What Gilgamesh Pharmaceuticals does

Gilgamesh Pharmaceuticals is a clinical-stage biotechnology company founded in 2019 and headquartered in New York that develops psychedelic-inspired therapeutics and neuroplastogens for major depressive disorder and related neuropsychiatric conditions. The company's core technology spans three differentiated chemical approaches: NMDA receptor antagonism (blixeprodil/GM-1020), ibogaine analog medicinal chemistry designed to retain therapeutic activity while eliminating cardiotoxicity (GM-3009), and next-generation psychedelic compounds (bretisilocin/GM-2505). Blixeprodil produced positive Phase 2a results demonstrating a 6.3-point greater reduction in MADRS versus placebo at 24 hours (p=0.006, effect size 0.85) with a 53% remission rate over two weeks of twice-weekly dosing and durable effects through 28 days, supporting advancement into late-stage studies in 2026. GM-3009 is positioned to enter Phase 1 studies in 2026, while bretisilocin was divested to AbbVie in October 2025 for up to $1.2 billion.

Gilgamesh operates as a pre-revenue R&D organization with 11-50 employees, generating no disclosed commercial product revenue. Capital formation has occurred primarily through venture financing and a NIDA grant, with cumulative disclosed funding exceeding $140 million across seed (2020), Series A (2021, $27M), Series B (2022, $39M led by Prime Movers Lab), a $14M NIDA grant (2024), and a post-AbbVie Series A (March 2026, $60M led by Satori Neuro). The AbbVie transaction for bretisilocin represents both the company's primary liquidity event to date and a strategic validation of plasticity-driven mechanisms for MDD. Leadership is founder-led under CEO Jonathan Sporn, with scientific co-founders Andrew Kruegel (Discovery Chemist), Dalibor Sames, Jeffrey Witkin (Preclinical Pharmacologist), and Mike Cunningham providing the medicinal chemistry expertise underlying the platform.

The go-to-market path for the remaining pipeline (blixeprodil and GM-3009) is not yet defined but will likely follow the established biotech playbook of advancing through Phase 2/3 development toward either partnership with a larger pharmaceutical company for commercialization or direct commercialization in core indications. Patient end markets are individuals suffering from moderate-to-severe major depressive disorder, including treatment-resistant depression, and broader neuropsychiatric populations. Pricing models and reimbursement strategies are not publicly disclosed, consistent with the company's clinical-stage status and absence of approved products.

Name

Gilgamesh Pharmaceuticals

Legal name

Gilgamesh Pharma Inc.

Website

https://gilgameshpharmaceutical.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2019

Operating status

Acquired

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Gilgamesh Pharmaceuticals is a clinical-stage biotechnology company developing psychedelic-inspired therapeutics and neuroplastogens, including NMDA receptor antagonists and cardio-safe ibogaine analogs, for patients with major depressive disorder and other neuropsychiatric conditions.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Neuropsychiatric Therapeutics

NAICS

Pharmaceutical Preparation Manufacturing (325412), Pharmaceutical and Medicine Manufacturing (32541), Research and Development in Biotechnology (except Nanobiotechnology) (541714)

SIC

Pharmaceutical Preparations (2834)

akta.pro primary industry

Neurology & Psychiatry (CNS) Pharmaceuticals (HLAIAAAF)

akta.pro secondary industries

Neurology & CNS Specialty Pharmaceuticals (HLAIACAC), Specialty Care Pharmaceuticals (HLAIAAAB)

Keywords

• Psychedelic therapeutics
• NMDA receptor antagonists
• Neuroplastogen drug development
• Clinical-stage biopharmaceuticals
• Neuropsychiatric drug discovery

Headquarters

HQ city

New York

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Technology or R&D, Personnel, Operations

Core offering

Gilgamesh Pharmaceuticals is a clinical-stage neuroscience company that discovers and develops novel small-molecule therapeutics for major depressive disorder and other neuropsychiatric conditions. Its pipeline comprises proprietary drug candidates including oral NMDA receptor antagonists, cardio-safe ibogaine analogs, and next-generation psychedelic-inspired neuroplastogens. The company monetizes its pipeline primarily through out-licensing and asset-sale transactions with larger pharmaceutical partners, exemplified by the up-to-$1.2 billion AbbVie acquisition of bretisilocin (GM-2505).

