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Pierre d’Epenoux
Elkedonia, a biotech company pioneering a novel neuroplastogen approach to develop therapeutics for severe depression and other neuropsychiatric conditions, has appointed Pierre d’Epenoux as Independent Chairman of its Board of Directors.
Mr. d’Epenoux brings 30 years of experience in the biopharmaceutical industry, with a strong track record in translating therapeutic innovation into patient impact and in executive leadership roles across biotech and pharma organizations. He has deep expertise in strategic partnerships, licensing agreements, and complex transactions in the life sciences sector.
Most recently, he served as Chief Executive Officer of ImCheck Therapeutics, where he led the company through a series of strategic partnerships and corporate transactions, culminating in its acquisition by Ipsen in 2025. Across his career, he has played a key role in advancing biotech–pharma collaborations and value-creating strategic deals, areas in which he will support Elkedonia in his new role as Chairman.
Mr. d’Epenoux joins Elkedonia as the company advances its lead discovery program targeting inhibition of the intracellular ELK1 protein. The approach is based on a first-in-class neuroplasticity-restoring mechanism, aiming to address severe neuropsychiatric conditions such as major depressive disorder (MDD), particularly in patients who do not respond to existing therapies.
Elkedonia’s novel chemistry targets ELK1, a transcription factor previously considered undruggable, with the goal of restoring neuroplasticity without the hallucinogenic or dissociative effects associated with psychedelics or ketamine derivatives. Altered ELK1 signaling has been associated with the severity of neuropsychiatric disorders, including anhedonia and MDD, underscoring its relevance as a precision medicine target in psychiatric drug development.
