Plant-based treatments and medications inspired by psychedelic drugs could soon be used to treat depression, amid a new wave of acceptance of alternative therapies.
280 million people worldwide are thought to suffer from depression, and pharmaceutical analysts predict the global antidepressant market will grow from $11.7 billion in 2019 to $18.3 billion by 2027 are doing.
In recent years, there has been a major review of psychedelic drugs used for alternative treatment of mental health conditions, with more supporting science and clinical safety testing bringing the controversial drugs closer to U.S. regulation. There is.
Stigma can be a major hurdle before psychedelic drugs enter the mainstream, and in countries with strict drug laws, psychedelic drugs may never be approved.
As in most parts of the world, there is a lack of understanding of what these substances do, how to manage them, and research opportunities.
Dr. Jeff McNairy, Chief Medical Officer, Lythmia Life Advancement Center
Experts predict that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration may soon approve methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA), a stimulant with psychedelic properties, to treat post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). are doing.
Meanwhile, a variant of ketamine, commonly used as a tranquilizer in animals, received FDA approval in 2019 to also treat PTSD.
Last year, the US state of Oregon opened the first medical center to use psilocybin, a hallucinogen found in so-called magic mushrooms, to treat a range of mental illnesses.
A major shift in the way we look at psychedelic drugs has opened the door for many biotech companies to take advantage of what could be the next pharmaceutical gold rush.
Alternatives to antidepressants
Toronto-based Cybin is one of the companies on a mission to transform mental health care in the United States. In the United States, 13 percent of Americans currently take selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs). SSRIs are the most commonly prescribed antidepressants that manage feel-good chemicals in the brain.
“Psychedelics work very rapidly,” said Doug Drysdale, CEO of Cybin, a company developing psilocybin-based drugs.
“After one dose, many patients feel much better. Anxiety disorders affect about 19 percent of the population, so collectively they are the biggest mental health problem we face.” .
“A 90-minute experience may be enough to put a patient into remission.”
The company has received approval for its CTB004 drug, which is administered via an inhaler or injection under clinical supervision, after overwhelmingly positive results in a Phase 2 trial for the treatment of depression.
Cybin is currently undergoing studies to demonstrate preliminary clinical efficacy, safety, and tolerability so that it can be used in more people.
DMT and psilocybin, psychedelic tryptamines found in plants, appear to provide rapid and significant relief from depression after just one dose, whereas SSRIs take several weeks of daily dosing to work effectively. This often happens.
Those on trial described the psilocybin experience, which can last up to five hours, as “emotionally mystical and spiritual.”
Cybin’s results showed that 40% of patients experienced complete remission of depression after just one or two doses after six months.
“This is really powerful compared to where we are today, where we’re just trying to deal with the signs and symptoms of mental illness,” Drysdale said.
Other researchers have found similar results. According to data published by British startup Compass Pathways, 29% of subjects given the highest dose of psilocybin went into remission three weeks after treatment.
But that didn’t last, and only a quarter of people were free of depression after three months.
Not all mental health experts agree on the wave of new treatments expected.
Marie Byrne, a psychological counselor in Dubai, said mind-altering drugs were not the answer to helping people overcome mental challenges.
“It is possible to overcome the challenges of trauma without going into an altered state of consciousness,” says Ms Byrne, who runs the Marie Wellness Clinic in Umm Suqeim.
“I truly believe in what humans are capable of. Through counseling, we can gradually accept things and connect with life. Why would you want to live in an altered state of consciousness where you can’t do that?” rather than to address the real problem.
“If we don’t directly address the actual issues underlying the depression, it will resurface.”
change perception
Attitudes toward alternative treatments appear to be changing.
Spravato, a ketamine-based nasal spray, has been shown to be effective for patients with treatment-resistant depression, but it is expensive and requires supervision.
Mark Russ is CEO of Derix Therapeutics, a Boston biotechnology company developing new treatments for brain diseases that promise a new paradigm in neuroscience treatment.
“It’s very difficult to deliver drugs to the brain and develop drugs that are safe, well-tolerated and effective,” Russ said. The National.
“That’s why we’ve stuck with the same type of treatment for decades.
“We have always talked about managing the symptoms, but we have never been able to remediate them consistently and predictably.
“We see the promise and hype around psychedelics merging with these trends. This is a rich opportunity.”
brain repair
Derix Therapeutics focuses on neuroplasticity, which regenerates the brain’s spine and synapses, and works in a similar way to psychedelic medications without the hallucinations or cardiac risks.
“We want DLX-001 to be in home medicine cabinets and dispensed in pharmacies by 2027. We see nothing in the nature or initial regulatory discussions that would prevent that from happening. No,” Russ said.
“We don’t expect this to be a once-daily treatment; preclinical models and ketamine and psilocybin have comparable performance in terms of speed and duration of effects.
“There are many people who have been and will be helped by a classic, profound eight-hour psychedelic experience.
“But if you’re going to move the needle and go to scale, you need an approach like Delix.”
Psychedelics work differently for everyone. Some people have specific contraindications to psychotropic drugs, while others do not. Some resonate more with individuals based on their specific goals.
A contraindication is a situation in which a particular procedure, drug, or surgery should not be used because it may be harmful to the patient.
Just as some people learn visually and others auditorily, the most effective psychedelic substances vary from person to person.
For example, organic substances such as iboga, ayahuasca, San Pedro, and psilocybin interact differently than LSD, ketamine, and MDMA. Experts say each is powerful and each has its own role in healing.
Dr. Jeff McNairy has worked in the medical field for 25 years and believes the Western approach to healing and mental health is flawed.
He is the chief medical officer of Rhythmia Life Advancement Center, said to be Costa Rica’s healing hub where plants such as ayahuasca are used to treat a wide range of mental health issues.
“The brain’s default mode network plays an important role in our self-perception and belief systems,” says Dr. McNairy.
“When childhood trauma and unresolved emotional events shape our coping styles, psychedelics allow participants to access subconscious components through interactions between the amygdala and the brain’s prefrontal cortex. It will look like this.
“The ego-dystonic framework, realized through psychedelic experiences, allows individuals to ‘become their own therapists’ and see themselves from an external perspective, which leads to new levels of clarity and It helps build self-awareness.”
Surrounded by luxurious surroundings, the Lythmia Center offers programs that blend ancient South American tribal rituals with modern psychological practices.
However, the treatment comes at a price, with a seven-day comprehensive cleansing experience costing $4,900.
“Some people have certain medical conditions that make them ineligible for certain psychedelic drugs,” Dr. McNairy says.
“As in most parts of the world, there is a lack of understanding of what these substances do, how to manage them, and the research, biotechnology, and real healing opportunities that come from this field.”
life changing experience
A British man who traveled to the Netherlands for ayahuasca therapy said the results were transformative.
“I decided to try ayahuasca to relieve my feelings of inadequacy and insecurity that date back to my childhood,” said the man, who requested anonymity.
“I wasn’t taking any medication to resolve the symptoms, but I tried meditation and journaling, which only partially helped.
“The ayahuasca was intense and brought up many difficult memories and emotions, but I processed them during the ceremony. After finishing the retreat, I felt completely reborn and was able to eliminate any recurring negative thoughts. The pattern has completely disappeared.
“I think this was the most important experience of my life.”
Mental disorders are one of the greatest medical challenges of our time.
These affect vast numbers of people, with high treatment costs and reduced productivity impacting the economy.
It affects an estimated 165 million people in the EU each year, and more than half of the population in middle- and high-income countries are expected to experience at least one mental disorder during their lifetime.
Updated: February 16, 2024, 6:00 p.m.