Product overview

Gilgamesh Pharmaceuticals is a clinical-stage neuroscience company developing a portfolio of neuropsychiatric therapeutics, including novel drug candidates for major depressive disorder and other psychiatric conditions. The core pipeline includes blixeprodil (GM-1020), an oral NMDA receptor antagonist which achieved positive Phase 2a results and is advancing to late-stage studies, and GM-3009, a cardio-safe ibogaine analog expected to enter Phase 1 studies. The company also developed bretisilocin (GM-2505), which was acquired by AbbVie for up to $1.2 billion. The company operates with Series A financing of $60 million secured in March 2026.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Blixeprodil (GM-1020) Oral NMDA receptor antagonist being developed as a treatment for major depressive disorder (MDD); demonstrated clinically meaningful and statistically significant improvements in Phase 2 trials and is advancing to late-stage clinical studies. Targeted at patients with moderate-to-severe MDD, including treatment-resistant depression.
• GM-3009 (Cardio-safe ibogaine analog) Cardio-safe ibogaine analog being developed for neuropsychiatric disorders; designed to mitigate the cardiotoxicity that has historically limited ibogaine-based drug development. Expected to enter Phase 1 studies in 2026.
• Bretisilocin (GM-2505) Next-generation psychedelic compound that was in Phase 2 development for major depressive disorder; the asset was acquired by AbbVie in October 2025 for up to $1.2 billion.

Quantifiable outcome

• Phase 2 trials showed 6.3-point greater reduction in MADRS vs. placebo at 24 hours (p=0.006, effect size=0.85) with 53% remission rate after twice-weekly dosing over 2 weeks and durable effects through 28 days of follow-up

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Sage Therapeutics: Clinical-stage CNS biopharma developing rapid-acting and novel mechanisms for depression (e.g., Zurzuvae for postpartum depression). Directly comparable as a CNS-focused innovator with MDD as a lead indication and overlapping neuroplastogen-style science.
• Axsome Therapeutics: Commercial-stage CNS company with FDA-approved MDD therapies (Auvelity). Comparable target indication (MDD), oral small-molecule development approach, and similar commercial ambition in depression.
• Compass Pathways: Clinical-stage developer of psilocybin-based therapies for treatment-resistant depression. Closely comparable in psychedelic-inspired neuropsychiatric drug development and MDD focus, although with a hallucinogenic rather than non-hallucinogenic profile.
• atai Life Sciences: Clinical-stage biotech developing psychedelic and mental-health therapeutics including NMDA antagonists and neuroplastogens. Highly comparable pipeline strategy, target indications (MDD, treatment-resistant depression), and platform approach.
• MindMed: Clinical-stage developer of psychedelic-inspired medicines (including an LSD program for MDD and an MDMA-inspired candidate). Comparable psychedelic/neuroplastogen approach to CNS disorders and similar stage of development.
• Neumora Therapeutics: Clinical-stage neuroscience company targeting brain diseases including MDD. Comparable CNS focus, well-capitalized private-stage structure, and broad neuropsychiatric pipeline philosophy.

Broad incumbents

• Johnson & Johnson (Janssen): Large pharma that commercialized Spravato (esketamine) for treatment-resistant depression. Sets the incumbent benchmark in rapid-acting MDD therapeutics and represents the most significant direct commercial competitor to Gilgamesh's blixeprodil.
• AbbVie: Global pharmaceutical company that acquired Gilgamesh's bretisilocin asset for up to $1.2B in October 2025 and is parent through Warka Intermediate LLC. Direct counterparty in the most material commercial validation event in Gilgamesh's history.
• Boehringer Ingelheim (CNS pipeline): Major pharmaceutical company with active CNS and mental-health pipeline initiatives, including partnerships in psychedelic-inspired mechanisms. Relevant broader incumbent shaping the M&A and partnering landscape for CNS innovators.

Emerging players

• Cybin: Clinical-stage developer of psychedelic-based therapeutics for mental health. Comparable in psychedelic drug development, but with greater emphasis on deuterated psilocybin analogs and depression indications.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/gilgameshrx
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/gilgamesh-pharma

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds7 records

Investors21 records

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Gilgamesh Pharmaceuticals