Biotech pharma

Gilgamesh Pharmaceuticals

Website
Founded 2019Origin source ↗Checked 2026-09-15

Overview

Gilgamesh is a pioneering, clinical stage mental health science-focused biotechnology company. We have a disciplined focus on developing innovative new chemical entities (NCEs) leveraging a unique combination of medicinal chemistry, intellectual property strategy, neuroscience & neurobiology, and drug development expertise. We are an experienced team, with proven success in biotech exits and inventions.

Company description As recorded 2026-11-08

Founders & team

JONATHAN SPORN

Founder

Duke University BS, MD from University of Miami, former Chief of Psychiatry in Boston Area. Academic work at Mass General Hospital and NIH (intramural), researcher at JNJ in psychiatry and neurology, and then at Pfizer Inc in NYC (Clinical Disease Area Expert in Neuroscience Area), Founder of start up, Perception Neuroscience (exited) and was CSO, and now Founder of Gilgamesh. Live in NYC and mountains of NC. Assistant Professor of Psychiatry and Exp Therapeutics at Columbia University

Founder profile As recorded 2026-09-15

Andrew Kruegel

Founder

I am a medicinal chemist, pharmacologist, and entrepreneur with extensive experience in the design and preclinical development of psychoactive drugs for the future treatment of psychiatric illnesses. In the context of my entrepreneurial endeavors I have also built significant expertise in business, fundraising, operations, and intellectual property strategy.

Founder profile As recorded 2026-09-15

Dalibor Sames

Founder

Professor of Chemistry at Columbia University with expertise in synthetic chemistry, medicinal chemistry, molecular design, synaptic imaging, neuropharmacology, and experimental therapeutics. Led new conceptual advances in chemical synthesis (C-H bond functionalization), developed fluorescent false neurotransmitters (FFNs), elucidated the mechanism of action of antidepressant tianeptine, expertise in iboga alkaloid and mitragynines chemistry and pharmacology.

Founder profile As recorded 2026-09-15
15team members reported
Source-reported As recorded 2026-09-15

Founded 2019 · Source

News & product activity

Sources & observations

Y Combinator

Profile depthverified profile
Website observationwebsite reachable
Last website check2026-11-11
Location · source statedNew York City, NY, USA; New York, NY, USA; Remote
Pricing evidenceNo pricing page confirmed
Maturity: Not assessed · 3 of 6 areas documented

Source-based assessment · automated evidence rules

The captured homepage does not clearly identify the listed business.

Maturity is an evidence-based assessment, not a success rating. It may understate the current stage where evidence is limited. Coverage records documented areas, not a complete or independently audited company history.

Stage definitions
independent websitesource corroborationreachable websitedescriptive evidenceclassified market and modelsourced peoplesourced founding year