Posted on

COMPASS Pathways announces further positive results from groundbreaking phase IIb trial of investigational COMP360 psilocybin therapy for treatment-resistant depression

COMPASS Pathways announces further positive results from groundbreaking phase IIb trial of investigational COMP360 psilocybin therapy for treatment-resistant depression

  • Positive topline results validated by additional analyses
  • Patient improvements beyond reduction of depression symptoms
  • Further insights into timing and circumstance of adverse events demonstrate COMP360 psilocybin therapy was generally well-tolerated

COMPASS Pathways plc (Nasdaq: CMPS) (“COMPASS”), a mental health care company dedicated to accelerating patient access to evidence-based innovation in mental health, today announced further results from its groundbreaking phase IIb clinical trial of COMP360 psilocybin therapy for treatment-resistant depression (TRD). Additional analyses of primary and secondary endpoints validated topline findings and provided more insights into safety data. Analyses of exploratory measures including anxiety, self-reported depression, positive and negative affect, and functioning, showed greater improvements for patients receiving a 25mg dose of COMP360 psilocybin compared with those receiving a 1mg dose after three weeks, both with psychological support. Further analysis is ongoing and full trial results will be submitted for publication in a peer-reviewed journal. The data will be reviewed with regulators early next year. The objective of the trial was to find the appropriate dose for a larger, pivotal phase III programme, which COMPASS expects to begin in 2022.

Professor Guy Goodwin, Chief Medical Officer, COMPASS Pathways, said: “Our additional analyses underline the robustness of our findings that a single high dose of COMP360 psilocybin, given in conjunction with psychological support, led to a rapid and sustained response for many patients. This phase IIb study was designed to determine the optimal COMP360 dose for our phase III programme, evaluating safety and efficacy at the primary endpoint at week 3. Additionally, we observed consistent improvement in measures of anxiety, positive and negative affect, quality of life, daily functioning, cognition, and self-reported depression. We believe this could make a tremendous difference to patients suffering with treatment-resistant depression, who have few options available to them. Remember, a quarter of the 25mg group maintained response, as measured by the MADRS, at 12 weeks after a single administration with no other antidepressant medication. This finding in itself is unprecedented.”

COMPASS reported topline data from this trial last month, which investigated three doses of COMP360 psilocybin (1mg, 10mg, 25mg) in 233 patients with TRD. The results showed that a single 25mg dose of COMP360 demonstrated a highly statistically significant and clinically relevant reduction in depressive symptom severity after three weeks, with a rapid and durable treatment response. The 25mg group vs the 1mg group showed a -6.6 difference on the MADRS* depression scale at week 3 (p<0.001). In the 25mg group, 36.7% (29 patients) showed response* at week 3 and 29.1% (23 patients) were in remission* at week 3. Furthermore, at the end of the trial at week 12, 24.1% (19 patients) were sustained responders*. Additional analyses of primary and secondary endpoints have supported these results.

As well as looking at clinician-rated depression severity on the MADRS, the trial explored other aspects which are recognised as being important for patients with TRD – and essential to recovery – including positive and negative affect, anxiety, self-rated depression severity, quality of life, functioning and cognition. These exploratory measures also showed that patients in the 25mg dose group of COMP360 psilocybin therapy reported benefits on those measures over those in the 1mg group. On the PANAS* scale measuring positive and negative affect, patients in the 25mg group had a higher increase in positive affect (eg including feeling interested, excited, strong) and a greater decrease in negative affect (eg including feeling distressed, upset, afraid) on the day after COMP360 administration and at the questionnaire’s final administration at week 3. On scales measuring anxiety (GAD-7*), self-rated depression (QIDS-SR-16*) and functioning (SDS* and WSAS*), a greater improvement was also shown at week 3, by patients in the 25mg group compared with the 1mg group.

A post-hoc analysis of the 19 sustained responders in the 25mg group found that changes in quality of life, self-reported depression severity, and functioning, were clinically meaningful, with mean scores for these patients returning to “normal” levels and maintained to 12 weeks, the end of the trial. Durability is being studied in a one-year follow-up study which is currently underway.

As noted in the topline data reported last month, COMP360 psilocybin was generally well-tolerated. Further analysis showed that there were no concerns with vital signs, ECG or clinical laboratory data in any of the treatment groups. The majority of treatment-emergent adverse events (TEAEs) occurring on the day of COMP360 administration resolved on the same day or the day after (77.4%); most of these events were mild or moderate in nature, eg headache, nausea, fatigue. All TEAEs involving hallucination (which only occurred in the 25mg and 10mg groups) and illusion (which occurred in all groups) started on the day of administration and resolved on the same day. No events of this nature continued past the administration day.

TEAEs of suicidal ideation, suicidal behaviour and intentional self-injury were seen in all groups, as is regularly observed in a TRD population. Two thirds of the patients had previous thoughts of wishing to be dead, as assessed by a suicidality scale completed during patient screening; this included all patients reporting one of these adverse events, so all patients who experienced these events during the trial had said in patient screening that they had had suicidal thoughts prior to the trial. Further detailed case-by-case analysis of safety data found no evidence to suggest, at this time, a causal relationship between these reported adverse events and administration of COMP360. The events occurred in all treatment groups and at a range of onset times and durations; the majority occurred more than a week after the psilocybin session.

  • There was no difference between the three groups post-administration in scores from item 10 on the MADRS, which measures suicidality and was assessed by a blinded remote rater; mean scores across treatment groups were lower than baseline at all subsequent time points
  • 27 of the TEAEs of suicidal ideation, suicidal behaviour and intentional self-injury occurred across 17 patients, with seven patients in the 25mg group, six in the 10mg group, and four in the 1mg group
  • 14 of these events were reported as treatment-emergent serious adverse events (TESAEs); these occurred across nine patients, with four patients in the 25mg group, four patients in the 10mg group, and one in the 1mg group
  • The majority of these TESAEs (10 events out of 14) occurred at least one week after the COMP360 psilocybin session
  • All suicidal behaviours occurred at least one month after the psilocybin therapy session and all patients reporting these events were non responders at their last assessment prior to the event or at the time of the event

Professor Goodwin said: “Further understanding of the timing and circumstance of adverse events in the trial demonstrates that COMP360 psilocybin therapy was generally well-tolerated. More detailed analysis of the safety data supports our conclusion that there is no evidence to date to suggest a causal relationship between the serious adverse events of suicidal ideation, suicidal behaviour and self-injury, and administration of COMP360 psilocybin therapy. Unfortunately, these events occur unpredictably and are to be expected in this patient population.”

He continued: “We are now taking all the data we have generated and using it to inform our clinical development programme so we can understand which patients we might be able to help and how we might help more of them. We will be discussing this with regulators early next year as part of our ongoing dialogue with them.”

Sidney Zisook MD, Director of the University of California San Diego Residency Training Program, a Distinguished Professor of Psychiatry at UCSD, and a Principal Investigator on the trial, said: “Many of the participants in this study had suffered for years with severe and crippling depressive disorders despite multiple treatment trials with traditional antidepressant medications and therapies. To see so many experience a robust and sometimes persisting response – and a new, brighter, more positive attitude – during the course of the study, was immensely gratifying and hopeful.”

Further detail on additional findings from exploratory measures

  • Affect: results from the PANAS (Positive Affect and Negative Affect Schedule) showed higher positive affect and lower negative affect changes from baseline in the 25mg vs 1mg groups at day 2 and week 3. For positive affect and negative affect, there was a least squares mean (95% confidence intervals) treatment difference favouring the 25mg vs 1mg group at week 3: 6.17 (3.53, 8.82) and -3.18 (-5.59, -0.77), respectively
  • Anxiety: changes from baseline in the GAD-7 (Generalised Anxiety Disorder-7 item scale) total score were greater in the 25mg group vs the 1mg group at week 3. For GAD-7, a least squares mean (95% confidence intervals) treatment difference favouring the 25mg vs 1mg group was found at week 3: -1.79 (-3.35, -0.23)
  • Self-reported depression: changes from baseline in the QIDS-SR-16 (Quick Inventory of Depressive Symptomatology – Self Rated – 16 item scale) total score were greater in the 25 mg group at weeks 1, 2 and 3, compared with the 1mg group. The least squares mean treatment difference (95% confidence intervals) at week 3 was -2.78 (-4.62, -0.95)
  • Functioning: changes from baseline in the SDS (Sheehan Disability Scale) and the WSAS (Work and Social Adjustment Scale) were greater in the 25mg group vs the 1mg group at week 3. There was a treatment difference of -6.49 (95% confidence interval = -9.52, -3.46) on the SDS 25mg vs 1mg at week 3 and a treatment difference of -5.11 (95% confidence interval = -8.39, -1.82) on the WSAS between the 25mg vs 1mg at week 3
  • Quality of life: no differences were seen between the groups on the EQ-5D-3L (EuroQol-5-Dimension-3-Level Scale) total score and EuroQoL-Visual Analogue Scale – all groups showed an improvement over time. On the EQ-5D-3L total score, the 25mg vs 1mg least squares mean treatment differences at week 3 was 0.06 (95% confidence intervals = -0.03, 0.15). On the EuroQoL Visual Analogue Scale, the 25mg vs 1mg treatment difference at week 3 was 6.77 (95% confidence interval = -0.37, 13.90). A post-hoc analysis of sustained responders in the 25mg group found that changes in quality of life were clinically meaningful, with mean scores in these patients returning to “normal” levels and maintained to 12 weeks
  • Cognition: no differences were seen between the groups on the DSST (Digit Symbol Substitution Test) – all groups showed an improvement over time. The least squares mean treatment difference between the 25mg vs 1mg groups at week 3 was 1.32 (95% confidence intervals = -1.00, 3.64)

