Psyched: Top Psychedelics Execs., 50% Of Americans Support Medical Psychedelics, Cary Grant's LSD Therapy & More

15 Global Psychedelics Executives To Keep An Eye On In 2022

As the global psychedelics industry booms, with companies going public, major financing efforts being announced, and celebrities and big investors getting on board, Benzinga has decided to put together a list of some of the top executives in the space to keep an eye on.

The selection recognizes the extraordinary and varied input they are introducing into the industry. 

From revolutionizing the way we discuss wellness, clinical trial advances to long-standing psychedelics research supporters or shamans, those performing thoughtful investing in the space, to taking on established pharmaceutical businesses and accomplishing the transition towards the biotech universe, these are the names you’ll want to know about.

Find out more HERE.

Mental Health Poll Finds Nearly 50% Of Americans Support Legalization Of Medicinal Psychedelics

A new survey performed by Verywell Mind examines what Americans know and feel about psychedelics as mental health treatments.

Adding to other similar studies, the poll surveyed over 1,800 Americans over 18 across various ages, races and demographics. 

Amy Morin, LCSW, editor-in-chief of Verywell Mind said the survey indicates consumers may welcome the opportunity to explore psychedelics as part of their treatment. One in five people in therapy replied that they would try them specifically because other treatment options have left them feeling discouraged.

Out of the total respondents, 45% said they support the legalization of at least some psychedelics under the supervision of a mental health professional. Of those, 35% replied they'd be more likely to consider taking them if recommended by a doctor or therapist, and 30% said they’d consider the option if the specific drug were FDA-approved. 

Within the group of Americans surveyed who are currently undergoing therapy, support for legalization for mental health purposes is significantly greater, with 61% of that subtotal.

Read more on the survey’s results HERE.

Cary Grant's LSD Therapy: New Perspective On A Complex Hollywood Legend In 'The Acrobat'

“The Acrobat,” Edward Delaney’s biographical novel based on Cary Grant’s life places a distinct focus on the actor’s use of LSD as part of his psychotherapy at a time when LSD was still legal in the U.S.

The famed actor was born Archibald Leach in Bristol, England in 1904 where he was raised mostly by his mother. When he was nine, he came home from school one day, and she was gone. His alcoholic father told him that she went on a long holiday and then died. It wasn't until decades later that Grant, at 31, learned his mother had been institutionalized by his father for severe depression and was in fact still alive. 

As a young teen, Archie got involved with a British acrobatic team and traveled with the troupe to the United States. He began doing stage and screen work, crafted his new persona and changed his name to Cary Grant. 

“Everyone wants to be Cary Grant. Even I want to be Cary Grant,” he famously said. “I pretended to be somebody I wanted to be until finally I became that person. Or he became me. Or we met at some point." 

At the height of his acting career in the 1950s, decades of pretending to be someone else began to take their toll on him. At the urging of his third wife, Grant began using LSD under psychiatric supervision. 

Continue reading HERE.

The Milestone Round

Each week, we learn about new clinical trials, the creation of psychedelic-based compounds and novel potential treatments for those suffering from mental and physical health conditions.

Clinical trial announcements last week included two advanced Phase 2 studies testing different drugs -namely DMT and ketamine- for depression treatment, set to commence with partners at Yale University while the other has just finalized enrolling study participants.

Other interesting scientific reports referred to a generic opioid buccal film to manage severe pain and requiring long-term treatment, which could potentially be approved by the FDA for sale as prescription medicine, and the launch of a new clinical program expanding the use of ketamine to chronic and serious medical illnesses in several clinics across North America.

Business highlights encompassed the full acquisition of clinical-stage life sciences company Eleusis by private psychedelics company Beckley Psytech, the announcement of a definitive agreement for Pathway Health Corp. to acquire all or substantially all operating assets of Wellbeing Digital Sciences’ KONEF subsidiary IRP Health, and substantial investment through a private placement round of a tech company that created a clinical testing platform using AI and machine learning for the detection of earliest cognitive impairment signs. Finally, a licensing agreement was terminated due to high royalties and insufficient sales. 

Among the week’s heterogeneous news, the DEA will be challenged again by petitioners requesting the rescheduling of psilocybin in the battle for terminally-ill patients to access the psychedelic. The Australian government is supporting a new Eating Disorders Research & Translation Centre working with psilocybin mushrooms to treat anorexia among other conditions. South by Southwest (SXSW) announced its cannabis and psychedelics tracks. Wonderland nominated five clinics providing psychedelics-assisted therapy. Country musician Daniel Donato is offering VIP tour tickets to support MAPS’ psychedelic research and Madonna was seen inhaling a dubious substance on TikTok.

Psychedelics EFTs Weekly Performance

This is how the sector’s major EFTs performed in the week spanning October 24 to 28.

• AdvisorShares Psychedelics PSIL opened Monday, Oct. 24 at $2.35, with a consistent monthly falling trend considering value was $2.57 on Monday 17 and $2.80 on Monday 10. Nonetheless, price slightly went up, oscillating between $2.41 and $2.47, the value in which it closed on Friday 28 -very similar to prior Friday 21’s $2.45. 

• The Elemental Advisors PSYK EFT PSYK opened Monday 24 at $16.97, considerably lower than prior Monday 17’s $17.57 and Monday 10’s opening at $18.40. Nonetheless, that number went all the way up to $17.80, the value in which it closed on Friday 28. For this EFT, the yearly price range is between $23.32 and $16.71. 

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