Category Archives: Psychedelics

In January, an Airdrie man with terminal cancer received the first federally approved magic mushroom treatment in Alberta. This week, the first clinic in the province to use psychedelic therapy has opened in Calgary.

The ATMA Urban Journey Clinic is in northwest Calgary and will be a training centre for mental health professionals from across Canada.

CEO David Harder says the clinic is the result of decades of research and trial studies.

"It's kind of the opposite of what a typical antidepressant or psychotic medication would do," he told The Homestretch.

"Typically, they will suppress or numb down what's happening in your emotions and spirit body, whereas the psychedelics will actually raise those things and allow a therapist to work with you to really work through and not just suppress whatever that is that's holding you back, for example, for depression or anxiety, PTSD especially."

For Tony White, the magic mushroom therapy allowed him to let go of some of the anxiety and depression that had been crowding in since his terminal cancer diagnosis. He received the therapy on Jan. 1.

"I just was lying there and I felt like I couldn't be at more peace then, right then and there," said White in mid-January.

Psilocybin, the active drug in magic mushrooms, has shown promise in relieving end-of-life distress for palliative cancer patients, but it's still undergoing clinical trials.

Since August 2020, Health Canada has granted 20 exemptions to patients diagnosed with cancer to treat their end-of-life distress.

Currently, Health Canada grants exemptions that allow for individual therapy sessions using psilocybin for the terminally ill. The new clinic will start with this mandate, but Harder hopes to see it expand.

"We're also applying on behalf of a number of people with mental health conditions, depression, anxiety and PTSD. So we're going to see if they approve those who are waiting to hear. They seem very open to the idea, but obviously they're being very cautious and moving slowly for safety's sake."

The clinic will administer only magic mushroom therapy for now, partly for safety reasons.

Harder explainedit's difficult to find other psychedelic drugs in a pure state as they are often laced with fentanyl and cutting agents.

"That's why we're only sourcing mushrooms at this point," hesaid. "It's a mushroom. So you can see it. It's a dried mushroom. So that's where Health Canada is saying it's a much less risk than, say, some of the white powder drugs that are being used for psychedelics."

Palliative care therapy is being offered at no cost.

"We believe it's something we can give back," Harder said. "We're moving forward with mental health treatments that will be charged for the treatment of therapy, the therapist's time and on the sitting time. But with the palliative care, we believe this is something where we can give back."

Harder said there is a screening process as part of the exemption application. He said each case may vary but generally the participant undergoes counselling sessions before and afterward. And, he said, there are a couple of people on hand during the four- to five-hour psychedelic experience, including a therapist, psychologist or psychiatrist.

The psychedelic therapy will be overseen by the clinic's chief medical officer, psychiatrist Dr. Ravinder Bains.

Harder said this form of therapy, once more widely accepted, holds promise for a wider range of treatments.

"The studies have been done," he said. "We know this is safe. We know this is efficacious. We know it helps. And with the growing mental health crisis in our country, we know that this is something that could really help the issues that our society is facing."

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Psychedelic drug therapy now offered at Calgary clinic, the first of its kind in Alberta - CBC.ca

SAN DIEGO (KUSI) The Psychedelics and Health Research Initiative at UC San Diego received a $1.3 million grant from the Steven & Alexandra Cohen Foundation to fund a clinical trial investigating the therapeutic potential of psilocybin in treating phantom limb pain, it was announced today.

Psilocybin is a naturally occurring psychedelic compound produced by many species of fungus, including so-called magic mushrooms. Phantom limb pain is pain originating from parts of the body no longer present, such as an amputated arm or leg. It is a form of neuropathic pain that actually originates in the spinal cord and brain.

The grant will fund the first randomized, placebo-controlled human clinical trial examining the safety and efficacy of psilocybin in patients suffering from chronic phantom limb pain. The trial is also designed to explore the brain mechanisms involved, including possible alterations in brain circuitry.

