Pherines are a new class of potent neuroactive steroids that are thought to selectively engage chemosensory receptors in the nasal passages and induce rapid-onset pharmacological and behavioral effects. Pherines are thought to selectively modulate brain areas, including the limbic amygdala, hypothalamus, hippocampus, locus ceruleus and prefrontal cortex, without systemic uptake and without binding to classic abuse liability receptors or to steroidal hormone receptors.

In all clinical trials to date, pherines have shown a consistently favorable safety profile.

Vistagen owns all intellectual property rights to five clinical-stage pherines, as well as an extensive database of neuroactive steroids.