Psyched: Dubai Psychedelics Event, Key Receptor Discovered, Drew Barrymore, Oprah's Guest, Swiss MDMA & More

Science Conference In Dubai, UAE Hosts Discussion On Psychedelics Research

A milestone in psychedelics education was achieved: The Energia Foundation, organizer of the same conversation within this January’s WEF-parallel Davos House of Health, is taking education on the new therapeutics to the Arab world. 

Held in partnership with Tabula Rasa Ventures, Reem Neuroscience Center, Abu Dhabi and the Valens Clinic Dubai, this academic event will be part of the Dialogues in Mental Health: Novel Treatments in Mood Disorders conference, scheduled to take place on June 10 in Dubai, the most populous city in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). Read more HERE.

Psychedelics For Treating Depression: New Research Finds Key In BDNF Receptor

In response to the question of how psychedelics can prove effective in treating mental health conditions like depression, an international neuroscience team seems to have found a new answer.

Published in the Nature Neuroscience journal, results from the preclinical research show that LSD and psilocin (psilocybin’s metabolite) bind directly and effectively to a specific receptor in the brains of mice and that itself produces a reduction in depression -without involving hallucinations. Learn more HERE.

Drew Barrymore To Join Hollywood’s Psychedelics Trend, Oprah Show Hosts Dr. Roland Griffiths

Former child star and Charlie’s Angels Drew Barrymore recently hinted that she would consider MDMA or psilocybin therapy “as a way to get to some state where I could see things in a different way.” Read more HERE.

Meanwhile, the conversation on psychedelics has made its way to Oprah Winfrey’s daily show, where the beloved host invited Dr. Roland Griffiths, Ph.D., to talk about a topic that, in her words, “so many people want to avoid, but it’s one that every one of us is going to have to face in our lifetime: our mortality.” Read more HERE.

Creso Pharma's LOI For Import Of Swiss MDMA And Psilocybin Therapeutics To Australia

Australia-based cannabis and psychedelics company Creso Pharma Ltd. COPHF inked a Letter of Intent (LOI) with Swiss pharmacy Apotheke Dr. Hysek AG toward an exclusive partnership for the import and distribution of licensed MDMA and psilocybin products into Australia, of which detailed commercial aspects are expected by this August 31. 

The Biel-based pharmacy is a Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP)-compliant facility manufacturing MDMA, synthetic psilocybin and LSD under Pharma GMP conditions and is authorized by the Swiss medicine agency (Swissmedic) and the country’s Federal Office of Public Health (FOPH.) Learn more HERE.

The Milestone Round

• BetterLife Pharma’s BETRF non-hallucinogenic LSD compound is progressing toward the clinical stage for the potential treatment of MDD, while Braxia Scientific BRAXF announced positive treatment numbers and a business restructuring plan. 

• Canadian private company Apex Labs has received regulatory approval for the import of U.S.-made psilocybin API to further support its ongoing clinical trials targeting PTSD’s concomitant symptoms.

• Rhode Island is advancing a reform bill for legal therapeutic psilocybin cultivation and access, while Senator Fetterman has recently called psychedelic mushrooms ”game changers” and a potential economic growth catalyst.

• Massachusetts, Florida and Ohio researchers and educators share their research and views on the space.

• Several companies are working toward AI-powered psychedelic treatments, while Red Light Holland’s TRUFF 3D movement data program received a “special status” and several psychedelic-related artistic and scientific contests announced their winners.

• Elon Musk makes headlines again with his Vision Pro trip as does Myke Tyson who announced that psychedelics helped him lose weight.

• Watch the new ESPN psychedelics special documentary on athletes’ treatments. And here’s some advice on what to do (and what to avoid) during a trip.

See Also: Last Week's Edition Of 'Psyched'

Psychedelics ETF Weekly Performance

AdvisorShares Psychedelics ETF PSIL opened Monday, June 12 at $1.80, maintaining Friday's 9 closing price and following prior June 5’s at $1.84, and further prior to opening on May 30 at $1.71. 

Although slightly lower than prior week, the opening price still reveals a consistent upward trend, as shown by preceding openings at $1.76, $1.70 and $1.74, respectively. 

The week’s highest was on Wed. 7 at $1.90, certainly higher than the prior week’s highest $1.79. The lowest was $1.79 on June 8, consistently also higher than prior weeks’ lowest at $1.69, $1.69, $1.71 and $1.72, respectively.

For this ETF, the yearly price range is set between $4.35 and $1.65.