Elkedonia SAS has secured €11.25 million in seed funding to develop innovative neuroplastogens aimed at treating treatment-resistant depression and improving neuropsychiatric health.

Target Information

Elkedonia SAS is a pioneering company focused on developing therapeutic neuroplastogens for the treatment of depression and other neuropsychiatric disorders. Recently established by Argobio, the company has successfully secured a seed funding round of €11.25 million. This round was co-led by Kurma Partners, WE Life Sciences, and the French Tech Seed fund, with notable participation from Argobio, Angelini Ventures, CARMA Fund, Capital Grand Est, and Sambrinvest. With its headquarters in Strasbourg, France, and a subsidiary in Charleroi, Belgium, Elkedonia operates within the growing European life sciences ecosystem.

The company's foundation is heavily based on the research conducted by Dr. Jocelyne Caboche, a Research Director at the CNRS of Sorbonne University. The research focuses on Elk1, an intracellular target integral to the brain's reward circuits and neuroplasticity. These mechanisms are often disrupted in various pathologies, including depression, post-traumatic stress syndrome (PTSD), and addiction, leading to chronic conditions rather than temporary episodes.

Industry Overview in France

Despite the existence of widely marketed antidepressant treatments, major depressive disorder (MDD) presents a rapidly growing public health crisis. This condition affects approximately 25 million people in both the United States and Europe, as well as 300 million individuals globally. MDD is close