The trial is part of the PHRI, whose mission is to study the potential of psilocybin and related compounds in treating pain and promoting healing.

The therapeutic potential of psilocybin is unique among pharmaceutical agents that are used as analgesics, said Dr. Timothy Furnish, a clinical professor of anesthesiology at UCSD School of Medicine and a co-principal investigator in the trial.

Most analgesic drugs are taken at least daily to treat the symptoms of chronic pain, but they do nothing to change the underlying pathology, he said. Psilocybin has the potential to reset altered cortical brain circuits associated with certain chronic pain conditions. This reset could result in a drug that works on an extended basis (days or weeks) or perhaps even constitutes a cure.

Research at UCSD on psychedelics began in the 1970s with the work of Mark Geyer, a professor of psychiatry and neurosciences emeritus and co-founder of the PHRI. Geyer conducted basic research on the behavioral and neurobiological effects of psychedelics at UCSD.

The PHRI has a briefer history, originating in 2016 with Albert Yu-Min Lin, a research scientist at the Jacobs School of Engineering and Qualcomm Institute, who lost his lower right leg in an off-road vehicle accident. During recovery and rehabilitation, Lin experienced serious, recurrent phantom limb pain.

The pain wasnt subtle, Lin said. It was like being in the heart of a trauma all of the time. It was all consuming, but coming from a part of the body that literally no longer existed. I was desperate. I felt like I was gasping for air in a pool, looking for relief.

During recovery, Lin discovered the work of V.S. Ramachandran, a professor of psychology and neurosciences at UCSD, who had pioneered development of a therapy for treating phantom limb pain. The treatment involves using mirrors to create a reflective illusion of the limb, tricking the brain into thinking movement has occurred without pain or to create positive visual feedback of limb movement. For Lin, the therapy provided pain relief, but only while the mirror was in place.

As a field researcher and explorer for the National Geographic Society, Lin had traveled the world helping develop technologies to assist in archeological digs and similar activities. He was aware that other cultures used plant-based preparations to produce mind-altering, therapeutic effects.

Lin procured some psilocybin, drove out to the desert, boiled it to create a tea and hooked up his leg mirror. He studied the illusion, removed the mirror, studied where his leg once had been and repeated the sequence, again and again.

Within 45 minutes, he said, there was relief.

The pain was gone. I did handstands. It was a profoundly spiritual moment, Lin said. My mind had a map of my body and it was experiencing severe feedback issues, but it had to let go of that map through a sort of state of ego death in which the psilocybin allowed the mind to reject the old map and create a new one. Now, I occasionally have a jolt of pain, but its mostly gone.

But Lin also recognized that his experience was anecdotal and singular, and that more work was needed to help others in similar pain and circumstances. In 2018, Lin, Furnish, Ramachandran and others published a paper in Neurocase describing their collaboration, and in 2019, another account was published in the journal Regional Anesthesia & Pain Medicine.

The World Health Organization estimates that there are more than 40 million amputees in the world, with up to 80% experiencing phantom limb pain. Military veterans exhibit the highest rates of amputation and chronic phantom limb pain, according to previous studies.

Thirty amputees suffering from phantom pain will be enrolled in the three-year clinical trial. Half of the participants will receive 25 milligrams of psilocybin on two occasions; the other half will receive two doses of niacin.

Niacin was chosen as the placebo because it mimics some of the physical sensations that subjects may experience after taking psilocybin, but does not produce a trip, according to Furnish. The trial will include multiple clinical visits to assess pain and psychological functioning, including magnetic resonance imaging.

