Here’s what’s in store for you in today’s issue:
🍄 How weed influences your trip
🍄 Healing veterans with DMT
🍄 The results from the biggest psilocybin study ever!
🍄 At-home ketamine therapy
🍄 And more.
In the episode of the Daily Mushroom Podcast, we have Tony Shields, CEO of FreshCap. Tony’s knowledge on mushrooms is deep and expansive and stems from a childhood fascination with these magnificent fungi. If you want to learn more about the benefits of functional mushrooms, this podcast is for you.
COMPASS Pathways’ (CMPS) stock dropped nearly 30% after announcing mixed study findings and Q3 financial results on Monday.
The company conducted a trial on 233 patients to determine the best psilocybin dose for treatment-resistant depression (TRD).
All three groups showed improvements the day after receiving the dose. The group with the largest dose had the best results, with 36.7% of patients showing at least a 50% decrease in depression scores and 29.1% in remission at week 3. A quarter of the patients showed sustained improvements until week 12.
Unfortunately, 12 patients experienced serious adverse events such as suicidal ideation or self harm, but these behaviours are common in patients with TRD.
The company is preparing for a larger trial beginning next year.
COMPASS also announced that it lost $15.8 million or $0.38 per share in Q3, an improvement compared to its $1.30 loss per share in Q3 of last year.
Here’s a graph that shows the impact on levels of depression reported by trial patients: 👇🏽
Researchers have known for years that ketamine can reduce depression symptoms and suicidal ideation in as little as 24 hours, but a recent study helps us understand why it’s so beneficial.
The study showed that a single dose of ketamine rapidly improved cognitive function, problem-solving abilities, and distorted thinking in suicidal patients.
“Being able to think more clearly can make someone feel less suicidal,” explains Ravi. N. Shah, MD, one of the researchers.
Ketamine was more effective than Midazolam, a benzodiazepine used as a sedative for surgeries. After the dose, suicidal ideation was diminished for up to 6 weeks.
Cybin (CYBN) announced that its psilocybin formulation for depression and alcoholism, CYB003, could be more effective than oral psilocybin.
The company conducted preclinical testing on multiple species of animals. Researchers found that CYB003 has nearly double the brain penetration compared to oral psilocybin, resulting in a 50% reduction in dosage, variability, and onset time.
A smaller dosage has potential to reduce negative side effects such as nausea. The formulation could lead to shorter sessions which would make treatment more affordable!
A bit of weed could make your trip more spiritual and less scary.
A survey of 321 people suggests that using cannabis while on psychedelics increases the odds of mystical experiences, ego deaths, and intense visuals.
The data also showed that low doses of cannabis reduced the chances of bad trip, whereas high doses increased feelings of fear and insanity.
In honour of Veteran’s Day, we’re sharing how a Special Ops veteran cured his chronic pain and PTSD with DMT.
Asher Gibson was diagnosed with PTSD and traumatic brain injury after countless combats across the world. Prescription medications began to dominate his life, so he turned to psychedelic healing.
After smoking DMT, the powerful compound found in ayahuasca, Asher was blasted out of his body and traveled through different dimensions to the beginning of time.
“I remember my whole head being ecstatic and numb, like the most wonderful electrical massage on my brain. The feeling moved down my neck and shoulders and eventually filled my entire body.”
After the trip, Asher’s debilitating neck and shoulder pain was almost non-existent and his mental state subsided to manageable levels. He is no longer dependent on prescription drugs.
“While DMT isn’t the magic button that fixes everything, I believe it’s a powerful guide to help you do the work yourself,” he explains.
To bring this kind of relief to other veterans, consider supporting the Heroic Hearts Project – a non-profit organization that provides ayahuasca retreats for veterans with combat experience or military sexual trauma.
A major hurdle of making psychedelic therapy accessible to all will be getting the treatment covered by insurance.
That’s why we’re excited to share that Novamind (NM) has secured coverage for ketamine treatments from four major health insurance providers: Blue Cross Blue Shield, the University of Utah, PEHP Health & Benefits and MBA Benefit Administrators!
The company’s Chief Medical Officer says that this a promising signal that insurance providers are interested in more effective mental health treatments as research emerges.
Novamind has also opened a call center dedicated to insurance verification to ensure that patients are approved and reimbursed as quickly as possible.
These leading psychedelic companies were recognized for their accomplishments at Microdose Psychedelic Insights’ Wonderland: Miami – the world’s largest psychedelic business event, ever.
Company of the Year: Cybin Inc. (CYBN)
Psilocybin Company of the Year: MycroDose Therapeutics (private)
Ketamine Company of the Year: Field Trip Health (FTRP)
Ibogaine Company of the Year: MindMed (MNMD)
DMT Company of the Year: Psilera Bioscience (private)
LSD Company of the Year: MindMed (MNMD)
MDMA Company of the Year: MAPS (non-profit)
Platform Company of the Year: MindMed (MNMD)
Drug Development Company of the Year: Awakn Life Sciences (AWKN)
Retreat of the Year: Synthesis
Clinic of the Year: Awakn Life Sciences (AWKN)
B2C Tech Company of the Year: Fireside Project (non-profit)
B2B Tech Company of the Year: MycroDose Therapeutics (private)
TripSitter Clinic Corp. now offers at-home ketamine therapy in 10 states!
The company, which is part of Origin Therapeutics’ portfolio, expanded its services to eight new states: Arizona, Colorado, Michigan, Washington, Florida, New York, Ohio, and Virginia, in addition to California and Illinois.
Patients can receive a prescription for oral ketamine after a virtual consultation with a physician. They then take the medication at home with virtual guidance, followed by therapy sessions.
This is a promising step toward greater ketamine accessibility. 💪🏼
To keep up with the growing demand for psychedelic research, the DEA is yet again increasing the legal production quotas for certain Schedule I substances.
The original proposal for psilocybin was just 50 grams, which increased to 1,500 grams in September. The final quota is now 6,000 grams – a total increase of 11,900%!
Production of both MDMA and DMT increased 6,300% from 50 grams to 3,200 grams.
Nov 5 – Fluence Raises $1.6M for Psychedelic Therapy Training Read more…
Nov 5 – MAPS and Momentum Events Announce Collaboration on Psychedelic Science 2023 Read more…
Nov 8 – Blackhawk Growth’s (BLR) MindBio Therapeutics Completes Safety Milestone in its Phase 1 Clinical Trials Read more…
Nov 8 – Delic Corp (DELC) Acquisition Of Ketamine Wellness Centers Is Complete Read more…
Nov 8 – NeonMind (NEON) And SRx Health Solutions Announce Strategic Alliance To Establish Specialty Mental Health Clinics For Interventional Psychiatry Treatments Read more…
Nov 9 – MYND Life Sciences (MYND) Executes LOI to Enter into a Clinical Research Collaboration with Revitalist Read more…
Nov 9 – Nova Mentis (NOVA) Files Genetic Neuroinflammatory Disease Patent Read more…
Nov 9 – Herbal Supplement Giant, Irwin Naturals (IWINF), To Enter THC & Psychedelics Industries Read more…
Nov 11 – PharmaTher (PHRM) Announces Positive Research Results for Psilocybin Microneedle Patch Read more…
