Issue 151

INSIGHT: exploring clinical developments in psychedelics

MIND Foundation’s INSIGHT Conference took place from August 31 to September 3 in Berlin, exploring the latest frontiers in psychedelic medicines – from clinical developments to neuroplasticity, VR, breathwork and beyond.

Bringing together a host of psychedelic researchers, clinicians, entrepreneurs and patients, INSIGHT 2023 put the spotlight on psychedelic neuroscience.

David Olson, Director of the Institute for Psychedelics and Neurotherapeutics at UC Davis, as well as Co-Founder and Chief Innovation Officer at Delix Therapeutics, presented the talk ‘Bridging the Gap Between Basic Science and Clinical Research in Psychedelic Neuroscience’.

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VETERANS SEE MENTAL HEALTH IMPROVEMENTS AFTER PSYCHEDELIC TREATMENT

Results from a new analysis have revealed an improvement in mental health and cognition for Special Operations Forces veterans following a combination of psychedelic treatments.

The analysis revealed that one treatment of each of two psychedelic drugs lowered depression and anxiety and improved cognitive functioning in a sample of U.S. Special Operations Forces veterans.

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PSYCHEDELICS COULD PROVIDE BENEFITS FOR OCD

A team of researchers has analysed the experience of people with Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) who have taken psychedelics, finding 30% experienced relief from their symptoms.

OCD affects around 2% of people across the globe, however, the current treatment of cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) can be slow to produce results, and many people do not respond.

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BUSINESS AND INVESTMENT

Filament Health has announced it has received Health Canada approval for a Phase 2 clinical trial at the University of British Columbia that will study the effects of PEX010 – the company’s psilocybin drug candidate – for the treatment of opioid use disorder.

Mydecine Innovations has confirmed that it has now completed its admission to the Access segment of the AQSE Growth Market. Trading commenced on 10 October 2023 under the ticker “MYIG”.

PurMinds NeuroPharma has announced that it has been awarded its first Psychedelic Import Permit from the Controlled Substances Directorate of Health Canada to Develop GMP-Compliant Psychedelic Drug Product Formulations for clinical trial supply.

Medical Device Network highlights how an investment report from FTI Consulting reveals that 60% of institutional investors in the US want to learn more about psychedelics.

Would your organisation benefit from engaging Europe's psychedelic medicine community?

Partnership with Psychedelic Health provides the opportunity to engage an audience ready to support the development of psychedelic medicine.

For more information and to request the media kit, please email stephanie@psych.global

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SCIENCE AND RESEARCH

Results from a major clinical trial have shown that esketamine outperforms one of the standard treatments for treatment-resistant major depression disorder.

New research has revealed that MDMA deepens personal connections following guided conversations, and suggests different mechanisms for how these drugs produce feelings of closeness.

Forbes Health explores how certain psychedelics can and cannot be used for mental wellness, touching on how they work, what types are used and more.

A new editorial published in Frontiers investigates psychedelics for substance use disorder, looking at the therapeutic potential of the medicines, as well as risks, mechanisms of action, and more.

REGULATION AND LEGISLATION

Non-profit, TREAT California, has launched a campaign for a November 2024 ballot measure, aiming to raise $5bn to fund clinical research on psychedelic-assisted treatments for veterans and first responders. The non-profit is aiming to collect 1.4 million signatures.

Spectrum News reports that Portland’s City Council has voted to pass a resolution to deprioritize criminal prosecution for personal use of psychedelic mushrooms.

Bill AB 1021 has been signed into law in California which will enable any “physician, pharmacist, or other authorized healing arts licensee” in the state to prescribe psychedelic medicines to patients if they are rescheduled or approved in the future.

California’s Governor Gavin Newsom has also vetoed a bill that aimed to decriminalise the possession and personal use of hallucinogens, including psilocybin mushrooms, reports High Times.

ARTICLES OF INTEREST

A new Eurobarometer on mental health has revealed that recent events including the COVID-19 pandemic, the Russo-Ukrainian War and the climate crisis have worsened already poor levels of mental health in Europe.

Nursing Notes reports that nursing staff in the UK have told the Royal College of Nursing that mental health remains “the poor relation in the NHS” and have described the treatment of mental health patients as “appalling”.

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