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UCSD researchers get $1.3 million grant to study psychedelics on phantom pain - - KUSI

NEW YORK, Feb. 16, 2021 /PRNewswire/ --Psychedelics have made some spectacular breakthroughs to gain legitimacy as mental healthcare products and to become an emerging health and wellness market of its own. As these products enter the regulated consumer market, however, it's important that they are reliably and accurately dosed to ensure user health and safety. Accurate dosing is difficult to achieve with botanicals, which is why forward-thinking psychedelics companies are developing new extracted products designed for the most accurate dosing possible. These innovative products include oral tablets, capsules, nasal gels, and more. Forward thinking companies like Pure Extracts (CSE: PULL) (OTCPK: PRXTF), Compass Pathways (NASDAQ: CMPS), Cybin Inc (NEO: CYBN) (OTCPK: CLXPF), AIkido Pharma Inc (NASDAQ: AIKI), and Numinus Wellness (TSXV: NUMI) (OTCPK: LKYSF) are advancing psychedelic medicine with research and development into the best ways to administer these revolutionary treatments.

Pure Extracts Developing State-of-the-Art Psychedelics Extracts

Pure Extracts (CSE:PULL) (OTC:PRXTF)is a Canadian company specializing in functional mushrooms and psychedelics with extensive extraction and production experience. The Company utilizes cutting-edge, sub and super-critical CO and ethanol extraction technology to produce high-quality, high purity formulations on a commercial scale. As psychedelic health and wellness continues its development, Pure Extracts is set up to deliver solvent-free, white-label formulations to service contract sales.

Pure Extracts conducts its extraction at its state-of-the-art facility in Pemberton, British Columbia, located 30 kms north of famed Whistler Resort. The facility is built to EU-GMP specifications, allowing for certification so that the Company will be able to sell its products internationally. On December 16, Pure Extracts announced that the Company had begun to build-out the fourth unit in its facility. This unit is specifically designed for extraction of mushrooms and for research and development of psilocybin. Pure Extracts is currently preparing its application for a Health Canada Dealer's Licence under the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act, which will allow the company to produce, distribute, and sell psilocybin products.

On December 30, Pure Extracts announced the commencement of a new study on the formulation and manufacturing of psilocybin-based active treatments for oral tablets, capsules, and a nasal gel. Conducted at the Toronto Institute of Pharmaceutical Technology by Dr. Alexander MacGregor, the study will focus on formulating, manufacturing, and clinical bioavailability testing of rapid onset psilocybin dosage forms that could be used in future efficacy clinical trials by both Pure Extracts and its pharmaceutical customers.

"We are excited about the R&D progress we are going to make with TIPT over the next six to eight months while waiting to receive our Dealer's License from Health Canada," Pure Extracts CEO Ben Nikolaevsky said in the Company's release. "We will be well prepared for our move into the controlled substances world of psychedelics and will have advanced knowledge regarding psilocybin and its associated novel delivery mechanisms."

Biotech Space Develops Extracted Psychedelic Therapeutics

Compass Pathways (NASDAQ:CMPS)sent shockwaves through the psychedelics space last year when it became the first psychedelics company to list on a major US exchange with its listing on the NASDAQ. The company has continued its research and development into psychedelics, announcing on February 9 the expansion of its Discovery Center and research collaborations with three of the world's most eminent scientists in psychedelic research.

In the fight towards therapeutic breakthroughs for mental health disorders, Cybin Inc (NEO:CYBN) (OTC:CLXPF) has entered into a partnership with Kernel to utilize its Kernel Flow technology to quantify brain activity during psychedelic experiences. Cybin believes that this clinical work could help to fill in the gaps for targeting neurological disorders.

Diversified biotechnology company AIkido Pharma Inc (NASDAQ:AIKI) announced in January that the company had executed a patent license agreement for technology related to psilocybin for cancer treatment and treatment of cancer side-effects. AIkido has been focused on small-molecule anti-cancer therapeutics for decades and the company's CEO says that they believe psychedelics to be an expanding area of treatment.

On February 8, psychedelic-focused mental health and wellness company Numinus Wellness (TSXV:NUMI) (OTCPK:LKYSF) completed its acquisition of Montreal-based full-service well-being organization Mindspace Psychology Services Inc. The company describes Mindspace as "a leader and pioneer in psychedelic programming."

