The Pulse: Psychedelic News From Technology Networks Issue 3

Hello and welcome to the Pulse, the monthly psychedelics industry roundup from Technology Networks and Analytical Cannabis. Here, we’ll highlight some of the most significant psychedelic industry news from the past month, including important announcements, pre-clinical work and the latest from groundbreaking psychedelic clinical trials. Keep on the pulse of psychedelics and more by subscribing to our Breaking Science Newsletter below.

Highlights

MindMed announces positive data from LSD depression trial

MindMed has announced new results from a trial conducted by their academic collaborators at University Hospital Basel (UHB). Prof. Matthias Liechti and Dr. Felix Mueller were studying LSD’s effect on major depressive disorder (MDD) and found that a high dose regimen of the drug (1 session of 100 µg and a follow-up 4 weeks later of 200 µg) could produce improvements that were statistically and clinically robust.

Symptoms were measured using the change in clinician-rated Inventory of Depressive Symptomatology (IDS-C) scores. Six weeks after administration, patients in the high-dose arm (n=28) showed an average 12.9-point decrease, compared to a 3.6-point change in the low-dose arm (n=27). The low-dose control group received 25 µg in both sessions.

This benefit continued for up to four months after initial administration. MindMed wants to now advance its related programs in generalized anxiety disorder.

MAPS’ MDMA therapy approaches the finish line

Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies (MAPS) subsidiary MAPS Public Benefit Corporation (MAPS PBC) announced long-term data from its study of MDMA-assisted psychotherapy for the treatment of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The findings detail the safety and effectiveness of the therapeutic model used in MAPS’ phase III observational study MPLONG.

The headline result, MAPS said, was that study participants showed an enduring response to the treatment that was sustained for six months minimum. In some cases, benefits were seen for over a year after the therapy had ceased. This finding chimed with MAPS’ assertions about their treatment’s long-term effectiveness after phase II trials in 2020.

Rick Doblin, founder and president of MAPS, emphasized the importance of these findings, saying that the results of the follow-up study “suggest the durability of treatment results and the financial viability of MDMA-assisted therapy for PTSD.”

In Brief

• Silo Pharma targets fibromyalgia with ketamine-based patent: New Jersey-based biopharma Silo Pharma merges classical therapeutics with psychedelic research. Silo announced that it has filed a provisional patent application to support its move into targeting chronic pain. The company is aiming at conditions like fibromyalgia, which affects up to 1 in 50 US adults. Silo intends to follow up the patent application with SP-26, a ketamine-based drug that will initially target fibromyalgia. The company plans to submit an IND package to the FDA and pursue the 505(b)(2) regulatory pathway for SP-26.
• Perception takes another look at arketamine: Atai Life Sciences subsidiary Perception Neuroscience has dosed the first subject in their phase I trial comparing two methods of delivering their compound PCN-101 (arketamine). Perception is going to compare three doses (60mg, 90mg and 120mg) delivered subcutaneously against an intravenous 60mg dose. This follows the intravenous formulation failed phase IIa trial earlier this year. Can a new delivery method give this compound a second shot?
• Non-hallucinogenic psychedelics – the big news of 2024?: Away from classical psychedelics, Psilera has announced that six psychedelic-derived candidates all showed promise in treating mood disorders in animals despite lacking hallucinatory potential. Psilera’s release claimed it had data supporting the compounds’ ability to improve learning and memory and curb alcohol addiction. The six patent-pending compounds belong to four distinct families and will inform lead selection for human trials in 2024. The company hopes these non-hallucinogenic compounds will offer improved usability and payer coverage versus traditional psychedelics.