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Why the UK is becoming a psychedelic hotspot

Brexit Britain becomes unlikely psychedelic haven as Albert Labs IPOs

The UK is on a mission to create a world-leading clinical research ecosystem that’s more efficient and effective than ever before – and many psychedelic companies are taking advantage of the regulatory changes.

To reach this goal, the UK’s Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) now allows “real world data” (data collected from patients and healthcare systems outside of clinical trials) to aid in the drug approval process

This may bring psychedelic therapies to market much faster not only in the UK, but also in Australia, Canada, Singapore and Switzerland, as the MHRA joined a coalition with these countries called the Access Consortium.

Additionally, the UK may reschedule psilocybin to Schedule 2, reducing barriers to clinical research.

Just yesterday, COMPASS Pathways (CMPS) announced a strategic partnership to launch a major psychedelic research center in the UK.

Other companies to keep an eye on that may benefit from these changes include Albert Labs (ABRT), Awakn Life Sciences (AWKN), Small Pharma (DMT), Beckley Psytech, Eleusis.

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A push for equity + global rescheduling of psilocybin

Global Wellness Institute Announces New Initiative on Psychedelics & Healing

Major non-profit Global Wellness Institute just launched a Psychedelics & Healing Initiative with the goal of establishing evidence-based best practices, equity, and accessibility within the psychedelics industry.

The initiative brings together physicians, business innovators, research scientists, impact investors, and policy makers, including high-profile members like Rick Doblin, founder of MAPS.

The group will also advocate for the International Therapeutic Psilocybin Rescheduling Initiative, a recent movement to suspend psilocybin’s Schedule I status through the United Nations to remove research barriers across the globe.

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The shift toward nature-based psychedelic therapy 🌲

The potential synergistic effects between psychedelic administration and nature contact for the improvement of mental health

Experts from Imperial College London predict that combining psychedelics and contact with nature could have a beneficial synergy, as both are known to decrease rumination, increase mindfulness, and elicit feelings of awe and transcendence.

Combining the two could also restore the disconnect and fear of nature that more and more people are feeling as technology takes over.

In their review, the researchers note that it may be beneficial to incorporate natural elements into treatment rooms and include contact with nature in the therapy sessions leading up to and following the psychedelic session.

While a fully outdoor session has drawbacks, the researchers explain that a hybrid indoor/outdoor with large skylights and windows and nature-based design elements would be the ideal setting for psychedelic therapy.

Organizations like Usona Institute and Synthesis Institute are already working to incorporate nature into treatment programs – let’s hope this trend continues!

SAGE Journals

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Treat pain and mental health simultaneously

Tasmanian ketamine study to treat chronic pain patients

About 60% of patients with chronic pain also suffer from a second condition like depression or anxiety.

A University of Tasmania researcher predicts that ketamine therapy will have a “dual beneficial effect” on both pain and mental health.

Other chronic pain experts share this belief. “The domains of pain, anxiety and depression are all connected. If you treat one, another often gets better,” according to researcher Dr. David Borsook.

The hypothesis will be put to the test in an upcoming study of 30 chronic pain patients, which received a $80K grant from the Clifford Craig Foundation.

The Examiner

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Finally, a fun and easy way to lose weight 🍄

NeonMind Reports Business Highlights on Partnership Activities, Clinical Pipeline and Corporate Developments

Almost 40% of adults are overweight and obesity rates have tripled since the 70s. Luckily, both micro and macro doses of psilocybin may be able to combat this.

How? Psilocybin is structurally similar to serotonin, which is known to suppress the appetite.

NeonMind (NEON) found that when rats had unlimited access to food, those on both high and low doses of psilocybin gained 30% less weight than a control group.

The company is preparing for a clinical trial to see if a high dose of psilocybin combined with behavioral therapy and lifestyle intervention can aid in weight management. NeonMind is also developing a psilocybin microdose to control hunger.

Learn more about psychedelics and microdosing with Chloe Deutscher on TikTok!

@chloegoesinward

Check out @dailymushroom.co for more 🍄 news! #psychedelictok #mushroom #microdoselife #psychedelicresearch #psychedelicjourney #psychonaut #plantmedicine

♬ Paper Birds (3 min) – Jordan Halpern Schwartz

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If you’re on antidepressants, psilocybin may be safer than MDMA

Psilocybin safer to take with psychiatric medications than MDMA, researchers say

An analysis of 40 publications found that MDMA interacts with antidepressants more than psilocybin.

Taking MDMA on antidepressants could lead to toxic levels of serotonin and may be fatal, with MAOIs posing a particularly high risk.

While there is less research on psilocybin, a study from MindMed and Liechti Labs found that the SSRI escitalopram was safe to take with psilocybin, and even reduced trip anxiety.

However, the analysis found that buspirone, chlorpromazine, ketanserin, or risperidone reduced psilocybin’s subjective effects.

This helpful chart has more information on how psychedelics interact with antidepressants, but remember that this is not medical advice. 

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Two approaches to treating depression with DMT

Small Pharma Expands Potential of Commercial Portfolio with DMT-based Psychedelic Assets

After finding its DMT formulation to be well-tolerated, Small Pharma (DMT) is launching two new trials this year. 

One will assess how DMT interacts with SSRIs in patients with depression and the other will compare the drug’s effects when administered through muscles versus veins. 

The company has also developed a form of DMT that lasts longer than the typical 30 minute trip, but is still much shorter than a psilocybin or LSD trip.

Biomind Labs (BMND) is taking the opposite approach. The company reduced a DMT trip to just 10-15 minutes by making a formulation that’s inhalable.

Biomind’s formulation will be assessed in a Phase II trial for treatment-resistant depression, which just received approval by the Brazilian Institutional Review Board.

We’re eager to see if the length of the trip makes a difference!

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Biomind Labs Inc.

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A modern twist on a decades-old therapy technique

Incannex Executes License Agreement with Monash University to Develop a Combination Treatment Using Virtual Reality and Psychedelics

Exposure therapy has been a common treatment for anxiety disorders (especially OCD) since the 70’s. It involves gradually exposing patients to triggering situations in a safe environment so they can work through their irrational response.

Now imagine being exposed to your triggers through immersive virtual reality… while on psychedelics.

It may sound scary, but psychedelics could actually provide feelings of safety and allow patients to change their perspective and response to the stimuli.

This is how Incannex Healthcare (IXL) plans to treat patients with severe anxiety disorders in upcoming trials in collaboration with Monash University.

The Australian company debuted on the Nasdaq this week under the symbol ‘IXHL’.

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