Fractals: Life Science Conversations

Nose to Neurons: The Future of Acute Neuropsychiatric Therapy with Guest Shawn Singh

Episode Notes

What if a nasal spray could switch off acute social anxiety in minutes—without systemic side effects?

Shawn Singh, CEO of Vistagen, joins Fractals to explain how pherines work: odorless intranasal molecules that tap the olfactory pathway to flip specific brain circuits on and off.

Highlights from the episode:

• How pherines activate the nose → olfactory bulb → targeted brain regions in milliseconds.
• Why fasadienol could be the first acute pharmacologic option for social anxiety disorder.
• The practical benefits of nasal-delivered treatment: on-demand use, fewer systemic risks, and new opportunities for people to engage in life (work, school, medical care).
• Real CEO lessons on resilience, trial design, and building teams that span science, regulatory, and operations.

Tune into the full episode on your preferred podcast platform and contact Bracken to learn how we can support you from development through regulatory and commercial planning.