About treatment-resistant depression (TRD)

More than 320 million people globally suffer with major depressive disorder (MDD)[1], the leading cause of disability worldwide and one of the fastest growing mental health illnesses[2]. About a third of these patients – 100 million people – aren’t helped by existing therapies and suffer with treatment-resistant depression (TRD)[3]. As many as 30% of these attempt suicide at least once during their lifetime[4],[5]. TRD carries two to three times the medical costs of a non-TRD MDD patient, and patients with TRD have a higher all-cause mortality compared with non-TRD MDD patients[6]. The TRD population is by definition more difficult to treat and more likely to relapse than patients with major depressive disorder. In 2018, COMPASS received FDA Breakthrough Therapy designation for its COMP360 psilocybin therapy for TRD.

About the COMP360 psilocybin therapy phase IIb study

This randomised, controlled, multicentre, double-blind phase IIb trial is the largest psilocybin therapy clinical trial ever conducted, with 233 patients from 10 countries in North America and Europe. 94% of the patients had no prior experience with psilocybin. The objective of the trial was to find the appropriate dose for a larger, pivotal phase III programme, which COMPASS expects to begin in 2022.

The trial assessed the safety and efficacy of COMP360 psilocybin therapy at three doses: 1mg, 10mg, 25mg. A total of 233 patients enrolled in the study and were randomised and blinded into three arms comprising 79 patients for each of the 25mg and 1mg doses, and 75 patients for the 10mg dose. Patients were followed up for 12 weeks. The trial used the Montgomery-Åsberg depression rating scale (MADRS), a widely used and accepted scale for assessing depression; assessments were made by an independent, blinded rater. The primary endpoint was the change in the MADRS total score from baseline to week 3.

About COMPASS Pathways

COMPASS Pathways plc (Nasdaq: CMPS) is a mental health care company dedicated to accelerating patient access to evidence-based innovation in mental health. Our focus is on improving the lives of those who are suffering with mental health challenges and who are not helped by current treatments. We are pioneering the development of a new model of psilocybin therapy, in which our proprietary formulation of synthetic psilocybin, COMP360, is administered in conjunction with psychological support. COMP360 has been designated a Breakthrough Therapy by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA), for treatment-resistant depression (TRD), and we have completed a phase IIb clinical trial of psilocybin therapy for TRD, in 22 sites across Europe and North America. This was the largest randomised, controlled, double-blind psilocybin therapy clinical trial ever conducted, and our topline data showed a statistically significant (p<0.001) and clinically relevant improvement in depressive symptom severity after three weeks for patients who received a single high dose of COMP360 psilocybin with psychological support. We are also running a phase II clinical trial of COMP360 psilocybin therapy for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). COMPASS is headquartered in London, UK, with offices in New York and San Francisco in the US. Our vision is a world of mental wellbeing. www.compasspathways.com

Availability of other information about COMPASS Pathways

Investors and others should note that we communicate with our investors and the public using our website (www.compasspathways.com), our investor relations website (ir.compasspathways.com), and on social media (LinkedIn), including but not limited to investor presentations and investor fact sheets, US Securities and Exchange Commission filings, press releases, public conference calls and webcasts. The information that we post on these channels and websites could be deemed to be material information. As a result, we encourage investors, the media, and others interested in us to review the information that is posted on these channels, including the investor relations website, on a regular basis. This list of channels may be updated from time to time on our investor relations website and may include additional social media channels. The contents of our website or these channels, or any other website that may be accessed from our website or these channels, shall not be deemed incorporated by reference in any filing under the Securities Act of 1933.

Forward-looking statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, as amended. In some cases, forward-looking statements can be identified by terminology such as “may”, “might”, “will”, “could”, “would”, “should”, “expect”, “intend”, “plan”, “objective”, “anticipate”, “believe”, “contemplate”, “estimate”, “predict”, “potential”, “continue” and “ongoing,” or the negative of these terms or other comparable terminology, although not all forward-looking statements contain these words. Forward-looking statements include express or implied statements relating to, among other things, the safety or efficacy of COMP360 psilocybin therapy as a treatment for depression, COMPASS’s expectations for the timing of its pivotal phase III programme and the potential for that or other trials to support regulatory filings and approvals, COMPASS’s business strategy and goals, the future accessibility of COMP360 psilocybin therapy, COMPASS’s ability to continue to advance its research, including COMP360, COMPASS’s expectations regarding the benefits of its psilocybin therapy, including COMP360 and COMPASS’s ability to advance new psychedelic compounds in other areas of unmet mental health need. The forward-looking statements in this press release are neither promises nor guarantees, and you should not place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements because they involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors, many of which are beyond COMPASS’s control and which could cause actual results, levels of activity, performance or achievements to differ materially from those expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements.

These risks, uncertainties, and other factors include, among others: preclinical research and clinical development is lengthy and uncertain, and therefore our preclinical studies and clinical trials may be delayed or terminated, or may never advance to or in the clinic; and those risks and uncertainties described under the heading “Risk Factors” in COMPASS’s annual report on Form 20-F filed with the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) on 9 March 2021 and in subsequent filings made by COMPASS with the SEC, which are available on the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov. Except as required by law, COMPASS disclaims any intention or responsibility for updating or revising any forward-looking statements contained in this press release in the event of new information, future developments or otherwise. These forward-looking statements are based on COMPASS’s current expectations and speak only as of the date hereof.

Enquiries

Media: Tracy Cheung, tracy@compasspathways.com, +44 7966 309024
Investors: Stephen Schultz, stephen.schultz@compasspathways.com, +1 401 290 7324

 

*Notes: MADRS = Montgomery-Åsberg Depression Rating Scale; response = ≥50% decrease in MADRS total score from baseline; remission = MADRS total score ≤10; sustained response = patients meeting the MADRS response criteria at week 3 and at week 12, and at least at one visit out of week 6 and week 9, and who did not start new treatment for depression during the study; PANAS = Positive and Negative Affect Schedule; GAD-7 = Generalised Anxiety Disorder – 7 item; QIDS-SR-16 = Quick Inventory of Depressive Symptomatology, self-rated, 16-item; SDS = Sheehan Disability Scale; WSAS = Work and Social Adjustment Scale

[1] WHO (2017). Depression and Other Common Mental Disorders Global Health Estimates [Online]. Available at: https://apps.who.int/iris/bitstream/handle/10665/254610/WHO-MSD-MER-2017.2-eng.pdf [Accessed 21 October 2021]

[2] WHO (2012). Depression: A Global Crisis [Online]. Available at: https://www.who.int/mental_health/management/depression/wfmh_paper_depression_wmhd_2012.pdf [Accessed 21 October 2021]

[3] Al-Harbi KS. Treatment-resistant depression: therapeutic trends, challenges, and future directions. Patient Preference and Adherence. 2012; 6: 369–388.

[4] Bergfeld IO, Mantione M, Figee M, Schuurman PR, Lok A, Denys D. Treatment-resistant depression and suicidality. Journal of Affective Disorders. 2018;235:362-367

[5] Dong M, Lu L, Zhang L, et al. Prevalence of suicide attempts in bipolar disorder: a systematic review and meta-analysis of observational studies. Epidemiology and Psychiatric Sciences. 2020;29:e63

[6] Gang L, Fife D, Wong G, Sheehan JJ, et al. All-cause mortality in patients with treatment-resistant depression: a cohort study in the US population. Annuals of General Psychiatry. 2019; 18:23.