Psychedelics could be the future of health and wellness, and extracted products like those developed by Pure Extracts could be key to unlocking the safe and reliable therapeutic benefits of these products.

To learn more about Pure Extracts, please click here.

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Psilocybin Extracts Could Be the Key to Unlocking Psychedelic Health and Wellness - PRNewswire

Psychedelics are going mainstream.Not only is the US FDA supportive of research, dozens of medical studies are proving such treatments could be helpful, including Johns Hopkins Medicine and New York University. In research to date, psilocybin has been found tohelp treat mental health issues, such as depression, anxiety, obsessive-compulsive disorder, and PTSD. LSD may be able to help patients with alcohol addiction and other mental disorders.MDMA-assisted therapy could help treat eating disorders, including anorexia and binge eating.

In addition, according to Kevin Matthews, founder of The Society for Psychedelic Outreach, Reform, and Education (SPORE), as quoted by Rolling Stone, My hopewith the Biden administration and other lawmakers is that theyre going to be receptive to having a conversation about psilocybin and other psychedelics, says Matthews. Were facing a global mental health and addiction crisis, and thats only been accentuated by COVID-19 with the lockdowns and business closures and further isolation. We need radical, safe effective solutions to address this emergency before it gets any worse.

Thats substantial news for companies such asCybin Inc.(NEO:CYBN)(OTC:CLXPF),Mind Medicine Inc.(OTC:MMEDF),Compass Pathways(NASDAQ:CMPS), andMind Cure Health Inc.(CSE:MCUR)(OTC:MCURF).

Also, take a look at Numinus Wellness Inc. (TSXV:NUMI)(OTC:LKYSF)

Numinus Wellness Inc.just announced that the single-arm, open-label, compassionate access1trial for MDMA-assisted therapy has made significant progress towards treating patients with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). This trial is being pursued in collaboration with MAPSPublic Benefit Corporation (MAPS PBC), a wholly-owned subsidiary of theMultidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies (MAPS), the leading developer of the treatment protocols, research and MDMA-assisted therapy training programs.

We are excited to share an update on the progress of our MDMA compassionate access trial with the full recognition that existing therapies for PTSD are inadequate, said Payton Nyquvest, CEO of Numinus. At Numinus, we are pleased to help foster a promising regulatory landscape that will contribute to a better understanding that psychedelic-assisted psychotherapies are a viable, safe, and necessary avenue for expanding existing treatment options. We look forward to continued collaboration with MAPS PBC and will work together to provide those experiencing PTSD with more treatment options.

This first-of-its-kind trial in Canadahas advanced and successfully transitioned into the pre-implementation stage at Numinus Vancouver clinic. This follows the successful completion of several milestones, starting with the recruitment oftherapists, physicians, and staffin preparation for participant enrolment and the ultimate analysis of therapy outcomes. The highly qualified cohort of medical staff will be responsible for collecting safety data for Health Canada to further implement key research that supports individuals living with PTSD who have not benefited from existing treatment options.

In November 2020, eight Numinus therapists graduated from Part B of the MAPS MDMA therapist training program. Through their roles within the trial, they will complete the supervision requirement for certification as fully qualified MDMA therapists.

A draft MDMA-assisted therapy protocol for PTSD has been adapted for the trial, including clear guidance surrounding necessary screening processes, patient health histories, and indications and potential contraindications before accepting participants. Initial regulatory meetings with Health Canada to define the trials implementation science strategy have been completed, and the next steps will include obtaining ethical and Health Canada approvals to allow the recruitment of participants according to COVID-19 public health protocols.

"Developing a skilled workforce is a key challenge for the safe delivery of psychedelic-assisted therapies, so we are pleased to engage with Numinus to train therapists in the MDMA-assisted therapy protocol for PTSD, said Amy Emerson, CEO of MAPS PBC.

