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Globe and Mail
30-06-2025
- Health
- Globe and Mail
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Pipeline Appears Robust With 20+ Key Pharma Companies Actively Working in the Therapeutics Segment
DelveInsight's, 'Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) Pipeline Insight, 2025,' report provides comprehensive insights about 20+ companies and 20+ pipeline drugs in Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) pipeline landscape. It covers the pipeline drug profiles, including clinical and nonclinical stage products. It also covers the Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder pipeline therapeutics assessment by product type, stage, route of administration, and molecule type. It further highlights the inactive pipeline products in this space. Explore the comprehensive insights by DelveInsight and stay ahead in understanding the Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Treatment Landscape. Click here to read more @ Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Pipeline Outlook Key Takeaways from Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Pipeline Report In June 2025, COMPASS Pathways announced a study of Safety and Tolerability of COMP360 administered under supportive conditions in participants with Post-traumatic Stress Disorder. In June 2025, Otsuka Pharmaceutical Development & Commercialization Inc. announced a study of 12-week, multicenter, randomized, double-blind trial evaluating the efficacy, safety, and tolerability of brexpiprazole + sertraline combination treatment in adult participants with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder. In June 2025, Lykos Therapeutics conducted a study is a randomized, double-blind, dose comparison study with an open-label cross-over segment that will assess the safety and efficacy of MDMA-assisted therapy in veterans with chronic PTSD. Twelve of 24 participants will receive the full dose of 125 mg, six will receive 75 mg and six will receive 30 mg (active placebo dose) of MDMA HCl. An independent rater blind to condition will assess symptoms of PTSD and depression, general quality of life and posttraumatic growth prior to any therapy sessions one month after the second experimental session. DelveInsight's Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder pipeline report depicts a robust space with 20+ active players working to develop 20+ pipeline therapies for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder treatment. The leading Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Companies such as Tonix Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Pop Test Oncology LLC, H. Lundbeck A/S, Bionomics Limited, Alto Neuroscience, Transcend Therapeutics and others. Promising Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Pipeline Therapies such as Sertraline and Risperidone, Balovaptan, Brexpiprazole, Psilocybin, JZP150c, Vortioxetine, NYX-783, BNC210, Orvepitant and others. Discover groundbreaking developments in Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Therapies! Gain in-depth knowledge of key Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder clinical trials, emerging drugs, and market opportunities @ Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Clinical Trials Assessment Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Emerging Drugs Profile TNX-102: Tonix Pharmaceuticals, Inc. TNX-102 SL is a small, rapidly-disintegrating, under the tongue (sublingual) product candidate containing cyclobenzaprine HCl. The unique patented formulation has been designed to optimize the delivery and absorption of cyclobenzaprine for the therapeutic benefit of improving sleep quality, while minimizing the potential residual effects of oral formulations of cyclobenzaprine. As a multifunctional agent with potent binding and antagonist activities at the serotonin2A, α1-adrenergic, histaminergic-H1, and muscarinic-M1 receptors, TNX-102 SL is in clinical development and has active IND's as a daily bedtime treatment for fibromyalgia, PTSD, alcohol use disorder and agitation in Alzheimer's disease (AAD). TNX-102 SL for AAD has been designated by the FDA a Fast Track development program. Currently, the drug is in phase III stage for the treatment of post-traumatic stress disorder. Methylone (TSND-201): Transcend Therapeutics Methylone, identified as a rapid-acting neuroplastogen, has been shown to swiftly trigger the expression of neuroplasticity genes, including BDNF, in brain regions associated with the pathophysiology of conditions like PTSD, depression, and other central nervous system disorders. This effect is particularly significant given the challenges posed by PTSD, MDD, and anxiety, which stem from deficiencies in the brain circuitry responsible for emotional learning and processing. Currently, the drug is in Phase II stage of its clinical trial for the treatment of PTSD. BXCL501: BioXcel Therapeutics BXCL501, developed by BioXcel Therapeutics, is an innovative neuroscience clinical asset with a novel mechanism of action targeting symptoms like agitation. This investigational, proprietary, orally dissolving film formulation contains dexmedetomidine, a selective alpha-2 receptor agonist. BXCL501 aims to address stress-related behaviors such as agitation and has shown promising anti-agitation results in various clinical trials across neuropsychiatric disorders. Currently, the drug is in Phase I stage of its clinical trial for the treatment of PTSD. The Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Pipeline Report Provides Insights into The report provides detailed insights about companies that are developing therapies for the treatment of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder with aggregate therapies developed by each company for the same. It accesses the Different therapeutic candidates segmented into early-stage, mid-stage, and late-stage of development for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Treatment. Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Companies are involved in targeted therapeutics development with respective active and inactive (dormant or discontinued) projects. Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Drugs under development based on the stage of development, route of administration, target receptor, monotherapy or combination therapy, a different mechanism of action, and molecular type. Detailed analysis of collaborations (company-company collaborations and company-academia collaborations), licensing agreement and financing details for future advancement of the Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder market Stay informed about the Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder pipeline trends! Uncover critical updates on therapeutic innovations and their potential impact on patients and the healthcare industry @ Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Unmet Needs Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Companies Tonix Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Pop Test Oncology LLC, H. Lundbeck A/S, Bionomics Limited, Alto Neuroscience, Transcend Therapeutics and others. Post-traumatic stress disorders pipeline report provides the therapeutic assessment of the pipeline drugs by the Route of Administration. Products have been categorized under various ROAs such as Oral Intravenous Subcutaneous Parenteral Topical Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Products have been categorized under various Molecule types such as Recombinant fusion proteins Small molecule Monoclonal antibody Peptide Polymer Gene therapy Transform your understanding of the Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Pipeline! See the latest progress in drug development and clinical research @ Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Market Drivers and Barriers, and Future Perspectives Scope of the Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Pipeline Report Coverage- Global Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Companies- Tonix Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Pop Test Oncology LLC, H. Lundbeck A/S, Bionomics Limited, Alto Neuroscience, Transcend Therapeutics and others. Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Pipeline Therapies- Sertraline and Risperidone, Balovaptan, Brexpiprazole, Psilocybin, JZP150c, Vortioxetine, NYX-783, BNC210, Orvepitant and others. Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Therapeutic Assessment by Product Type: Mono, Combination, Mono/Combination Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Therapeutic Assessment by Clinical Stages: Discovery, Pre-clinical, Phase I, Phase II, Phase III Stay Ahead in Research-Access the Full Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Pipeline Analysis Today! @ Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Drugs and Companies Table of Contents Introduction Executive Summary Post-traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) : Overview Pipeline Therapeutics Therapeutic Assessment Post-traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) – DelveInsight's Analytical Perspective Late Stage Products (Phase III) TNX-102: Tonix Pharmaceuticals, Inc. Drug profiles in the detailed report….. Mid Stage Products (Phase II) Methylone (TSND-201): Transcend Therapeutics Drug profiles in the detailed report….. Early Stage Products (Phase I) BXCL501: BioXcel Therapeutics Drug profiles in the detailed report….. Preclinical and Discovery Stage Products Drug name: Company name Drug profiles in the detailed report….. Inactive Products Post-traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) Key Companies Post-traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) Key Products Post-traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) - Unmet Needs Post-traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) - Market Drivers and Barriers Post-traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) - Future Perspectives and Conclusion Post-traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) Analyst Views Post-traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) Key Companies Appendix About Us DelveInsight is a leading healthcare-focused market research and consulting firm that provides clients with high-quality market intelligence and analysis to support informed business decisions. With a team of experienced industry experts and a deep understanding of the life sciences and healthcare sectors, we offer customized research solutions and insights to clients across the globe. Connect with us to get high-quality, accurate, and real-time intelligence to stay ahead of the growth curve. Media Contact Company Name: DelveInsight Business Research LLP Contact Person: Yash Bhardwaj Email: Send Email Phone: 09650213330 Address: 304 S. Jones Blvd #2432 City: Las Vegas State: NV Country: United States Website: Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder
San Francisco Chronicle
17-06-2025
- Health
- San Francisco Chronicle
Texas is leading psychedelic research for treating addiction, mental illness. Where is California?
