Tactogen
Tactogen is a Palo Alto-based public benefit corporation developing novel MDMA-like entactogens and psychedelic-adjacent molecules for psychiatric disorders. Founded in 2020 by neuroscientist Matthew Baggott and Luke Pustejovsky, Tactogen has built the largest known library of entactogenic compounds. Lead candidate TACT908 is a non-hallucinogenic 5-HT1B/2A agonist for cluster headache, while TACT833 targets alcohol use disorder and eating disorders. Following the 2024 FDA rejection of Lykos's MDMA, Tactogen has pivoted toward its novel NCE pipeline.
Development Programmes
3TACT908 (2ZEDMA)
Cluster headache
Programme Tracker
Headache Disorders (Cluster & Migraine)
Preclinical development as of January 2025; benzofuran-based 5-HT1B/5-HT2A agonist; non-hallucinogenic profile
Milestones
Pre-clinical completed
In progressWhy it matters: TACT908 (2ZEDMA) is a benzofuran-based serotonin receptor agonist (5-HT1B/5-HT2A) designed for cluster headache without producing hallucinations. Cluster headache patients often report sub-hallucinogenic doses of psychedelics abort attacks — TACT908 is designed to replicate this mechanism without the psychedelic experience, enabling non-supervised use.
Watch next: IND-enabling data and Phase 1 FIH timeline announcement
MDMA + Citalopram Combination
PTSD
Programme Tracker
PTSD
Phase 2 in planning (was targeted 2025); under strategic review following FDA rejection of Lykos MDMA-AT (August 2024); possible deprioritisation in favour of novel proprietary compounds
Milestones
Regulatory review accepted
CompletedActual: Aug 1, 2024
FDA rejected Lykos Therapeutics' MDMA-AT (MDMA-assisted therapy for PTSD) — August 2024; Tactogen announced strategic review of MDMA+citalopram programme
Why it matters: The Lykos rejection created regulatory uncertainty for all MDMA-based PTSD therapies. Tactogen's MDMA+citalopram combination (where citalopram attenuates the subjective MDMA "high") was positioned to address the FDA's therapy-component criticism, but the broader regulatory climate post-Lykos makes any MDMA PTSD programme more challenging.
Watch next: Tactogen strategic decision on MDMA+citalopram programme continuation; priority shift to TACT908 and novel entactogens
Recorded Events
Aug 1, 2024: Regulatory review accepted
Novel Entactogen Library (TACT833/411/523)
PTSD / alcohol use disorder
Programme Tracker
PTSD
Preclinical profiling of benzofuran-based entactogen library (TACT833, TACT411, TACT523); designed to minimise MDMA adverse events and neurotoxicity; first patents converting to awarded status mid-2025
Milestones
Pre-clinical completed
In progressWhy it matters: Tactogen's benzofuran entactogens are structurally derived from 5-MAPB (a widely studied MDMA-like benzofuran) but with optimised selectivity to reduce neurotoxicity, cardiovascular risk, and abuse potential. Preliminary Phase 1 data comparing 5-MAPB to MDMA showed equivalent reductions in social anxiety and improvements in self-compassion, validating the benzofuran pharmacology.
Watch next: Lead compound selection from TACT833/411/523 series and IND-enabling timeline
Quick Facts
- Type
- Public Benefit Corporation
- Founded
- 2020
- Lead Stage
- Pre-clinical
- Website
- Visit