Mood Disorders Could Get An Alternative Treatment With This Next-Gen, Non-Hallucinogenic Psychedelic

The next-generation psychedelics R&D business is up and running, as BetterLife Pharma Inc. BETRF’s lead drug candidate LSD analog BETR-001 has shown positive results in a study assessing it as a potential treatment for mood disorders. 

In preclinical and IND-enabling studies, BETR-001 is a non-hallucinogenic and non-controlled LSD derivative with the potential for self-administration, which BetterLife is aiming to patent for the treatment of Major Depressive Disorder (MDD,) anxiety disorder and neuropathic pain, among other conditions.

These outcomes of 2-bromo-LSD or BETR-001’s therapy, published in the peer-reviewed journal Cell Report, further support previous positive data through an extensive pharmacological characterization of the novel compound compared to LSD.

Distinct CNS receptors pharmacological differences between BETR-001 and LSD included: 

• 5-HT2A receptor partial agonism and no psychedelic-like effects in vivo for BETR-001 in contrast to LSD

• 5-HT2B agonism was caused by LSD but not by BETR-001, leading to a potentially safer cardiovascular profile. 

• BETR-001 induces neuroplasticity in vitro and in vivo while promoting active coping behavior in mouse models of depression and anxiety.

See also: Chronic Cluster Headaches, Next Target For This Non-Hallucinogenic Psychedelic

BetterLife's CEO Ahmad Doroudian explained that this is the first comprehensive preclinical characterization of 2-bromo-LSD, using BetterLife’s proprietary BETR-001, in collaboration with expert scientists like Dr. Adam L. Halberstadt (USA), Dr. Argel Aguilar-Valles (Canada) and Dr. John D. McCorvy (USA). 

“These findings show key differences between LSD and BETR-001 pharmacology and highlight the significant potential therapeutic benefits and improved safety profile of BETR-001. We are further encouraged to study the therapeutic potential of BETR-001 in human clinical trials projected to start by the end of 2023,” Doroudian concluded.

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Photo: Benzinga edit with photo by StunningArt on Shutterstock and RicHard-59 on Wikipedia.