In recent years, researchers have expressed renewed optimism that psychedelics can be used in therapeutic settings to help treat addiction and mental illness, intertwined crises that have devastated Californians. Yet the Golden State is falling behind Republican-led states like Texas and Indiana in expanding research on these promising therapies. Texas earlier this month agreed to invest $50 million in public funding to research the therapeutic potential of ibogaine, a powerful psychedelic that has shown promise in treating opioid addiction, depression and anxiety. The move by Texas lawmakers was described as one of the largest public investments in psychedelic medicine to date. At his signing ceremony, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott proclaimed that 'Texas is now leading the way in the United States for the evaluation of ibogaine as a potential medication that can help improve the lives of so many Americans." Last year, Indiana Gov. Eric Holcomb signed a law to create a new research fund for therapy using psilocybin, a naturally occurring psychedelic compound found in 'magic mushrooms.' Although the federal government has not approved ibogaine, or most psychedelics, for medical use, there's growing interest among researchers and veteran organizations to explore the therapeutic benefits of drugs like ibogaine, MDMA, LSD, ketamine and psilocybin. Some California organizations have made considerable strides, though there have been roadblocks. San Jose-based Lykos Therapeutics last year became the first company to get a psychedelic compound through the Federal Drug Administration's extensive drug review process for an MDMA-assisted therapy for PTSD but the agency instructed the company to conduct more clinical trials before potential approval. For years, people experiencing addiction and mental illness, including a growing number of veterans and first responders, have quietly traveled to psychedelic-assisted treatment clinics in Mexico. Early research has produced some encouraging results for using these substances to treat addiction and mental illness, including depression, anxiety and post-traumatic stress disorder. Most prominent California universities employ researchers participating in therapeutic psychedelic clinical trials, though they're funded by federal grants, philanthropic donors or private pharmaceutical companies. A 2024 study from Stanford Medicine, for instance, found that ibogaine, when administered safely, improved emotional processing and cognitive functioning in veterans with traumatic brain injuries. The new spotlight on the therapeutic potential of psychedelics comes amid national opioid addiction and mental health crises, where for decades research has lagged. California has not made any public investments to date in researching psychedelic medicine, though there have been several failed attempts in recent years. 'There is growing awareness and support. It just keeps hitting different kinds of walls,' said State Senator Scott Wiener, D- San Francisco, adding that 'California is falling behind.' Gov. Gavin Newsom in 2023 vetoed a bill authored by Wiener to decriminalize the use and possession of certain psychedelics. Newsom called psychedelic medicine 'an exciting frontier' and said that California would be 'on the front edge of leading it,' but urged lawmakers to bring the legislation back the following session with more of a therapeutic focus. Wiener followed Newsom's request and introduced a bill last year with therapeutic guidelines, but it failed in committee. Also in 2023, a Los Angeles-based physician filed paperwork for a $5 billion ballot initiative to create a new state agency for studying the effects of psychedelic-assisted therapy, but it was later withdrawn. Additionally, two other state senators, Josh Becker, D-Menlo Park, and Brian Jones, R-San Diego, sponsored legislation to create a pilot program for veterans and former first responders to access psychedelic treatment for mental health conditions. The measure failed to make it out of the legislature two years in a row. 'I don't know what's going on in California to tell you the truth,' Jones said. 'Senator Becker and I are committed to trying again. It's just a question of how far other states get ahead of us now.' The Texas initiative focuses specifically on research involving ibogaine, a psychedelic compound originating from an African root. Ibogaine was used for centuries in religious ceremonies, but more recently has attracted attention for its antidepressant properties and its apparent ability to reduce opioid cravings and withdrawal. Under the Texas law, the state will invest $50 million in state funds to establish a public-private partnership with a $50 million matching contribution from a drug developer to run FDA-approved clinical trials with ibogaine. The goal is to study its ability to treat opioid use disorder and any co-occurring mental health conditions. The legislation guarantees Texas maintains authority over the research and development and that the state receives at least 20% of profits from any ibogaine pharmaceutical resulting from the trials. David Olson, director of the UC Davis Institute for Psychedelics and Neurotherapeutics, said the investment in Texas was 'very encouraging for the field of psychedelic medicine' but questioned the decision by Texas lawmakers to go all in on ibogaine. 'I would have preferred to see legislation where a variety of different types of substances were considered and then they can move forward with whatever was deemed most appropriate,' Olson said. 'At this moment, there are still so many unanswered questions and we need a lot of basic science across the board.' Although ibogaine has shown some promising results in treating opioid addiction and mental illness, it has also caused heart damage and deaths to several patients. The drug is known to inhibit certain potassium channels, which can lead to cardiac arrhythmias, but ibogaine proponents argue that it can be mitigated through regular supervision, magnesium administration and cardiac monitoring. Researchers believe other psychedelics, notably psilocybin, have shown more efficacy and are closer to gaining approval by the FDA. 'Psychedelics have inherent potential to be of great value to people for whom standard treatments often prove ineffectual,' said Charles Grob, a professor of psychiatry and pediatrics at the UCLA School of Medicine. 'But investigators have to do their due diligence to optimize safety parameters.'
