Beckley Psytech Begins Phase IIa Study Of Psychedelic Compound To Treat Depression

Clinical-stage private biotech company Beckley Psytech Ltd announced that the first patient has been dosed in their Phase IIa study of BPL-003, a synthetic formulation of the psychedelic compound 5-MeO-DMT, for Treatment-Resistant Depression (TRD).

Dr. Rob Conley, chief scientific officer at Beckley Psytech, stated: “Dosing the first patient in this study is hugely exciting, and we are looking forward to exploring the potential therapeutic effects of BPL-003 for patients living with Treatment-Resistant Depression.”

The study will explore the safety, efficacy, and pharmacokinetics of a single dose of BPL-003 in combination with psychological support, per Psychedelic Spotlight.

BPL-003 is administered intranasally via an FDA-approved delivery device and has already shown promising results in Phase I trials.

Beckley Psytech’s Phase IIa study will follow patients for 12 weeks after initial dosing, with assessments conducted at multiple points throughout that period.

Moreover, results from the Phase IIa study are expected in 2023, which will be used alongside data from Beckley Psytech’s global multi-site Phase IIb study to inform the future clinical development of BPL-003.

“Around one-third of all people living with depression are resistant to currently available antidepressants and there is an urgent need for more effective treatments. We are proud to be leading the way in developing alternative therapies that are safe, effective, and practical and we hope to have more to share soon,” Conley said.

Photo: Courtesy Of Pawel Czerwinski On Unsplash