Numinus is also pleased to announce that its Medical and Therapeutic Services Director, Dr. Devon Christie, will serve as both the trials Principal Investigator, and as a therapist. Dr. Christie is a family physician with a focus in multidisciplinary pain management, is a certified Relational Somatic Therapist, and is already MAPS-trained in the delivery of the MAPS MDMA-assisted therapy for PTSD.

I am thrilled to be involved in a long-awaited clinical program that will help pave the way towards wider use of MDMA-assisted psychotherapy for those experiencing PTSD, said Dr. Christie. The key milestones announced today are a true testament to our teams commitment to establishing the physical, technical, clinical and human resource infrastructure needed to swiftly move through the trials formal implementation stages and ultimately towards the recruitment of the first participant.

The safety and efficacy of MDMA-assisted psychotherapy is currently under investigation

It has not yet been approved by Health Canada or the FDA, does not work for everyone, and carries risks even in therapeutic settings. These statements are no guarantee of future Health Canada or FDA approval or availability of MDMA-assisted psychotherapy. These statements necessarily involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties, which may cause actual outcomes to differ materially from projections.

Health Canada recommends compassionate access open-label clinical trials when drug manufacturers anticipate exceptional demand for a drug, to meet the needs of patients not eligible for enrollment in other pivotal trials (Special Access Program for Drugs: Guidance document for industry and practitioners, Published 2020-10-14). This program is not related to the U.S. FDAExpanded Accessprogram, sometimes referred to as compassionate use or theBreakthrough Therapy designation.

Legal Disclaimer / Except for the historical information presented herein, matters discussed in this article contains forward-looking statements that are subject to certain risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such statements. Winning Media is not registered with any financial or securities regulatory authority and does not provide nor claims to provide investment advice or recommendations to readers of this release. For making specific investment decisions, readers should seek their own advice. Winning Media is only compensated for its services in the form of cash-based compensation. Pursuant to an agreement Winning Media has been paid three thousand five hundred dollars for advertising and marketing services for Numinus Wellness Inc. by a third party. We own ZERO shares of Numinus Wellness Inc. Please click here for full disclaimer.

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Could the Federal Government Help Legalize Psychedelics? - Baystreet.ca

The antidepressant effects of the psychedelic brew known as ayahuasca appear to be related to anti-inflammatory activity, according to new research from scientists in Brazil. Their findings, published in the Journal of Psychopharmacology, provide new insights into the biological mechanisms behind the observed antidepressant effects of the substance.

Ayahuasca, a concoction used for centuries by indigenous Amazon tribes, contains the powerful psychedelic drug dimethyltryptamine (DMT) and monoamine oxidase inhibitors. The brew is typically prepared using leaves from the Psychotria viridis shrub and the bark of the Banisteriopsis caapi vine.

The authors of the new study were interested in examining the effects of alternative treatments such as ayahuasca because of the widespread prevalence of depressive disorders.

Major Depression Disorder (MDD) is one of the most prevalent mood disorders, reaching about 350 million people worldwide. One third of patients with depression do not show a satisfactory response to antidepressants leading to a large proportion of patients developing recurrent MDD with multiple depressive episodes, said study author Nicole Leite Galvo-Coelho, a professor at the Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte.

In the study, the researchers briefed 28 patients with treatment-resistant depression and 45 healthy controls about the physiological and psychological effects associated with ayahuasca. The participants were then randomly assigned to received either a single oral dose of ayahuasca or a placebo substance.

The placebo substance was a brownish liquid that mimicked the look and taste of ayahuasca. In addition, the placebo contained zinc sulphate, which induces nausea a common side effect of ayahuasca.

After consuming their dose, the participants stayed in a comfortable room at a hospital for about six hours, where they listened to curated music playlists.

The researchers collected and analyzed blood samples from the participants immediately before dosing and again two days later. They were particularly interested in two blood inflammatory biomarkers: C-reactive protein and interleukin 6.

Galvo-Coelho and her colleagues observed significant antidepressant effects among patients who received ayahuasca. These improvements in depressive symptoms were associated with reductions in inflammation.