Time of India
29-04-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Will tech billionaires move fast and break our brains?
A once left-wing psychedelic movement has become tightly entwined with the Trump administration. When the political scientist Rick Doblin founded an organization in the 1980s aimed at securing federal approval for the medical use of MDMA , also known as Ecstasy, his vision was nothing short of utopian. He thought the psychedelic drug, which can enhance feelings of love and social connection, would heal global trauma and usher in world peace. The psychedelic movement at that time was a grass-roots effort by hippies, students and bohemians. #Pahalgam Terrorist Attack India stares at a 'water bomb' threat as it freezes Indus Treaty India readies short, mid & long-term Indus River plans Shehbaz Sharif calls India's stand "worn-out narrative" Now his organisation's corporate spinoff, Lykos Therapeutics, may soon be acquired by Antonio Gracias, a billionaire private equity investor and close friend of the richest man in the world, Elon Musk. Mr. Gracias, who previously served on the board of Tesla and SpaceX, is working in Mr. Musk's so-called Department of Government Efficiency , where, given the job of overhauling Social Security , he has pushed unsubstantiated claims about immigrants voting illegally. The planned acquisition of Lykos is an example of how tightly entwined a once left-wing psychedelic movement has become with the Trump administration and the tech right. Peter Thiel, who has close ties with many top-level Trump officials, is a major investor in the psychedelic company Atai Life Sciences. Mr. Musk has talked about how he uses a small amount of prescription ketamine "once every other week or something like that." And Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has said he's open to decriminalizing or even legalizing the drugs in some form, citing his son's experience using ayahuasca to process grief from the death of his mother, Mary Kennedy. Stocks in companies working on psychedelic treatments rose after Mr. Kennedy's confirmation as health secretary. Play Video Pause Skip Backward Skip Forward Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration 0:00 Loaded : 0% 0:00 Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 1x Playback Rate Chapters Chapters Descriptions descriptions off , selected Captions captions settings , opens captions settings dialog captions off , selected Audio Track default , selected Picture-in-Picture Fullscreen This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Opacity Opaque Semi-Transparent Text Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Opacity Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Caption Area Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Opacity Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Drop shadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Play War Thunder now for free War Thunder Play Now Undo The Food and Drug Administration turned down Lykos's application for MDMA therapy in 2024, citing the need for better data. But the pro-psychedelic lobby is hopeful that Mr. Kennedy's Health and Human Services will appoint a psychedelic czar and trim the red tape in the F.D.A.'s approval process for psychedelic treatments. Some are dreaming even bigger, aiming for the rapid legalization of these drugs. For some psychonauts, the rightward shift of psychedelic politics is bewildering. Even if the federal government decides to support psychedelic medicine, will there be enough people working at Health and Human Services or Veterans Affairs (where there is hope to use psychedelics to treat post-traumatic stress disorder) to roll it out safely and effectively? Too close a marriage between MAGA and the psychedelic movement could politicize psychedelic science. Mr. Musk's erratic behavior has given ketamine