RESEARCH
More Research Investigating Psychedelics For Cancer Patients
Its a collaborative effort to substantiate claims. New York University (NYU) School of Medicine’s Center for Psychedelic Medicine and their counterparts at the University of Colorado, have a new clinical trial is underway. The trial is exploring the potential of psilocybin-assisted therapy as a means to alleviate existential distress in individuals with advanced-stage cancer.
“Psychedelics aren’t a panacea or miracle cure for anxiety and depression, as there’s still much that’s unknown about them and there’s always the potential for adverse effects, like with any treatment,” – Dr. Hu.
Read full story here.
MindMed’s LSD Trials for Treating ADHD Are Moving Ahead
Mindmed announced the successful enrollment of participants in Study MMED007, a Phase 2a investigation that focuses on assessing the efficacy of repeated low-dose administration of MM-120 (lysergide D-tartrate) in the treatment of adult patients with ADHD.
In June, MindMed also reported that it’s Phase II trial evaluating the effectiveness of LSD for the treatment of Major Depressive Disorder reported positive results with patients experiencing “significant, rapid, durable, and beneficial” effects when treated with LSD. The treatment resulted in a significant reduction of depression symptoms compared to those in the control group.
“This proof-of-concept trial is designed to evaluate the clinical effects of a sub-perceptual dose of MM-120 administered in a repeated fashion. The study’s results will inform our ongoing work to establish new clinical paradigms for this promising drug candidate. We anticipate sharing topline data by the end of the first quarter of 2024.”– CEO, Robert Barrow.
Read the press release here.
BUSINESS
Yet Another Acquisition In the Space: Beckley Waves Acquires Nue Life
Beckley Waves, a venture studio focused on building and investing in psychedelic companies, just announced a strategic acquisition of Nue Life, a prominent provider of at-home ketamine-assisted therapy services.
“In adding Nue Life to our portfolio of companies, we are massively increasing the number and range of people we can help while at the same time staying focused on providing the most rigorous patient safeguards, psychological support, and integration coaching.” – Co-Founder Rock Feilding-Mellen.
Read the press release here.
More Psychedelic Patents: Cybin Has Two New Patents
Cybin, one of the initial biotech psychedelic companies in the space who owns its own proprietary versions of psilocybin and DMT and focuses on next-gen psychedelics, reported that it has received two patent grants from the United States Patent and Trademark Office. These patents are instrumental in safeguarding the company’s deuterated N, N-dimethyltryptamine (“DMT”) program.
The granted patents for Cybin’s deuterated DMT program provide composition of matter protection for certain deuterated analogs of DMT; and “protection for the medical use and the novel, efficient and scalable synthesis of certain analogs of DMT.”
It’s worth noting that Cybin has had a steady streak of headlines this past month, and just recently acquired Small Pharma, a U.K.-based biotechnology company focused on short-duration psychedelic therapies for mental health conditions.
Read the press release here.
POLICY
Eureka is Now the 6th City in Cali to Legalize Psychedelics
Eureka has recently joined the ranks of California cities by decriminalizing psychedelics, becoming the sixth city to do so. This shift signifies that activities associated with entheogenic plants and fungi, including but not limited to planting, growing, acquiring, transporting, sharing, and owning, will now be deprioritized in terms of law enforcement attention.
Read full story, click here.
CULTURE
Pilot Blames Taking Mushrooms Prior Trying to Bring Down Plane
An off-duty pilot was restrained and secured to a seat on the aircraft after attempting to tamper with the engine’s fuel supply. He told the police he was having a “nervous breakdown” and hadn’t slept for 40 hours after taking shrooms for the first time. The FBI is now probing whether he was under the influence of psychedelic mushrooms during the flight.
“I am not OK,” Emerson said during the flight after he had been casually engaging the two pilots in conversation, according to the complaint.
The pilot, Joseph Emerson, is currently being charged with 83 counts of attempted murder and 83 counts of reckless endangerment.
B.C. Psychiatrist Resigns License Years After MDMA-Therapy Patient Complained of Abuse During the Experiential Study
Remember the footage of two therapists spooning and pinning down MDMA psychotherapy patient Meaghan Buisson that made the news in 2022? The two therapists had substantially deviated from MAPS’ MDMA-assisted therapy protocol while treating their patient and were accused of sexual assault and abuse by the patient.
Psychiatrist Dr. Donna Dryer’s unlicensed therapist and husband Richard Yensen had admitted to having sex with Buisson after the sessions ended but while she was still enrolled in the clinical trial.
The complaint against Dryer was originally filed in 2018, and has taken approximately five years to resolve.
Donna Dryer has now surrendered her medical license after receiving a formal reprimand and admitting to unprofessional conduct with her patient, according to a letter from the College of Physicians and Surgeons of B.C. (CPSBC) to the patient.
Read the full story here.
Super Mario Bros is Going Psychedelic According to the BBC
Super Mario Bros: Wonder is a psychedelic take on the traditional 2D platformer that jazzes up Mario’s usual Bowser-thwarting adventure with Wonder Effects that, as Polygon’s Chris Plante puts it, sees “the levels themselves collapse and contort, disobeying the laws established by decades of Mario games.”
Developers working on a series with a history spanning four decades face the challenge of attracting both newcomers and long-time fans. However, critics argue that this latest installment has struck the perfect balance.
Read BBC’s coverage here.
Singer Songwriter, Anna Rose Says Cannabis and Psilocybin Helped Her Overcome Lyme Disease
In her interview with Los Angeles Magazine, Anna Rose attributes overcoming the effects of Lyme Disease with the help of cannabis and psilocybin.
“The Lyme got to a point that my life was seriously in jeopardy,” Anna said. “Weed significantly played a role in my pain management. Mushrooms can realign your neural pathways back to where they were pre Lyme disease. I’ve never been a smoker where I’m smoking weed every day. But I’ve definitely medicinally taken care of myself with weed in a way that it significantly helps my life. I really like the relaxation aspect, but for me in terms of inflammation it’s been huge. I’ll have a good hit once in a while just to chill me out. It’s great.”
Anna Rose joins a growing list of celebrities who have joined the advocacy train such as MVP Green Bay quarterback Aaron Rodgers, pop star Miley Cyrus, alt-pop star Lorde , YouTuber Jake Paul , and actress Kristen Bell!
Read her story here.
Golfers are Gripping and Ripping When it Comes to Psychedelics
The well-known publication Golf Digest released a featured article featuring veteran players and champs toting the benefits of ayahuasca and other nootropic supplements.
“Plant medicine gets an unfortunate reputation because people look at it as drugs,” Trahan says. “They’re not honoring it for what it is.”
Read the full story here.