Posted on

atai Life Sciences Increases its Ownership Position in COMPASS Pathways

atai Life Sciences Increases its Ownership Position in COMPASS Pathways

Demonstrates atai’s confidence in COMPASS’ Phase 2b data and its potential for patients with treatment-resistant depression

Reinforces COMPASS as highly complementary to atai’s diversified approach to innovation in mental health

NEW YORK, Nov. 29, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — atai Life Sciences (Nasdaq: ATAI) (“atai”), a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company aiming to transform the treatment of mental health disorders, today announced that it has increased its ownership interest in COMPASS Pathways (“COMPASS”), from 19.4% to 20.8%.

This equity stake increase is a demonstration of atai’s confidence in COMPASS Pathways and in the potential of COMP360 in mental health care, following the recent COMP360 data in treatment-resistant depression (TRD). This solidifies atai’s position as COMPASS’ largest shareholder.

“We’ve supported COMPASS Pathways since the early days, when they were our very first psychedelic initiative, as part of our quest for more effective solutions for mental health patients. We believe this month’s Phase 2b data was a true milestone for innovation in mental health and COMP360 shows strong potential as a future treatment for patients with TRD,” said Florian Brand, Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer of atai Life Sciences. “This further confirms our belief in COMPASS’ psilocybin-assisted psychotherapy as a valued part of our diversified approach to develop novel solutions for patients with unmet needs in mental health.”

“Today’s announcement underscores our belief in the potential of COMPASS and COMP360 in the future of mental health care. In my personal opinion, the market doesn’t seem to appreciate the full upside potential given these impressive COMP360 data, the size of the unmet patient need and the potential of COMPASS’ broad patent portfolio,” said Christian Angermayer, Founder and Chairman of atai Life Sciences.

Over 300 million people worldwide live with depression and, of these, a third struggle with TRD that cannot be managed by currently available options.1,2

COMPASS’s Phase 2b trial of COMP360 psilocybin in TRD is the largest and most robust trial ever to be conducted with psilocybin. Participants in this COMPASS trial had previously failed on two to four antidepressants. The 233-patient, 22-site, randomized, controlled, double-blind dose-controlled trial with COMP360 reported rapid and durable results in reducing depression, when combined with psychological support, and was generally well tolerated. A single 25mg dose achieved a 6.6 point reduction (vs 1mg), from baseline to week three, on the Montgomery-Åsberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS) (p<0.001), successfully meeting the primary endpoint.

Most standard selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) antidepressants were approved on just a 2-3 MADRS point reduction in a general major depressive disorder patient population, and several weeks are typically required to show a significant benefit. Another comparable, intranasal esketamine has demonstrated only a 4 MADRS point reduction at 28 days vs. placebo in TRD (in third party studies), thus highlighting the potential of COMP360 in this challenging patient population.3-5

Despite the mounting problem of mental health in recent years, further compounded by the pandemic, innovation has been sorely lacking; only seven new treatments have been approved by the FDA for psychiatric disorders since 2015.6,7

In 2018, COMP360 received Breakthrough Therapy Designation from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for TRD.8 COMPASS has recently expanded the indications of interest to post-traumatic stress disorder and initiated an additional Phase 2 study. COMPASS also reported positive signals from an open-label investigator-initiated study in the U.S. of COMP360 for depression in cancer.9,10 COMPASS’ Phase 3 study of psilocybin in TRD is anticipated to launch in 2022. Furthermore, COMPASS is exploring the potential of COMP360 towards several further potential indications including type 2 bipolar disorder depression, anorexia nervosa, body dysmorphia, suicidal ideation and autism.

As we ultimately believe there is no one-size-fits-all solution in the treatment of mental health conditions, atai is progressing a pharmacologically-diverse array of programs, spanning psychedelics, non-psychedelics, and is developing innovative digital therapeutics to address the areas of highest unmet need in mental health. By developing COMP360 and other novel 5-HT2a agonists, COMPASS is highly complementary to our diversified platform and fully aligns with our vision to heal mental health disorders, so that everyone, everywhere can live a more fulfilled life.

References

1. World Health Organization. Depression. Published September 13, 2021. Accessed November 24, 2021. https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/depression.
2. Pandarakalam JP. Challenges of Treatment-resistant Depression. Psychiatr Danub. 2018;30(3):273-284.
3. Kennedy SH, Andersen HF, Lam RW. Efficacy of escitalopram in the treatment of major depressive disorder compared with conventional selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors and venlafaxine XR: a meta-analysis [published correction appears in J Psychiatry Neurosci. 2006 Jul;31(4):228]. J Psychiatry Neurosci. 2006;31(2):122-131.
4. Mayo Clinic. Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs). September 17, 2019. Accessed November 24, 2021. https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/depression/in-depth/ssris/art-20044825.
5. SPRAVATO (esketamine) nasal spray [Prescribing Information]. Titusville, NJ. Janssen Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
6. Abbott A. COVID’s mental-health toll: how scientists are tracking a surge in depression. Nature. 2021;590(7845):194-195.
7. EvaluatePharma (as of March 19, 2021). New drugs include new molecular entities or new active ingredients.
8. COMPASS Pathways receives FDA Breakthrough Therapy designation for psilocybin therapy for treatment-resistant depression. [Press Release] https://ir.compasspathways.com/news-events/news-releases. Published October 23, 2018. Accessed November 24, 2021.
9. COMPASS Pathways to launch phase II trial of COMP360 psilocybin therapy for post-traumatic stress disorder. [Press release] https://ir.compasspathways.com/news-releases/news-release-details/compass-pathways-launch-phase-ii-trial-comp360-psilocybin. Published November 3, 2021. Accessed November 24, 2021.
10. Open-label study of COMP360 psilocybin therapy for depression in cancer patients demonstrates feasibility of simultaneous psilocybin administration in small groups. [Press Release] https://ir.compasspathways.com/news-releases/news-release-details/open-label-study-comp360-psilocybin-therapy-depression-cancer. Published October 20, 2021. Accessed November 24, 2021.

About atai Life Sciences

atai is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company aiming to transform the treatment of mental health disorders. atai was founded in 2018 as a response to the significant unmet need and lack of innovation in the mental health treatment landscape. atai is dedicated to acquiring, incubating and efficiently developing innovative therapeutics to treat depression, anxiety, addiction, and other mental health disorders.

atai’s business model combines funding, technology, scientific and regulatory expertise with a focus on psychedelic therapy and other drugs with differentiated safety profiles and therapeutic potential. By pooling resources and best practices, atai aims to responsibly accelerate the development of new medicines across its companies, seeking to effectively treat and ultimately heal mental health disorders.

atai’s mission is to bridge the gap between what the mental healthcare system currently provides and what patients need. atai has offices in New York, London, and Berlin. For more information, please visit www.atai.life.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, as amended. The words “believe,” “may,” “will,” “estimate,” “continue,” “anticipate,” “intend,” “expect,” “initiate,” “could,” “would,” “project,” “plan,” “potentially,” “preliminary,” “likely,” and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements, although not all forward-looking statements contain these words. Forward-looking statements include express or implied statements relating to, among other things: the success, cost and timing of development of our product candidates and COMPASS Pathways’ COMP360, including the progress of preclinical and clinical trials and related milestones; our business strategy and plans; potential acquisitions; and the plans and objectives of management for future operations and capital expenditures. The forward-looking statements in this press release are neither promises nor guarantees, and you should not place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements because they involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors, many of which are beyond our control and which could cause actual results, levels of activity, performance or achievements to differ materially from those expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements.