a bad name. Live Events I worry that the psychedelic enthusiasts of Silicon Valley will apply their "move fast and break things" philosophy to mind-altering drugs, approving them too quickly and without adequate protections for Americans. Psychedelics are very promising as a mental health treatment, but they are also incredibly powerful drugs that carry serious risks -- something I know firsthand. Discover the stories of your interest Blockchain 5 Stories Cyber-safety 7 Stories Fintech 9 Stories E-comm 9 Stories ML 8 Stories Edtech 6 Stories When I was 18, I had a bad trip with LSD that left me traumatized. All through university and for a couple of years afterward, I struggled with panic attacks, dissociation, social anxiety and a belief that I had ruined my life before it had properly begun. I had to figure out for myself how to get better. More than 25 years later, as the head of a nonprofit that researches psychedelic safety, I get emails every week from people terrified they've permanently damaged themselves after a negative trip. A hardened Marine who served in two wars and was injured in one said the years of crippling anxiety after a psychedelic retreat were easily the worst suffering of his life. The United States has already seen the risks of the underregulated expansion of psychedelics in the ketamine industry, which has boomed from around 50 clinics to over 1,000 in the past decade. Telehealth companies use targeted ads to promise miraculous benefits from injectable doses that they will deliver to your door. Many of them fail to adequately screen patients or ensure that they have mental health support. Last year the head of the Drug Enforcement Administration at the time warned of clinics overprescribing or illegally supplying the drug -- a pattern that she said played a role in the actor Matthew Perry's tragic death. It's about to get harder to track the public health impact of the ketamine boom. Mr. Kennedy fired the 17-person team working on the National Survey on Drug Use and Health in April, which previously reported an 80 percent rise in recreational use of ketamine from 2015 to 2019. Some research suggests long-term ketamine use can lead to cognitive problems, bladder problems, dependency and dissociation; you might even start thinking you're in a simulation, as Mr. Musk suggests. Many members of the millionaire and billionaire class have found meaning, healing and joy in psychedelics, and they want to bring that to the masses. (Take any of the big American dynasties -- the Gettys, Rockefellers, Mellons, Kochs, Hearsts -- and you'll probably find a member who has given money to psychedelic causes.) They may dismiss concerns about safety as sensationalism or drug war propaganda, but their resources provide them access to months of therapy and time off work to recover after a bad trip. Most Americans don't have that luxury. A better public safety net for psychedelics is achievable. We need more research and better information on harms, as well as clinics and groups to help people struggling with severe adverse effects. These drugs should follow the same careful approval process as any other treatment. Policymakers should take seriously the probability that F.D.A. approval of psychedelics will lead to more widespread consumption in unregulated settings, which is why safety measures must consider all the ways these drugs may be used. The public needs to know that psychedelics aren't magic pills. They don't automatically heal you. Psychedelics could play a leading role in mental health care. But if approval is rushed without necessary guardrails in place, there will be a backlash, and these drugs will be relegated to the fringes of alternative health. That would be a tragic missed opportunity for patients.
New York Times
28-04-2025
- Health
- New York Times
Will Tech Billionaires Move Fast and Break Our Brains?
