chemical entities, are more likely to follow regulatory pathways similar to traditional neurotrophic or antidepressant agents, helping accelerate approvals and market entry.
7. Strong Intellectual Property And Commercial Opportunity
Developing novel, non-hallucinogenic neuroplastogens would create opportunities for patent protection and differentiated market positioning. Without the lingering cultural stigma attached to hallucinogens, these compounds are more likely to gain broad acceptance from patients, providers, payors, and potential pharma partners, positioning the field for scalable, long-term impact.
Defining the Next Era Of Neuropsychiatric Care
By delivering the neuroplasticity benefits that make psychedelics so compelling while avoiding the hallucinatory effects that create real-world barriers, these compounds have the potential to offer a practical and scalable path forward. The expectations for a stronger safety profile and more robust clinical development framework would likely enhance the chances of regulatory approval, while their simpler delivery, lower costs, and broader patient reach would align with how modern healthcare systems operate and enhance clinical adoption.
Regulators and payors are already looking for solutions that can be administered safely and efficiently, without straining limited mental health infrastructure. At the same time, patients and providers want treatments that fit into daily life without the unpredictable burden of intense psychedelic experiences. With strong intellectual property potential and less cultural stigma, non-hallucinogenic neuroplastogens likely have meaningful commercial advantages.
While traditional psychedelics may still carve out a role for select patient groups, the future of real-world widely used neuropsychiatric pharmaceuticals is far more likely to be shaped by next-generation compounds that can deliver meaningful, lasting impact. For patients, providers, payors, and innovators alike, this emerging class of non-hallucinogenic neuroplastogenic compounds holds real promise for positive change in how clinicians treat some of the world’s most challenging mental health conditions.
About The Author:
Joseph Tucker, Ph.D., CEO and Director at Enveric Biosciences, Inc. is a seasoned executive who has built several publicly traded biotechnology companies. Dr. Tucker was a founder and Chief Executive Officer of Stem Cell Therapeutics, which he took public on the TSX (TSX: SSS). Trillium Therapeutics (NASDAQ: TRIL, TSX: TRIL) acquired Stem Cell Therapeutics in 2013. Dr. Tucker also hasheld the position of Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer at Epimeron Inc., a University of Calgary start-up acquired in the creation of Willow Biosciences Inc. (TSX: WLLW). At Willow, Dr. Tucker served as Executive Chairman and Chief Operating Officer. Prior to founding companies, Dr. Tucker was a healthcare analyst with two investment banks and also has worked in technology commercialization for a university technology transfer office. Dr. Tucker received his Ph.D. in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology from the University of Calgary.