We have based these forward-looking statements largely on our current expectations and projections about future events and trends that we believe may affect our financial condition, results of operations, business strategy, short-term and long-term business operations and objectives, and financial needs. These forward-looking statements are subject to a number of risks, uncertainties, and assumptions, including without limitation: we are a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company and have incurred significant losses since our inception, and we anticipate that we will continue to incur significant losses for the foreseeable future; we will require substantial additional funding to achieve our business goals, and if we are unable to obtain this funding when needed and on acceptable terms, we could be forced to delay, limit or terminate our product development efforts; our limited operating history may make it difficult to evaluate the success of our business and to assess our future viability; we have never generated revenue and may never be profitable; our product candidates contain controlled substances, the use of which may generate public controversy; clinical and preclinical development is uncertain, and our preclinical programs may experience delays or may never advance to clinical trials; we rely on third parties to assist in conducting our clinical trials and some aspects of our research and preclinical testing, and those clinical trials, including progress and related milestones, may be impacted by several factors including the failure by such third parties to meet deadlines for the completion of such trials, research, or testing, changes to trial sites and other circumstances; we currently rely on qualified therapists working at third-party clinical trial sites to administer certain of our product candidates in our clinical trials and we expect this to continue upon approval, if any, of our current or future product candidates; if third-party sites fail to recruit and retain a sufficient number of therapists or effectively manage their therapists, our business, financial condition and results of operations would be materially harmed; we cannot give any assurance that any of our product candidates will receive regulatory approval, which is necessary before they can be commercialized; research and development of drugs targeting the central nervous system, or CNS, is particularly difficult, and it can be difficult to predict and understand why a drug has a positive effect on some patients but not others; we face significant competition in an environment of rapid technological and scientific change; third parties may claim that we are infringing, misappropriating or otherwise violating their intellectual property rights, the outcome of which would be uncertain and may prevent or delay our development and commercialization efforts; a change in our effective place of management may increase our aggregate tax burden; we identified material weaknesses in connection with our internal control over financial reporting; and a pandemic, epidemic, or outbreak of an infectious disease, such as the COVID-19 pandemic, may materially and adversely affect our business, including our preclinical studies, clinical trials, third parties on whom we rely, our supply chain, our ability to raise capital, our ability to conduct regular business and our financial results. Other risk factors include the important factors described in the section titled “Risk Factors” in our final prospectus, dated June 17, 2021, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) pursuant to Rule 424(b) under the Securities Act, and in our other filings with the SEC, that may cause our actual results, performance or achievements to differ materially and adversely from those expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements.

Any forward-looking statements made herein speak only as of the date of this press release, and you should not rely on forward-looking statements as predictions of future events. Although we believe that the expectations reflected in the forward-looking statements are reasonable, we cannot guarantee that the future results, performance, or achievements reflected in the forward-looking statements will be achieved or will occur. Except as required by applicable law, we undertake no obligation to update any of these forward-looking statements for any reason after the date of this press release or to conform these statements to actual results or revised expectations.

Contact Information

For atai:

Media Contact:
Camilla Dormer
VP, Communications, atai Life Sciences
Email: camilla@atai.life

Investor Contact:
Chad Messer
VP, Investor Relations, atai Life Sciences
Email: chad@atai.life

Posted on

COMPASS Pathways granted fifth US patent for crystalline psilocybin

COMPASS Pathways granted fifth US patent for crystalline psilocybin

COMPASS Pathways plc (Nasdaq: CMPS) (“COMPASS”), a mental health care company dedicated to accelerating patient access to evidence-based innovation in mental health, announced today that it has been granted its fifth patent by the US Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO). This is COMPASS’s 10th patent overall, with five now granted in the US, two in the UK, one in Germany and two in Hong Kong.

The new patent, US Patent No 11,180,517, covers methods of treating treatment-resistant depression (TRD) with crystalline psilocybin as well as with oral dosage forms of crystalline psilocybin with an excipient. Crystalline psilocybin is used in COMP360, COMPASS’s synthesised psilocybin formulation being developed for psilocybin therapy in TRD.

George Goldsmith, CEO and Co-founder, COMPASS Pathways, said: “This 10th patent is a strong testament to our innovation. Patents enable us to continue to do the highest quality clinical research so we can work to bring therapies to patients who are suffering with serious mental health challenges and have few options.”

About COMPASS Pathways

COMPASS Pathways plc (Nasdaq: CMPS) is a mental health care company dedicated to accelerating patient access to evidence-based innovation in mental health. Our focus is on improving the lives of those who are suffering with mental health challenges and who are not helped by current treatments. We are pioneering the development of a new model of psilocybin therapy, in which our proprietary formulation of synthetic psilocybin, COMP360, is administered in conjunction with psychological support. COMP360 has been designated a Breakthrough Therapy by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA), for treatment-resistant depression (TRD), and we have completed a phase IIb clinical trial of psilocybin therapy for TRD, in 22 sites across Europe and North America. This was the largest randomised, controlled, double-blind psilocybin therapy clinical trial ever conducted, and our topline data showed a statistically significant (p<0.001) and clinically relevant improvement in depressive symptom severity after three weeks for patients who received a single high dose of COMP360 psilocybin with psychological support. We are also running a phase II clinical trial of COMP360 psilocybin therapy for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). COMPASS is headquartered in London, UK, with offices in New York and San Francisco in the US. Our vision is a world of mental wellbeing. www.compasspathways.com

Availability of other information about COMPASS Pathways

Investors and others should note that we communicate with our investors and the public using our website (www.compasspathways.com), our investor relations website (ir.compasspathways.com), and on social media (LinkedIn), including but not limited to investor presentations and investor fact sheets, US Securities and Exchange Commission filings, press releases, public conference calls and webcasts. The information that we post on these channels and websites could be deemed to be material information. As a result, we encourage investors, the media, and others interested in us to review the information that is posted on these channels, including the investor relations website, on a regular basis. This list of channels may be updated from time to time on our investor relations website and may include additional social media channels. The contents of our website or these channels, or any other website that may be accessed from our website or these channels, shall not be deemed incorporated by reference in any filing under the Securities Act of 1933.

Forward-looking statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, as amended. In some cases, forward-looking statements can be identified by terminology such as “may”, “might”, “will”, “could”, “would”, “should”, “expect”, “intend”, “plan”, “objective”, “anticipate”, “believe”, “contemplate”, “estimate”, “predict”, “potential”, “continue” and “ongoing,” or the negative of these terms or other comparable terminology, although not all forward-looking statements contain these words. Forward-looking statements include express or implied statements relating to, among other things, the efficacy of COMP360 psilocybin therapy as a treatment for depression, COMPASS’s business strategy and goals, including its ability to launch and commercialise products, COMPASS’s ability to continue to advance its research or develop plans to bring its products to patients, including  COMP360, and COMPASS’s expectations regarding the benefits of its psilocybin therapy, including COMP360. The forward-looking statements in this press release are neither promises nor guarantees, and you should not place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements because they involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors, many of which are beyond COMPASS’s control and which could cause actual results, levels of activity, performance or achievements to differ materially from those expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements.

These risks, uncertainties, and other factors include, among others: preclinical research and clinical development is lengthy and uncertain, and therefore our preclinical studies and clinical trials may be delayed or terminated, or may never advance to or in the clinic; and those risks and uncertainties described under the heading “Risk Factors” in COMPASS’s annual report on Form 20-F filed with the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) on 9 March 2021 and in subsequent filings made by COMPASS with the SEC, which are available on the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov. Except as required by law, COMPASS disclaims any intention or responsibility for updating or revising any forward-looking statements contained in this press release in the event of new information, future developments or otherwise. These forward-looking statements are based on COMPASS’s current expectations and speak only as of the date hereof.

Enquiries

Media: Tracy Cheung, tracy@compasspathways.com, +44 7966 309024
Investors: Stephen Schultz, stephen.schultz@compasspathways.com, +1 401 290 7324

Posted on

The results from the world’s biggest psilocybin trial are in!

COMPASS Pathways announces positive topline results from groundbreaking phase IIb trial of investigational COMP360 psilocybin therapy for treatment-resistant depression

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.

PDF of article 1

PDF of article 2

Posted on

COMPASS Pathways announces positive topline results from groundbreaking phase IIb trial of investigational COMP360 psilocybin therapy for treatment-resistant depression

COMPASS Pathways announces positive topline results from groundbreaking phase IIb trial of investigational COMP360 psilocybin therapy for treatment-resistant depression

Largest randomised, controlled, double-blind psilocybin therapy study ever completed shows rapid and sustained response for patients receiving a single dose of COMP360 psilocybin with psychological support

COMPASS management team to host an investor conference call today at 1.00pm UK (8.00am ET)

COMPASS Pathways plc (Nasdaq: CMPS) (“COMPASS”), a mental health care company dedicated to accelerating patient access to evidence-based innovation in mental health, today announced that its groundbreaking phase IIb clinical trial of COMP360 psilocybin therapy for treatment-resistant depression has achieved its primary endpoint for the highest dose, with a 25mg dose of COMP360 demonstrating a highly statistically significant and clinically relevant reduction in depressive symptom severity after three weeks, with a rapid and durable treatment response*.