When the political scientist Rick Doblin founded an organization in the 1980s aimed at securing federal approval for the medical use of MDMA, also known as Ecstasy, his vision was nothing short of utopian. He thought the psychedelic drug, which can enhance feelings of love and social connection, would heal global trauma and usher in world peace. The psychedelic movement at that time was a grass-roots effort by hippies, students and bohemians. Now his organization's corporate spinoff, Lykos Therapeutics, may soon be acquired by Antonio Gracias, a billionaire private equity investor and close friend of the richest man in the world, Elon Musk. Mr. Gracias, who previously served on the board of Tesla and SpaceX, is working in Mr. Musk's so-called Department of Government Efficiency, where, given the job of overhauling Social Security, he has pushed unsubstantiated claims about immigrants voting illegally. The planned acquisition of Lykos is an example of how tightly entwined a once left-wing psychedelic movement has become with the Trump administration and the tech right. Peter Thiel, who has close ties with many top-level Trump officials, is a major investor in the psychedelic company Atai Life Sciences. Mr. Musk has talked about how he uses a small amount of prescription ketamine 'once every other week or something like that.' And Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has said he's open to decriminalizing or even legalizing the drugs in some form, citing his son's experience using ayahuasca to process grief from the death of his mother, Mary Kennedy. Stocks in companies working on psychedelic treatments rose after Mr. Kennedy's confirmation as health secretary. The Food and Drug Administration turned down Lykos's application for MDMA therapy in 2024, citing the need for better data. But the pro-psychedelic lobby is hopeful that Mr. Kennedy's Health and Human Services will appoint a psychedelic czar and trim the red tape in the F.D.A.'s approval process for psychedelic treatments. Some are dreaming even bigger, aiming for the rapid legalization of these drugs. For some psychonauts, the rightward shift of psychedelic politics is bewildering. Even if the federal government decides to support psychedelic medicine, will there be enough people working at Health and Human Services or Veterans Affairs (where there is hope to use psychedelics to treat post-traumatic stress disorder) to roll it out safely and effectively? Too close a marriage between MAGA and the psychedelic movement could politicize psychedelic science. Mr. Musk's erratic behavior has given ketamine a bad name. I worry that the psychedelic enthusiasts of Silicon Valley will apply their 'move fast and break things' philosophy to mind-altering drugs, approving them too quickly and without adequate protections for Americans. Psychedelics are very promising as a mental health treatment, but they are also incredibly powerful drugs that carry serious risks — something I know firsthand. When I was 18, I had a bad trip with LSD that left me traumatized. All through university and for a couple of years afterward, I struggled with panic attacks, dissociation, social anxiety and a belief that I had ruined my life before it had properly begun. I had to figure out for myself how to get better. More than 25 years later, as the head of a nonprofit that researches psychedelic safety, I get emails every week from people terrified they've permanently damaged themselves after a negative trip. A hardened Marine who served in two wars and was injured in one said the years of crippling anxiety after a psychedelic retreat were easily the worst suffering of his life. The United States has already seen the risks of the underregulated expansion of psychedelics in the ketamine industry, which has boomed from around 50 clinics to over 1,000 in the past decade. Telehealth companies use targeted ads to promise miraculous benefits from injectable doses that they will deliver to your door. Many of them fail to adequately screen patients or ensure that they have mental health support. Last year the head of the Drug Enforcement Administration at the time warned of clinics overprescribing or illegally supplying the drug — a pattern that she said played a role in the actor Matthew Perry's tragic death. It's about to get harder to track the public health impact of the ketamine boom. Mr. Kennedy fired the 17-person team working on the National Survey on Drug Use and Health in April, which previously reported an 80 percent rise in recreational use of ketamine from 2015 to 2019. Some research suggests long-term ketamine use can lead to cognitive problems, bladder problems, dependency and dissociation; you might even start thinking you're in a simulation, as Mr. Musk suggests. Many members of the millionaire and billionaire class have found meaning, healing and joy in psychedelics, and they want to bring that to the masses. (Take any of the big American dynasties — the Gettys, Rockefellers, Mellons, Kochs, Hearsts — and you'll probably find a member who has given money to psychedelic causes.) They may dismiss concerns about safety as sensationalism or drug war propaganda, but their resources provide them access to months of therapy and time off work to recover after a bad trip. Most Americans don't have that luxury. A better public safety net for psychedelics is achievable. We need more research and better information on harms, as well as clinics and groups to help people struggling with severe adverse effects. These drugs should follow the same careful approval process as any other treatment. Policymakers should take seriously the probability that F.D.A. approval of psychedelics will lead to more widespread consumption in unregulated settings, which is why safety measures must consider all the ways these drugs may be used. The public needs to know that psychedelics aren't magic pills. They don't automatically heal you. Psychedelics could play a leading role in mental health care. But if approval is rushed without necessary guardrails in place, there will be a backlash, and these drugs will be relegated to the fringes of alternative health. That would be a tragic missed opportunity for patients.
