Psyched: Biden's Big Decision On Psychedelics Therapy; LSD Anxiety Results; Matthew Perry Autopsy And More

Biden To Decide On Psychedelic Therapy Bill

President Joe Biden received the final version of a large-scale defense bill providing funding for psychedelics clinical trials for military service members.

The section calls on the Department of Defense (DOD) to establish a process for active duty service members with PTSD or traumatic brain injury (TBI) to take part in clinical trials with psilocybin, MDMA, ibogaine or 5-MeO-DMT. Read more here.

See Also: More Protocols And Guidance Are Needed As Momentum Builds For Veterans, Psychedelics, And Mental Health

Could MDMA Revolutionize PTSD Treatment?

In a historic move, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is considering a new drug application (NDA) for MDMA (midomafetamine) capsules paired with psychological intervention for the potential treatment of PTSD.

If approved, it would become the first federally legal psychedelic-assisted therapy.

The filing marks the first New Drug Application (NDA) to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for MDMA paired with psychological intervention for the potential treatment of PTSD. Keep reading here.

DEA Suggests Placing 2 Psychedelics In Strictest Drug Category

On Dec. 12, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and the Justice Department jointly released a proposed rule to place 2,5-dimethoxy-4-iodoamphetamine (DOI) and 2,5-dimethoxy-4-chloroamphetamine (DOC) in Schedule I under the federal Controlled Substances Act (CSA).

Both DOI and DOC are hallucinogens that were first synthesized by famed psychedelics researcher Alexander Shulgin. They are presumed to hold subjective effects similar to LSD. However, their effects may last longer and provide a more energetic feeling. Read more HERE.

Meanwhile, the fate of Dr. Sunnil Aggarwal’s long-standing battle for the federal rescheduling of psilocybin for end-of-life cancer patients just hit another obstacle. 

An appellate panel of the U.S. Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals rejected a request for rehearing the court’s former ruling, which returns the rescheduling petition to the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) instead of sending it to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for review, as sought by the doctor’s lawyers. Find out more HERE. 

LSD Tartrate Reduces Anxiety Effectively: MindMed Study

Clinical-stage psychedelics biotech Mind Medicine (MindMed) MNMD published new positive topline results from its Phase 2b study on a single dose of MM-120 (LSD tartrate) with no additional therapeutic intervention, in Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD.) 

MM-120 is the company’s tartrate salt form of lysergide, a synthetic tryptamine within the “classic” group of psychedelics that acts as a partial agonist at human serotonin-2A (5-hydroxytryptamine-2A [5-HT2A]) receptors. 

The trial-targeted condition, GAD, is an underdiagnosed brain health disorder manifesting in fear, persistent anxiety and a constant feeling of being overwhelmed. It affects around 10% (or 20 million) of U.S. adults. Keep reading here.

Matthew Perry Died Of 'Acute Effects Of Ketamine'

“Friends” star Matthew Perry died due to the “acute effects of ketamine” and subsequent drowning, according to the Los Angeles Medical Examiner’s Office.

Perry's blood tested positive for ketamine, a legal treatment for depression and anxiety. Ketamine is used in clinical trials for various other conditions.

Days after Perry's death on Oct. 28 at the age of 54, a foundation was established in his name to help individuals dealing with addiction.

Continue reading about it here.

The Milestone Round

• Tryp Therapeutics signed with an Australian drug delivery innovator for a business merger.

• Jamaica's Rose Hill and ACS Laboratory join forces to develop rigorous psilocybin testing standards.

• Psychedelics in Mexico: are they legal? Well, yes and no.

• Decriminalizing psychedelics: Massachusetts city embraces health-centric approach.

• State-regulated psychedelics are 'on a collision course' with FDA, says Harvard law expert.

• Coca leaf ventures: Mapping pharma and nutraceuticals, value chain and investment opportunities.

• LSD and psilocybin could outperform opioids for pain without developing tolerance, new study shows.

• Revolutionizing global communications: the role of AI in streamlining the cannabis and psychedelic industries.

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

Psychedelics ETF’s Weekly Performance

AdvisorShares Psychedelics ETF PSIL opened Monday, Dec. 11 at $1.31, following prior openings at $1.37, $1.43 and $1.25 (Dec. 4, Nov. 27 and Nov. 20, respectively.)

On Friday, Dec. 15, it closed at $1.38, following previous closings at $1.33 (twice) and $1.42 (Dec. 8, Dec. 1 and Nov. 24.) 

Week’s highest was $1.41 (during Thursday 14), vs. prior weeks’ highests at $1.41, $1.43 and $1.44.

Week’s lowest was $1.29 (at times during Monday and Tuesday), vs. prior weeks’ lowests at $1.28, $1.27 and $1.25.

Highest Trading Psychedelics Stocks Friday, Dec. 15 At Close

• COMPASS Pathways CMPS closed at $7.95, jumping from prior closings at $6.47, $6.10 and $6.46. 

• GH Research GHRS closed at $5.71, continuing the dropping trend as of prior closings at $5.98, $6.40 and $6.58.

• Incannex Healthcare IXHL closed at $3.84, falling from the two astoundingly high closings at $5.53 and $5.23, yet still above three weeks’ past close at 97 cents.

• Mind Medicine (MindMed) MNMD closed at $3.40, a recovery considering prior closings’ mixed trend at $3.21, $3.52 and $3.03.

• Clearmind Medicine CMND closed at $2.77, continuing the dropping trend as per former weeks’ closings at $3.30, $4.14 and $3.10.

• Seelos Therapeutics SEEL closed at $1.59, close to prior closings at $1.66, $1.38 and noticeably three-weeks-past high close at $3.21.

• Bright Minds Biosciences DRUG closed at $1.49, similar to prior closings at $1.56, $1.42 and $1.49.

• Silo Pharma SILO closed at $1.47, similar to the two immediately prior closings at $1.50 and $1.45, yet still below three-weeks-past one at $1.82.

• Enveric Biosciences ENVB closed at $1.36, slightly below immediately prior closings at $1.52, $1.68 and $1.47.

• Atai Life Sciences ATAI closed at $1.27, continuing the uptake trend as of prior closings at $1.21, $1.12 and $1.09. 

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