In the randomised, controlled, double-blind trial, a single dose of investigational COMP360 psilocybin was given to 233 patients in conjunction with psychological support from specially trained therapists. All patients discontinued antidepressants prior to participation. The trial was powered to compare two active doses of COMP360, 25mg and 10mg, against a comparator 1mg dose. The 25mg group vs the 1mg group showed a -6.6 difference on the MADRS* depression scale at week 3 (p<0.001). The 25mg group demonstrated statistical significance on the MADRS efficacy endpoint on the day after the COMP360 psilocybin administration (p=0.002). The 10mg vs 1mg dose did not show a statistically significant difference at week 3. The MADRS was assessed by independent raters who were remote from the trial site, and blind to intervention and study design, effectively creating a triple blind. At least twice the number of patients in the 25mg group showed response and remission* at week 3 and week 12, compared with the 1mg group. The protocol-defined sustained response* up to week 12 was double, with 20.3% of patients in the 25mg group vs 10.1% in the 1mg group. Using a definition of sustained response* that is consistent with other TRD studies, the difference was more than double, with 24.1% of patients in the 25mg group vs 10.1% in the 1mg group. COMP360 was generally well tolerated, with more than 90% of treatment-emergent adverse events (TEAEs) being mild or moderate in severity. 179 patients reported at least one TEAE; the most common TEAEs across treatment groups (>10% overall incidence) were headache, nausea, fatigue and insomnia. There were 12 patients who reported treatment-emergent serious adverse events (TESAEs). These TESAEs included suicidal behaviour, intentional self-injury, and suicidal ideation, which are regularly observed in a treatment-resistant depression patient population, and which occurred more frequently in the 25mg group than in the 10mg or 1 mg groups. Overall, 209 patients completed the study; there were five withdrawals from the 25mg group, nine from the 10mg, and 10 from the 1mg.

This randomised, controlled, multicentre, double-blind phase IIb trial is the largest psilocybin therapy clinical trial ever conducted, with 233 patients from 10 countries in North America and Europe. 94% of the patients had no prior experience with psilocybin. The objective of the trial was to find the appropriate dose for a larger, pivotal phase III programme, which COMPASS expects to begin in 2022.

Depression that isn’t helped after two or more adequate antidepressive treatments is referred to as treatment-resistant depression (TRD)1,2. More than 100 million people worldwide are affected by TRD1,2, and as many as 30% of these attempt suicide at least once during their lifetime3,4. The TRD population is by definition more difficult to treat and more likely to relapse than patients with major depressive disorder. In 2018, COMPASS received FDA Breakthrough Therapy designation for its COMP360 psilocybin therapy for TRD.

George Goldsmith, CEO and Co-founder, COMPASS Pathways, said: “No one is untouched by the mental health crisis – everyone has a story. We urgently need options for people who are not helped by existing therapies. We set out to explore the safety and efficacy of COMP360 psilocybin therapy in treatment-resistant depression, through a rigorous and large-scale trial, and to find an appropriate dose to take to the next stage. I am delighted that we have succeeded in doing this. We have demonstrated our ability to execute an innovative, multicentre, multinational clinical trial programme – and in the midst of a global pandemic. Our work follows the efforts and achievements of so many researchers before us, and we are grateful to all of them and for the opportunity to work with the mental health care community to transform patient experience and patient outcomes. With our world-leading psychedelic research over the last few years, we have now created a unique and extensive data lake; this provides an unprecedented opportunity to further evaluate and optimise psilocybin therapy for patients suffering with serious mental health illness. With these compelling data, we will urgently progress our clinical development programme and move closer to making this therapy accessible to patients in need, if approved.”

Key findings:

  • COMP360 25mg vs 1mg: a difference of -6.6 points in change from baseline in MADRS total scores at week 3 (p<0.001), with a statistically significant difference seen from day 2 up to week 6
  • COMP360 10mg vs 1mg: a non-statistically significant numerical treatment difference of -2.5 points at week 3 (p=0.184)
  • At least double the number of MADRS responders, remitters, and sustained responders with 25mg vs 1mg; rapid response and remission from day 2 to week 3
    • 36.7% (29 patients) in 25mg group showed response at week 3, compared with 17.7% (14 patients) in 1mg group
    • 29.1% (23 patients) in 25mg group were in remission at week 3, compared with 7.6% (6 patients) in 1mg group
    • 24.1% (19 patients) in 25mg group were sustained responders at week 12, compared with 10.1% (8 patients) in 1mg group
  • COMP360 was generally well tolerated, with more than 90% of treatment-emergent adverse events (TEAEs) mild or moderate in severity
  • Treatment-emergent adverse event (TEAE) incidence
    • 5% (66 patients) in 25mg group
    • 7% (56 patients) in 10 mg group
    • 2% (57 patients) in 1 mg group
  • Treatment-emergency serious adverse event (TESAE) incidence
    • 3% (5 patients) in 25mg group
    • 0% (6 patients) in 10 mg group
    • 3% (1 patient) in 1mg group

David J Hellerstein MD, a Principal Investigator on the trial and Professor of Clinical Psychiatry at the Columbia University Irving Medical Center, said: “Treatment-resistant depression is a common and devastating condition, affecting tens of millions of people, with few effective treatments. This is the largest modern study of a psychedelic drug, combined with psychological support, enrolling over 200 people with TRD. In this groundbreaking study, a single dose of psilocybin, given in conjunction with psychological support, generated a rapid response that lasted up to 12 weeks. Remission rates appear to be higher than seen in traditional medication studies. We now have evidence from a large well-designed trial that psilocybin may be effective for people with treatment-resistant major depressive disorder. These findings suggest that COMP360 psilocybin therapy could play a major role in psychiatric care, if approved.”

Michael Pollock, CEO at the Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance (DBSA), said: “Many people suffering with severe forms of depression find that existing treatments don’t work for them. We support any attempt to investigate alternative therapies. The approach of cycling through drugs that aren’t working is inadequate for anyone who is living with a mental health condition and disheartening for the family members and healthcare professionals who care for them. The results seen from this study are an early indicator of hope for those who are desperately in need of help.”

Robin Carhart-Harris PhD, Director of the Psychedelics Division at the Weill Institute for Neurosciences at the University of California San Francisco, and Ralph Metzner Distinguished Professor of Neurology, Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, said: “This is an important and exciting moment for the mental health care community. It builds upon more than two decades of research into the viability of psychedelic compounds to treat mental health conditions and demonstrates the potential it has in helping people living with treatment-resistant depression. It’s encouraging to see how far this field has progressed in the last 20 years and I look forward to further research.”

In addition to this topline data, COMPASS is conducting comprehensive secondary analyses which are expected to further inform the clinical development programme for COMP360 psilocybin therapy. In the meantime, this promising topline data will be shared in an expeditious manner with regulators as part of an ongoing dialogue.

Conference call

The COMPASS management team will host a conference call at 1:00pm UK (8.00am ET) on 9 November. The call can be accessed by dialing (833) 665-0659 from the United States, +1 (914) 987-7313 internationally, and 0800 028 8438 from the UK, followed by the conference ID: 34908054.

The call will also be webcast on the Investors section of the COMPASS Pathways website. The webcast will be archived for 30 days.

About treatment-resistant depression (TRD)

More than 320 million people globally suffer with major depressive disorder (MDD)5, the leading cause of disability worldwide and one of the fastest growing mental health illnesses6. About a third of these patients – 100 million people – aren’t helped by existing therapies and suffer with treatment-resistant depression (TRD)7. TRD carries two to three times the medical costs of a non-TRD MDD patient, and patients with TRD have a higher all-cause mortality compared with non-TRD MDD patients8.

About the COMP360 psilocybin therapy phase IIb study

The phase IIb study was a dose-finding study, assessing the safety and efficacy of COMP360 psilocybin therapy at three doses: 1mg, 10mg, 25mg. A total of 233 patients enrolled in the study and were randomised and blinded into three arms comprising 79 patients for each of the 25mg and 1mg doses, and 75 patients for the 10mg dose. Patients were followed up for 12 weeks. The trial used the Montgomery-Åsberg depression rating scale (MADRS), a widely used and accepted scale for assessing depression; assessments were made by an independent, blinded rater. The primary endpoint is the change in the MADRS total score from baseline to week 3.

About COMPASS Pathways

COMPASS Pathways plc (Nasdaq: CMPS) is a mental health care company dedicated to accelerating patient access to evidence-based innovation in mental health. Our focus is on improving the lives of those who are suffering with mental health challenges and who are not helped by current treatments. We are pioneering the development of a new model of psilocybin therapy, in which our proprietary formulation of synthetic psilocybin, COMP360, is administered in conjunction with psychological support. COMP360 has been designated a Breakthrough Therapy by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA), for treatment-resistant depression (TRD), and we have completed a phase IIb clinical trial of psilocybin therapy for TRD, in 22 sites across Europe and North America. We are headquartered in London, UK, with offices in New York and San Francisco in the US. Our vision is a world of mental wellbeing. www.compasspathways.com

Availability of other information about COMPASS Pathways

Investors and others should note that we communicate with our investors and the public using our website (www.compasspathways.com), our investor relations website (ir.compasspathways.com), and on social media (LinkedIn), including but not limited to investor presentations and investor fact sheets, US Securities and Exchange Commission filings, press releases, public conference calls and webcasts. The information that we post on these channels and websites could be deemed to be material information. As a result, we encourage investors, the media, and others interested in us to review the information that is posted on these channels, including the investor relations website, on a regular basis. This list of channels may be updated from time to time on our investor relations website and may include additional social media channels. The contents of our website or these channels, or any other website that may be accessed from our website or these channels, shall not be deemed incorporated by reference in any filing under the Securities Act of 1933.