Patients with treatment-resistant depression tended to have higher C-reactive protein levels compared to the control group at baseline. The researchers found that C-reactive protein levels were reduced in both patients and healthy controls 48 hours after consuming ayahuasca, but not after consuming the placebo.

Besides changes in emotions, MDD also induces biological changes. A better comprehension of these biological changes can help in the development of more efficient treatments. For instance, treatment-resistant depression has been associated with mild chronic systemic inflammation. In this study, a single dose of ayahuasca, and not the placebo, reduced both depressive symptoms and systemic inflammation of treatment-resistant depressive patients two days after the treatment, Galvo-Coelho told PsyPost.

The commercial antidepressants when work spend about 15 days to start the first effects on reduction of depressive symptoms. Regarding their anti-inflammatory action there is not a consensus of how they are acting.

Patients and controls showed similar levels of interleukin 6 at baseline and there was no change after treatment.

Although ayahuasca does not lead to compulsive drug-seeking behaviors or induce physiological toxicity, it does induce acute and mild sympathetic activity. Therefore, patients with cardiovascular disease and who have mania or psychosis must not use it, Galvo-Coelho cautioned.

The next step in this field is to test multiple sessions of ayahuasca associated with psychotherapy as treatment for depression. The studies with psychedelics for mental disorders have shown promising results, but we need a bit more understanding to turn them into an accessible treatment.

The study, Changes in inflammatory biomarkers are related to the antidepressant effects of Ayahuasca, was authored by Nicole Leite Galvo-Coelho, Ana Ceclia de Menezes Galvo, Rassa Nbrega de Almeida, Fernanda Palhano-Fontes, Isaac Campos Braga, Bruno Lobo Soares, Joo Paulo Maia-de-Oliveira, Daniel Perkins, Jerome Sarris, and Draulio Barros de Araujo.

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Rapid antidepressant effects of the psychedelic ayahuasca linked to changes in inflammatory biomarkers - PsyPost

Attitudes towards current or former illicit drugs are rapidly changing worldwide. Dozens of countries and 16 U.S. states have legalized personal possession and consumption of cannabis even as research expands into its possible health applications.

Harm-reduction proponents are studying the use of the safe supply of hard drugs such as heroin to help hardcore addicts. And in the U.K., government regulators recently gave the go-ahead to the first clinical trial using a psychedelic drug to treat depression.

That change in attitude toward psychedelics, in particular coupled with research to be conducted by a Vancouver-based pharmaceutical company, could be revolutionary news for stroke patients.

Christopher Moreau, CEO, Algernon Pharmaceuticals Inc.

Algernon Pharmaceuticals (CSE: AGN | OTCQB: AGNPF | XFRA: AGW) plans to begin clinical trials this year on the use of N,N-Dimethyltryptamine (DMT), a psychedelic compound known as The Spirit Molecule, to help treat people who have suffered ischemic strokes.

Algernon is a clinical stage drug repurposing company that looks for new applications for drugs that are known and considered safe. It is the first company globally to pursue DMT treatment for ischemic stroke in humans, says its CEO, Christopher Moreau, who has more than 30 years of senior management experience in private and publicly traded companies, including a strong background in biotechnology research.

Pre-clinical study

The key for these Algernon clinical trials and the promise dimethyltryptamine presents to stroke patients, Moreau explains, is research from the Experimental Neurology Journal that shows DMT affects brain cells, aiding with rewiring, cell growth and making new connections, or neuroplasticity and neurogenesis.

Tests in labs have shown growth evidence of neuro cells when DMT was applied, he says, while animal testing demonstrated that treatment, produced in rats subjected to strokes, saw a smaller area of dead brain cells and the ability to recover motor function quicker.

And now, in preparation for the start of clinical trials with human subjects by the end of 2021, Algernon announced on February 8, 2021, that it had signed an agreement for pre-clinical research with Charles River Laboratories at its facility in Finland.

