TuesdayAug 20, 2024 2:15 pm

FDA’s Rejection of MDMA Therapy Draws Ire of Psychedelics Experts

Last week, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) rejected a new drug application for MDMA to be administered as treatment for post-traumatic stress disorder. In its rejection, the federal agency asked the company that filed the application, Lykos Therapeutics, to conduct additional trials to further study the effectiveness and safety of its psychedelic formulation. This would require additional funding as well as a number of years to complete, which doesn’t align with Lykos Therapeutics’ expectations. The FDA’s ruling left many upset, particularly experts and patient advocates involved in the development and research of psychedelic treatments. One neuroscientist at the…

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ThursdayAug 15, 2024 10:00 am

FDA Rejects MDMA Therapy Application, Calls for More Research

Last week, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) made the decision not to approve MDMA-assisted therapy for post-traumatic stress disorder. This decision comes just months after advisors to the agency voted against evidence supporting MDMA therapy. The agency’s decision was based mainly on concerns about issues with clinical research. The advisors’ decision to not approve the treatment put the agency in a bind, given that historically, it sides with this committee. The recent news was a huge blow to Lykos Therapeutics and the broader movement focused on bringing psychedelics into mainstream mental-health care. Instead, the FDA directed that the…

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TuesdayAug 13, 2024 10:00 am

UC Davis Researchers Unveil Tool for Quickly Showing Psychedelics’ Neuronal Impact

Interest in the effectiveness of psychedelic drugs as treatments for disorders such as substance use disorder, PTSD and depression has grown in the last few years. Thus far, different studies have determined that psychedelic compounds, such as psilocybin, DMT and LSD, promote the strengthening and growth of neurons and their connections in the prefrontal cortex. This region in the brain plays a role in executive function, including reasoning and decision making. Now, scientists at UC Davis have invented a tool that can track how psychedelic substances activate biomolecules and neurons in the brain. The rapid noninvasive tool, dubbed Ca2+-activated Split-TurboID…

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FridayAug 09, 2024 10:00 am

Massachusetts Lawmakers Forward Bill Creating Psychedelics Working Group to Governor’s Desk

Legislators in the state of Massachusetts have forwarded a measure focused on military veterans to the governor’s desk for approval. The measure includes provisions to establish a psychedelic working group to conduct research and give recommendations on the potential therapeutic benefits of psychedelics like MDMA and psilocybin. In particular, the group would explore whether psychedelic therapy was linked to improved outcomes among veterans diagnosed with a range of mental-health conditions while also looking for alternative mental-health treatments for veterans. The measure, titled the HERO Act, was initially introduced by Governor Maura Healey in November 2023. It should be noted that…

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TuesdayAug 06, 2024 10:00 am

Company Receives First Psilocybin Edible Manufacturing License from Oregon Authorities

Oregon regulators have issued the state’s first-ever psychedelic edibles manufacturer license to Spiritus Oregon, a Milwaukie-based company that manufactures psilocybin edibles. The company offers its edibles under the Horizon Edibles brand, noting in a press release that its dark chocolate edibles were dosed with homogenized, dried mushrooms. This, they stated, had a nutty, earthy flavor. According to its site, Spiritus provides white-label products and manufactures its own psilocybin edibles. It is also licensed as a commercial kitchen. Horizon Edibles president, Michael Briggs, stated that the company’s products were meant to be eaten. He added that their focus had been to…

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ThursdayAug 01, 2024 10:00 am

Study Says Psilocybin Helps Alcoholics by Genetically Changing Brain’s Reward Center

Alcohol use disorder is a disorder characterized by an inability to stop or control one’s drinking despite adverse health, occupational or social consequences. Conventional treatments include medication, behavioral therapy, and support groups. Even with these treatments, however, many individuals find it hard to achieve lasting recovery, highlighting the need for more effective therapies. Now, a new study has determined that psilocybin decreases the consumption of alcohol in rats by modifying certain pathways in the brain. Psilocybin is a psychedelic compound that occurs naturally in some species of hallucinogenic mushrooms. For centuries now, it has been used in different spiritual and…

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TuesdayJul 30, 2024 10:00 am

New Report Discusses Policy Options on Psychedelic Sales, Use

Psychedelic policies at the state level have been evolving as more states decriminalize these substances. This has highlighted the need for conversation on how psychedelic sales would operate in a way that retains safety measures and essential regulation while still broadening access to their therapeutic benefits. RAND Drug Policy Research Center recently released a report discussing potential policy options for psychedelic sales. The think tank’s report begins by emphasizing that the time has come for federal policymakers to decide how psychedelics would be supplied, especially since legislation for retail psychedelics are already being discussed in some states. It highlights that…

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ThursdayJul 25, 2024 10:00 am

New Studies Uncover Fascinating Findings on Psilocybin

Over the last couple of years, interest in psychedelics and their therapeutic potential has risen significantly. Psychedelics such as psilocybin have shown to be useful in treating a variety of conditions, including anxiety, addiction and depression. Psilocybin is the primary psychoactive compound found in some species of hallucinogenic mushrooms. When administered, this compound synthesizes into psilocin and interacts with an individual’s serotonin receptors, altering their state of consciousness and giving way to changes in their mood as well as their perception of things. Researchers have uncovered a lot about how psilocybin affects an individual’s behavior and brain. Below, we look…

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TuesdayJul 23, 2024 10:00 am

Study Explores How Psilocybin Triggers Brain Plasticity, Therapeutic Effects

New research has determined that psilocybin may impact the brain. Psilocybin is the primary psychoactive compound found in hallucinogenic mushrooms. When ingested, it distorts an individual’s perception of time, among other changes. Researchers have observed that in animals, psilocybin causes neuroplasticity in the hippocampus and cortex. The new study was carried out by investigators at the Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis. For their study, the researchers used functional MRI scans to observe brain activity in seven healthy individuals prior to, during and after they consumed methylphenidate or psilocybin. During the trial, 40 mg of methylphenidate and 25…

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ThursdayJul 18, 2024 10:00 am

Study Shows Older Adults Benefit Psychologically from Psychedelic Retreats

Psychedelics such as DMT, LSD and psilocybin have demonstrated promise in the treatment of affective symptoms of a range of disorders. These drugs work by inducing an altered state of consciousness, which includes intensified perceptions and emotions, which have been associated with therapeutic outcomes. However, older individuals haven’t been included in most psychedelic studies, which leaves the effectiveness and safety of these therapies for this age group in limbo. Now, new research has offered new insights into the impact that psychedelics administered during retreats have on older adults. The research demonstrated that older adults recorded improvements in well-being after attending…

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