Forward-looking statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, as amended. In some cases, forward-looking statements can be identified by terminology such as “may”, “might”, “will”, “could”, “would”, “should”, “expect”, “intend”, “plan”, “objective”, “anticipate”, “believe”, “contemplate”, “estimate”, “predict”, “potential”, “continue” and “ongoing,” or the negative of these terms or other comparable terminology, although not all forward-looking statements contain these words. Forward-looking statements include express or implied statements relating to, among other things, the safety or efficacy of COMP360 psilocybin therapy as a treatment for depression, COMPASS’s expectations for the timing of its pivotal phase III programme and the potential for that or other trials to support regulatory filings and approvals, COMPASS’s business strategy and goals, the future accessibility of COMP360 psilocybin therapy, COMPASS’s ability to continue to advance its research, including COMP360, COMPASS’s expectations regarding the benefits of its psilocybin therapy, including COMP360 and COMPASS’s ability to advance new psychedelic compounds in other areas of unmet mental health need. The forward-looking statements in this press release are neither promises nor guarantees, and you should not place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements because they involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors, many of which are beyond COMPASS’s control and which could cause actual results, levels of activity, performance or achievements to differ materially from those expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements.

These risks, uncertainties, and other factors include, among others: preclinical research and clinical development is lengthy and uncertain, and therefore our preclinical studies and clinical trials may be delayed or terminated, or may never advance to or in the clinic; and those risks and uncertainties described under the heading “Risk Factors” in COMPASS’s annual report on Form 20-F filed with the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) on 9 March 2021 and in subsequent filings made by COMPASS with the SEC, which are available on the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov. Except as required by law, COMPASS disclaims any intention or responsibility for updating or revising any forward-looking statements contained in this press release in the event of new information, future developments or otherwise. These forward-looking statements are based on COMPASS’s current expectations and speak only as of the date hereof.

Enquiries

Media: Tracy Cheung, tracy@compasspathways.com, +44 7966 309024
Investors: Stephen Schultz, stephen.schultz@compasspathways.com, +1 401 290 7324

 

 

 

*Notes: MADRS = Montgomery-Åsberg Depression Rating Scale; response = ≥50% decrease in MADRS total score from baseline; remission = MADRS total score ≤10; protocol-defined sustained response = patients meeting the MADRS response criteria from week 3 until week 12; sustained response = patients meeting the MADRS response criteria at week 3 and at week 12, and at least at one visit out of week 6 and week 9

  1. WHO (2017). Depression and Other Common Mental Disorders Global Health Estimates [Online]. Available at: https://apps.who.int/iris/bitstream/handle/10665/254610/WHO-MSD-MER-2017.2-eng.pdf
  2. Al-Harbi KS. Treatment-resistant depression: therapeutic trends, challenges, and future directions. Patient Preference and Adherence. 2012; 6: 369–388
  3. Bergfeld IO, Mantione M, Figee M, Schuurman PR, Lok A, Denys D. Treatment-resistant depression and suicidality. Journal of Affective Disorders. 2018;235:362-367
  4. Dong M, Lu L, Zhang L, et al. Prevalence of suicide attempts in bipolar disorder: a systematic review and meta-analysis of observational studies. Epidemiology and Psychiatric Sciences. 2020;29:e63
  5. WHO (2017). Depression and Other Common Mental Disorders Global Health Estimates [Online]. Available at: https://apps.who.int/iris/bitstream/handle/10665/254610/WHO-MSD-MER-2017.2-eng.pdf [Accessed 21 October 2021]
  6. WHO (2012). Depression: A Global Crisis [Online]. Available at: https://www.who.int/mental_health/management/depression/wfmh_paper_depression_wmhd_2012.pdf [Accessed 21 October 2021]
  7. Al-Harbi KS. Treatment-resistant depression: therapeutic trends, challenges, and future directions. Patient Preference and Adherence. 2012; 6: 369–388.
  8. Gang L, Fife D, Wong G, Sheehan JJ, et al. All-cause mortality in patients with treatment-resistant depression: a cohort study in the US population. Annuals of General Psychiatry. 2019; 18:23
Posted on

COMPASS Pathways plc announces financial results and business highlights for the third quarter 2021

COMPASS Pathways plc announces financial results and business highlights for the third quarter 2021

Highlights:

  • Positive topline results from phase IIb COMP360 psilocybin therapy trial for treatment-resistant depression; rapid and sustained response for patients receiving a single 25 mg dose of COMP360 psilocybin with psychological support
  • Launch of phase II study of COMP360 psilocybin therapy for PTSD
  • Positive signals from Maryland Oncology Hematology open-label investigator initiated study of COMP360 psilocybin therapy for depression in cancer
  • Acquisition of IP portfolio of novel psychedelic compounds and prodrugs
  • Hamilton Morris appointed full-time consultant
  • New US composition patent granted for crystalline psilocybin
  • Conference call today at 1:00pm UK (8:00am ET)

COMPASS Pathways plc (Nasdaq: CMPS) (“COMPASS”), a mental health care company dedicated to accelerating patient access to evidence-based innovation in mental health, today reported its financial results for the third quarter 2021 and gave an update on recent progress across its business.

George Goldsmith, Chairman, CEO and Co-founder, COMPASS Pathways, said, “With the positive topline results from our COMP360 psilocybin therapy phase IIb trial, we are one step closer to potentially providing a much-needed therapeutic option to patients suffering with treatment-resistant depression. At the same time, we are making great progress in broadening our pipeline – we are beginning a phase II COMP360 psilocybin therapy trial for PTSD, and we have acquired a large portfolio of new compounds and IP, working with Matthias Grill PhD. Our goal remains the same – to transform mental health care and bring options to the millions of patients who currently don’t have many.”

 

Business highlights

  • Positive topline results from groundbreaking phase IIb clinical trial of COMP360 psilocybin therapy for treatment-resistant depression (TRD); data shared in separate press release published today
  • Continued investment in the expansion of COMPASS portfolio with addition of phase II trial of COMP360 psilocybin therapy in post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
    • 20 patient, fixed dose, open-label trial to begin at The Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience (IoPPN) at King’s College London
  • Promising data from open-label investigator-initiated study of COMP360 psilocybin therapy for depression in cancer, conducted and reported by Maryland Oncology Hematology at the Aquilino Cancer Center (Rockville, MD)
    • Showed feasibility of simultaneous psilocybin administration in small groups, with 1:1 support
    • Remission in major depression symptoms for 15 of the 30 patients, sustained for eight-week follow-up
    • COMP360 psilocybin found to be generally well-tolerated with no treatment-related serious adverse events
  • Acquisition of intellectual property (IP) portfolio including patent applications covering a variety of psychedelic and empathogenic substances
    • IP developed with Dr Matthias Grill, founder and CEO of MiHKAL GmbH in Basel, Switzerland
    • Working with Dr Grill on exclusive research project to develop new product candidates
  • Hamilton Morris, research scientist and filmmaker, appointed full-time consultant
    • Researching new psychedelic compounds that could be developed into therapies in areas of unmet mental health need
  • New US patent granted
    • Claims covering alternative crystalline psilocybin not used in COMP360
    • Portfolio of nine granted patents, including four in the US, two in the UK, one in Germany, two in Hong Kong

 

