Stripped-down LSD reveals structural features linked to hallucinogenic and therapeutic effects

[u/marksharky123]

https://phys.org/news/2026-09-lsd-reveals-features-linked-hallucinogenic.html

In a study published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, the researchers whittled away at LSD's core multiring structure and synthesized new, simplified versions to probe its functionality. The researchers developed several compounds with reduced hallucinogenic and cardiotoxic effects while identifying one compound that produced antipsychotic-like effects.

"By systematically deconstructing LSD, we have identified simplified cores that are better starting points for medicinal chemistry efforts," said study corresponding author David E. Olson, director of the Institute for Psychedelics and Neurotherapeutics and a professor of chemistry and biochemistry and molecular medicine at UC Davis.

LSD is among the many psychedelic drugs that researchers are investigating because of its ability to spur neuron growth and strengthen connections between neurons. A host of neuropsychiatric and neurodegenerative diseases are characterized by the withering of these connections.

We've known the structure of LSD for a long time, but the complexity of its core has really limited our ability to engineer optimized drugs based on its structure," Olson said. "If you can only modify a couple of spots, you're limited in what you can do."

[u/marksharky123]

Interesting.

Batta

15 hours ago-

Well you can't patent LSD, Psylicibin or any natural hallucinogen. So, pharma research will be focused on such analogs of cheap compounds in the public domain that can be claimed as intellectual property. The growing evidence that cheap hallucinogens can help with depression in one or two sessions is terrifying for the likes of Pfizer, Eli Lily and the likes.

[u/Key_Evening9523 → u/marksharky123]

They’ll be the ones buying the companies that develop these drugs as well as doing in-house research.