Issue 149

Study results suggest improved efficacy of DMT therapy with SSRIs

Small Pharma has reported positive results from its study investigating the interaction of SSRIs and SPL026 – the company’s native DMT – in patients with Major Depressive Disorder (MDD).

The company highlights that a marked improvement was observed between the antidepressant effect of SPL026 treatment in the SSRI Cohort compared to the Non-SSRI Cohort – suggesting a potentially enhanced efficacy effect when SPL026 is administered in combination with SSRIs.

Dr Carol Routledge, Chief Medical and Scientific Officer of Small Pharma, stated: “Our primary goal in conducting this Phase 2b study was to understand if SPL026 could be safely administered in conjunction with SSRIs to assess whether patients would need to be withdrawn from their SSRI medication in future trials.

“While we were very pleased that the study demonstrated that patients may not need to be withdrawn, we were not expecting to see such a marked difference in efficacy when administering SPL026 in combination with SSRIs compared to SPL026 alone.”

PSYCHEDELIC RETREATS ARE MUSHROOMING

As the world grapples with unprecedented natural disasters, economic meltdown and mental health crises, retreats using magic mushrooms and other psychedelic medicines are experiencing a major surge in popularity as people search for meaning and healing and actively seek solutions to our escalating global problems.

THE DEVASTATING RISK OF PSYCHEDELIC USE IN AN ADHD WORLD

Psychedelics have been known to connect people to the earth, to nature and to their core emotional self. When dumped in the middle of an ADHD, modern, hectic and digitalised lifestyle, I believe the risks of adverse incidents are devastating, writes therapist Jo Dice.

BUSINESS AND INVESTMENT

Gilgamesh Pharmaceuticals successfully completes Phase 1 SAD/MAD clinical trials of GM-1020 – the only novel oral, small-molecule NMDA receptor channel blocker currently in clinical development.

Numinus Wellness has announced it has established an at-the-market equity offering programme that allows the company to issue and sell up to C$10,000,000 of common shares in the capital of the Company from time to time.

Transcend Therapeutics has announced the receipt of a $1 million collaborative grant award with Yale University to support its preclinical research on methylone – Transcend’s lead compound for the treatment of PTSD.

Emyria has secured a local supply of MDMA which allows patient dosing to commence for its MDMA-assisted therapy trial to treat PTSD.

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

Canada has approved the first legal medical psilocybin access to a Canadian armed forces veteran as a treatment for Treatment Resistant Depression.

Data from a new survey has revealed a positive shift in attitudes toward psychedelic therapies from American psychiatrists since 2016.

REGULATION AND LEGISLATION

European non-profit, PAREA, has launched its manifesto for the 2024 EU elections which sets out priorities for the EU as it looks towards the potential rollout of psychedelic therapies in the future.

A resolution has been advanced in Portland, Maine, which would decriminalise psychedelics, with a vote on the resolution set for October.

ARTICLES OF INTEREST

The WHO Regional Office for Europe has published a report outlining five key areas of development to support mental health in Europe.

New research has revealed that UK employee absence rates have reached the highest levels in a decade – with 39% of respondents citing mental ill health as their reason for absence.