Financial highlights

  • Net loss for the three months ended 30 September 2021 was $15.8 million or $0.38 loss per share (after including non-cash share-based compensation expense of $2.3 million), compared with $16.7 million or $1.30 loss per share during the same period in 2020 (after including non-cash-share-based compensation expense of $5.2 million).
  • Net loss for the nine months ended 30 September 2021 was $46.1 million, or $1.17 loss per share (after including non-cash share-based compensation expense of $5.9 million), compared with $41.5 million, or $3.90 loss per share, during the same period in 2020 (after including non-cash share-based compensation expense of $16.6 million).
  • Research & development (R&D) expenses were $12.2 million for the three months ended 30 September 2021, compared with $6.9 million during the same period in 2020. Of this increase, $6.2 million reflected increased development activities, including hiring additional staff, as COMPASS progresses its COMP360 psilocybin therapy in TRD, and continues to explore additional indications and therapeutic approaches. There was a reduction of $0.9 million in non-cash share-based compensation expense compared with the same period in the prior year.
  • R&D expenses were $30.4 million for the nine months ended 30 September 2021, compared with $18.8 million during the same period in 2020. Of this increase, $14.3 million reflected increased development activities, including hiring additional staff, as COMPASS progresses its COMP360 psilocybin therapy in TRD, and continues to explore additional indications and therapeutic approaches. There was a reduction of $2.7 million in non-cash share-based compensation expense compared with the same period in the prior year.
  • G&A expenses were $9.6 million for the three months ended 30 September 2021, compared with $6.6 million during the same period in 2020. The increase was attributable to a reduction of $2.0 million in non-cash share-based compensation, offset against an increase of $2.5 million, $0.7 million and $1.8 million, respectively, in personnel expenses, legal and professional fees, and facilities and other expenses.
  • G&A expenses were $24.5 million for the nine months ended 30 September 2021, compared with $21.1 million during the same period in 2020. The increase was attributable to a reduction of $8.0 million in non-cash share-based compensation, offset against an increase of $5.8 million, $0.8 million and $4.9 million, respectively, in personnel expenses, legal and professional fees, and facilities and other expenses.
  • Cash and cash equivalents were $294.0 million as of 30 September 2021, compared with $196.5 million at 30 September 2020.

 

Conference call

The COMPASS Pathways management team will host a conference call at 1.00pm UK (8.00am ET) on 9 November 2021. The call can be accessed by dialing (833) 665-0659 from the United States, +1 (914) 987-7313 internationally, and 0800 028 8438 from the UK, followed by the conference ID: 34908054. The call will be accompanied by a presentation which will be available on the COMPASS Pathways website (ir.compasspathways.com). The call will also be webcast on the website and archived for 30 days.

 

About COMPASS Pathways

COMPASS Pathways plc (Nasdaq: CMPS) is a mental health care company dedicated to accelerating patient access to evidence-based innovation in mental health. Our focus is on improving the lives of those who are suffering with mental health challenges and who are not helped by current treatments. We are pioneering the development of a new model of psilocybin therapy, in which our proprietary formulation of synthetic psilocybin, COMP360, is administered in conjunction with psychological support. COMP360 is investigational and has been designated a Breakthrough Therapy by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA), for treatment-resistant depression (TRD), and we have completed a phase IIb clinical trial of psilocybin therapy for TRD, in 22 sites across Europe and North America. We are headquartered in London, UK, with offices in New York and San Francisco in the US. Our vision is a world of mental wellbeing. www.compasspathways.com

 

Availability of other information about COMPASS Pathways

Investors and others should note that we communicate with our investors and the public using our website (www.compasspathways.com), our investor relations website (ir.compasspathways.com), and on social media (LinkedIn), including but not limited to investor presentations and investor fact sheets, US Securities and Exchange Commission filings, press releases, public conference calls and webcasts. The information that we post on these channels and websites could be deemed to be material information. As a result, we encourage investors, the media, and others interested in us to review the information that is posted on these channels, including the investor relations website, on a regular basis. This list of channels may be updated from time to time on our investor relations website and may include additional social media channels. The contents of our website or these channels, or any other website that may be accessed from our website or these channels, shall not be deemed incorporated by reference in any filing under the Securities Act of 1933.

 

Forward-looking statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, as amended. In some cases, forward-looking statements can be identified by terminology such as “may”, “might”, “will”, “could”, “would”, “should”, “expect”, “plan”, “potential”, “continue” and “ongoing,” or the negative of these terms or other comparable terminology, although not all forward-looking statements contain these words. Forward-looking statements include express or implied statements relating to, among other things, COMPASS’s business strategy and goals, the safety or efficacy of COMP360 psilocybin therapy as a treatment for depression, COMPASS’s expectations for the timing of its pivotal phase III programme and the potential for that or other trials to support regulatory filings and approvals, the future accessibility of COMP360 psilocybin therapy, COMPASS’s ability to continue to advance its research, including COMP360, COMPASS’s expectations regarding the benefits of its psilocybin therapy, including COMP360 and COMPASS’s ability to advance new psychedelic compounds in other areas of unmet mental health need. The forward-looking statements in this press release are neither promises nor guarantees, and you should not place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements because they involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors, many of which are beyond COMPASS’s control and which could cause actual results, levels of activity, performance or achievements to differ materially from those expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements.

These risks, uncertainties, and other factors include, among others: preclinical and clinical development is lengthy and uncertain, and therefore our preclinical studies and clinical trials may be delayed or terminated, or may never advance to or in the clinic; and those risks and uncertainties described under the heading “Risk Factors” in COMPASS’s annual report on Form 20-F filed with the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) on 9 March 2021 and in subsequent filings made by COMPASS with the SEC, which are available on the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov. Except as required by law, COMPASS disclaims any intention or responsibility for updating or revising any forward-looking statements contained in this press release in the event of new information, future developments or otherwise. These forward-looking statements are based on COMPASS’s current expectations and speak only as of the date hereof

Enquiries

Media: Tracy Cheung, tracy@compasspathways.com, +44 7966 309024
Investors: Stephen Schultz, stephen.schultz@compasspathways.com, +1 401 290 7423

 

Posted on

Ending the PTSD crisis

COMPASS Pathways to launch phase II trial of COMP360 psilocybin therapy for post-traumatic stress disorder

The lack of effective PTSD treatments is “a crisis,” according to the PTSD Psychopharmacology Working Group. About one in 20 people in the UK suffer from PTSD, and current treatment options are ineffective for 40% of these patients.

COMPASS Pathways (CMPS) is launching a phase II trial to see if its psilocybin therapy model for treatment-resistant depression, COMP360, can also bring relief to patients with PTSD.

The trial will assess 20 patients who experienced trauma as adults, who will be given a single dose of the psilocybin formulation followed by 12 weeks of therapy protocols.

Researchers will measure the safety of the drug as will as improvements in PTSD symptoms, functionality, and quality of life.

PDF of article

Posted on

Group therapy cures depression in half of cancer patients!

Open-label study of COMP360 psilocybin therapy for depression in cancer patients demonstrates feasibility of simultaneous psilocybin administration in small groups

On Tuesday, Compass Pathways (CMPS) received a US patent for COMP360, its proprietary formulation of crystalline psilocybin. On Wednesday, the company announced positive findings from an open-label study using the formulation to treat depression in cancer patients.

Thirty patients were administered COMP360 in group therapy sessions of two to four people. Twenty four people experienced at least a 50% reduction in depression symptoms within three weeks of treatment, which was sustained at week eight, and fifteen people were in total remission from depression. The average depression score dropped from 25.9 to just 6.8.

The company notes that the study was not blinded or placebo-controlled, so the findings are subject to expectancy bias, but the results show promise that both COMP360 and group therapy models are effective.

PDF of article 1

PDF of article 2

Posted on

COMPASS Pathways acquires IP portfolio of novel psychedelic compounds and prodrugs

COMPASS Pathways acquires IP portfolio of novel psychedelic compounds and prodrugs

COMPASS Pathways plc (Nasdaq: CMPS) (“COMPASS”), a mental health care company dedicated to accelerating patient access to evidence-based innovation in mental health, announced that it has acquired an intellectual property (IP) portfolio including patent applications covering a variety of psychedelic and empathogenic substances. The IP was developed together with inventor Matthias Grill PhD, founder and CEO of MiHKAL GmbH in Basel, Switzerland, who will be working with COMPASS on an exclusive research project to develop new product candidates.

The substances covered in the IP portfolio include a variety of psychedelic and empathogenic compounds, some of which are prodrugs – pharmacologically inactive compounds which are metabolised inside the body to produce an active drug. The new substances include novel derivatives of known compounds, increasing the confidence in therapeutic effects and safety profile while offering optimised characteristics.

Dr Matthias Grill has been involved in psychedelic chemistry research for over 15 years, gaining his PhD at the Max Planck Institute. He has held positions as Head of R&D at Arbolea GmbH, Lipomed AG and THC Pharm GmbH, and has synthesised psychedelic substances for a number of human research studies, including at the University of Basel and the National Institute of Mental Health in the Czech Republic.

Dr Grill said: “Chemistry still happens inside the flask and not on paper. Inspired by the work of chemists like Albert Hofmann and Alexander Shulgin, I am proud to be developing these evolved compounds in Switzerland, where many of the initial psychedelics were first researched and synthesised. We are creating novel candidates to address many of the mental health challenges we face today.”

