NSI-189 (Phosphate)
Small molecule neurogenic compound that stimulates hippocampal neurogenesis in adult human neural stem cells. Phase I/II data showed measurable hippocampal volume increases on MRI in depressed patients. Mechanism of neurogenesis stimulation is not fully characterized but appears to involve modulation of the PI3K/Akt signaling pathway and downstream CREB phosphorylation. Does not interact with known monoamine targets, making it mechanistically novel.
Three tiers ordered by aggressiveness. Tier chips on every OPTIMIZE intervention let you filter the catalog by your evidence tolerance.
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- PMID:26907894NSI-189, a small molecule with neurogenic properties, exerts behavioral, and neurostructural effects in depressed patients — Neuropsychopharmacology, 2016
- PMID:30318083A Phase 2, double-blind, placebo-controlled study of NSI-189 phosphate in major depressive disorder — J Clin Psychiatry, 2019
- PMID:25597878NSI-189 promotes neurogenesis in the hippocampus — Stem Cell Reports, 2015
NSI-189 sits at the frontier. Phase II data. Measurable hippocampal volume increases. A compound that appears to grow new neurons in adult humans. The Phase II depression trial missed its primary endpoint but hit multiple secondary endpoints. Neurogenics did not abandon the program because the compound failed. They abandoned it because depression trial design is brutally difficult. The self-experimenter community has accumulated years of anecdotal data. The pharmacological novelty is genuine. But this is a Tier 3 compound with incomplete safety profiling. The risk-reward calculus is personal.
This is not medical advice
Discuss with a licensed clinician before starting, stopping, or changing any compound. This page documents what the research literature describes — it is not a prescription.
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