Lars Wilde, Chief Business Officer, President and Co-founder, COMPASS Pathways, said: “We are delighted to be working with Matthias and MiHKAL GmbH. This agreement will strengthen and expand our IP and development portfolio with new compounds. We plan to move some of these compounds into clinical development within the next two years, taking us closer to our goal of helping patients with urgent unmet needs in mental health care.”

About COMPASS Pathways

COMPASS Pathways plc (Nasdaq: CMPS) is a mental health care company dedicated to accelerating patient access to evidence-based innovation in mental health. Our focus is on improving the lives of those who are suffering with mental health challenges and who are not helped by current treatments. We are pioneering the development of a new model of psilocybin therapy, in which our proprietary formulation of synthetic psilocybin, COMP360, is administered in conjunction with psychological support. COMP360 has been designated a Breakthrough Therapy by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA), for treatment-resistant depression (TRD), and we are currently conducting a phase IIb clinical trial of psilocybin therapy for TRD, in 22 sites across Europe and North America. We are headquartered in London, UK, with offices in New York, US. Our vision is a world of mental wellbeing. www.compasspathways.com

Availability of other information about COMPASS Pathways

Investors and others should note that we communicate with our investors and the public using our website (www.compasspathways.com), our investor relations website (ir.compasspathways.com), and on social media (LinkedIn), including but not limited to investor presentations and investor fact sheets, US Securities and Exchange Commission filings, press releases, public conference calls and webcasts. The information that we post on these channels and websites could be deemed to be material information. As a result, we encourage investors, the media, and others interested in us to review the information that is posted on these channels, including the investor relations website, on a regular basis. This list of channels may be updated from time to time on our investor relations website and may include additional social media channels. The contents of our website or these channels, or any other website that may be accessed from our website or these channels, shall not be deemed incorporated by reference in any filing under the Securities Act of 1933.

Forward-looking statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, as amended. In some cases, forward-looking statements can be identified by terminology such as “may”, “might”, “will”, “could”, “would”, “should”, “expect”, “intend”, “plan”, “objective”, “anticipate”, “believe”, “contemplate”, “estimate”, “predict”, “potential”, “continue” and “ongoing,” or the negative of these terms or other comparable terminology, although not all forward-looking statements contain these words. Forward-looking statements include express or implied statements relating to, among other things, the efficacy of COMP360 psilocybin therapy as a treatment for depression, the expected timing for reporting data related to COMP360, COMPASS’s business strategy and goals, COMPASS’s ability to continue to advance its research, including COMP360, and COMPASS’s expectations regarding the benefits of its psilocybin therapy, including COMP360. The forward-looking statements in this press release are neither promises nor guarantees, and you should not place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements because they involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors, many of which are beyond COMPASS’s control and which could cause actual results, levels of activity, performance or achievements to differ materially from those expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements.

These risks, uncertainties, and other factors include, among others: preclinical research and clinical development is lengthy and uncertain, and therefore our preclinical studies and clinical trials may be delayed or terminated, or may never advance to or in the clinic; and those risks and uncertainties described under the heading “Risk Factors” in COMPASS’s annual report on Form 20-F filed with the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) on 9 March 2021 and in subsequent filings made by COMPASS with the SEC, which are available on the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov. Except as required by law, COMPASS disclaims any intention or responsibility for updating or revising any forward-looking statements contained in this press release in the event of new information, future developments or otherwise. These forward-looking statements are based on COMPASS’s current expectations and speak only as of the date hereof.

Enquiries

Media: Tracy Cheung, tracy@compasspathways.com, +44 7966 309024
Investors: Stephen Schultz, stephen.schultz@compasspathways.com, +1 401-290-7324

Posted on

Hamilton Morris joins COMPASS Pathways to research new psychedelic compounds

Hamilton Morris joins COMPASS Pathways to research new psychedelic compounds

COMPASS Pathways plc (Nasdaq: CMPS) (“COMPASS”), a mental health care company dedicated to accelerating patient access to evidence-based innovation in mental health, has engaged Hamilton Morris, the research scientist and film-maker, as a full-time consultant, who will be working primarily at the COMPASS Discovery Center, based at University of the Sciences in Philadelphia (USciences) in the United States. Mr Morris will be advising COMPASS on research related to new psychedelic compounds that could be developed into therapies in areas of unmet mental health need.

Hamilton Morris is the creator and director of the documentary series Hamilton’s Pharmacopeia, in which he investigates the chemistry, history, and cultural impact of various psychoactive drugs. He also carries out chemistry research at USciences, alongside the COMPASS Discovery Center team there, led by Dr Jason Wallach, Assistant Professor of Pharmaceutical Sciences at USciences.

Mr Morris said: “For over a decade, Jason and I have worked together studying the chemistry and pharmacology of psychedelics. Working with the COMPASS team will allow us to make strides in developing novel psychedelics that could have tremendous medical and scientific value.”

Lars Wilde, Chief Business Officer, President and Co-founder, COMPASS Pathways, said, “I am delighted to welcome Hamilton to our team. He is already well known for his deep knowledge and his enthusiasm. I believe his expertise will further enhance our world-class team of scientists who are finding new compounds for our portfolio of therapies for patients who are suffering with serious mental health challenges.”

About COMPASS Pathways

COMPASS Pathways plc (Nasdaq: CMPS) is a mental health care company dedicated to accelerating patient access to evidence-based innovation in mental health. Our focus is on improving the lives of those who are suffering with mental health challenges and who are not helped by current treatments. We are pioneering the development of a new model of psilocybin therapy, in which our proprietary formulation of synthetic psilocybin, COMP360, is administered in conjunction with psychological support. COMP360 has been designated a Breakthrough Therapy by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA), for treatment-resistant depression (TRD), and we are currently conducting a phase IIb clinical trial of psilocybin therapy for TRD, in 22 sites across Europe and North America. We are headquartered in London, UK, with offices in New York, US. Our vision is a world of mental wellbeing. www.compasspathways.com

Availability of other information about COMPASS Pathways

Investors and others should note that we communicate with our investors and the public using our website (www.compasspathways.com), our investor relations website (ir.compasspathways.com), and on social media (LinkedIn), including but not limited to investor presentations and investor fact sheets, US Securities and Exchange Commission filings, press releases, public conference calls and webcasts. The information that we post on these channels and websites could be deemed to be material information. As a result, we encourage investors, the media, and others interested in us to review the information that is posted on these channels, including the investor relations website, on a regular basis. This list of channels may be updated from time to time on our investor relations website and may include additional social media channels. The contents of our website or these channels, or any other website that may be accessed from our website or these channels, shall not be deemed incorporated by reference in any filing under the Securities Act of 1933.

Forward-looking statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, as amended. In some cases, forward-looking statements can be identified by terminology such as “may”, “might”, “will”, “could”, “would”, “should”, “expect”, “intend”, “plan”, “objective”, “anticipate”, “believe”, “contemplate”, “estimate”, “predict”, “potential”, “continue” and “ongoing,” or the negative of these terms or other comparable terminology, although not all forward-looking statements contain these words. Forward-looking statements include express or implied statements relating to, among other things, the efficacy of COMP360 psilocybin therapy as a treatment for depression, the expected timing for reporting data related to COMP360, COMPASS’s business strategy and goals, COMPASS’s ability to continue to advance its research, including COMP360, and COMPASS’s expectations regarding the benefits of its psilocybin therapy, including COMP360. The forward-looking statements in this press release are neither promises nor guarantees, and you should not place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements because they involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors, many of which are beyond COMPASS’s control and which could cause actual results, levels of activity, performance or achievements to differ materially from those expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements.

These risks, uncertainties, and other factors include, among others: preclinical research and clinical development is lengthy and uncertain, and therefore our preclinical studies and clinical trials may be delayed or terminated, or may never advance to or in the clinic; and those risks and uncertainties described under the heading “Risk Factors” in COMPASS’s annual report on Form 20-F filed with the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) on 9 March 2021 and in subsequent filings made by COMPASS with the SEC, which are available on the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov. Except as required by law, COMPASS disclaims any intention or responsibility for updating or revising any forward-looking statements contained in this press release in the event of new information, future developments or otherwise. These forward-looking statements are based on COMPASS’s current expectations and speak only as of the date hereof.

Enquiries

Media: Tracy Cheung, tracy@compasspathways.com, +44 7966 309024
Investors: Stephen Schultz, stephen.schultz@compasspathways.com, +1 401-290-7324