Microdoses are key

Algernons focus in planned and future trials is sub-hallucinogenic amounts, or microdoses, of DMT provided by continuous intravenous administration. The aim is to provide the potential brain-repairing benefits of the drug the growth of new cells and rewiring of neural pathways without the patient entering into the realm of the psychedelic experience.

And, if it is confirmed in the companys pre-clinical research phase that DMT could be used to treat both haemorrhagic and ischemic strokes, a patient would not have to wait for a CT scan and treatment could begin immediately even, possibly, in an ambulance en route to the hospital.

You can still get neurogenesis and neuroplasticity, Moreau says, referring to results of previous animal testing, Without giving a person a psychedelic experience.

But in addition to not wanting a stroke patient to also experience a psychedelic trip, microdosing may make a potential treatment easier to approve by licensing authorities.

As you deal with people in authority making decisions about laws and regulations, if they feel that a using a particular drug is counter to their personal beliefs in some way, that could restrict the speed with which drug trials get approved, Moreau explains. You also need to keep in mind that that even once a new drug or application of an existing drug is approved, doctors still need to be convinced its appropriate for their patients.

Massive market for treatment

Should Algernons trials succeed and its able to break barriers for therapeutic uses of psychedelics such as DMT, the potential number of patients is massive.

According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), more than 795,000 people die each year in the United States due to a stroke and for more than three quarters of those victims, its their first stroke. As well, about 87 per cent of all strokes are ischemic, in which a blockage in an artery decreases blood flow and oxygen to the brain, leading to damage to or death of brain cells.

The CDC also says stroke-related costs in the U.S. alone including health care services, medicines and missed work were almost USD$46 billion in 2014 and 2015.

Beyond the dollar costs are the human costs, the CDC reports, as strokes are the leading cause of long-term disability, reducing stroke survivors mobility in more than half of the cases.

Value in drug trials

The potential global market for a successful stroke treatment, then, is large and growing along with an aging population it was estimated at USD$8 billion in 2018 and is expected to reach USD$15 billion by 2027.

As well, the timeline for developing DMT as a stroke treatment may be compressed compared to other drug trials in which the effects and study periods take place over a long period. As a DMT trial will involve an acute treatment, by enlisting the help of multiple hospitals, its hoped a sufficient number of test subjects can be found in a shorter period perhaps a matter of months.

As well, its hoped Algernons approach may allow for a quicker pathway to regulatory approval, including a Breakthrough Therapy designation from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

Moreau says that successful Phase 1 trials in 2021 could lead to Phase 2 testing as early as 2022.

And he believes Algernon is well-placed for investors looking to gain value, noting that although the company has a $45-million market capitalization, a successful Phase 2 trial could increase that dramatically.

DMT isnt the only promising prospect on Algernons roster of repurposed drugs.

The company has also been testing the drug Ifenprodil for applications in the treatment of lung diseases in a Phase 2 trial in Australia. But when the pandemic hit last March, there was some indication that the drug might be able to reduce the severity of COVID-19 infections, so Algernon was approved for a multinational trial, with data expected by the end of this month.

With two drugs addressing two major global health concerns in the clinical trials pipeline, Moreau is optimistic about the health of both the company he leads and the patients who may be helped by its products.

For more information on Algernon Pharmaceuticals, visit their website here.

For more timely updates, follow Algernon on social media:

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How Algernon Pharmaceuticals is aiming to use psychedelics to aid stroke recovery - BNN

The Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) has decided not to recognise psilocybin mushrooms (or magic mushroom) and MDMA (ecstasy) as medicines to treat a number of conditions, such as post-traumatic stress disorder, anxiety and other mental illnesses.

Although the TGA's decision is not final, it goes against what advocates want.

The request was raised by Mind Medicine Australia, a charity that advocates for psychedelics not to be restricted so mental health professionals can access such substances more easily.

In the case of medicinal psilocybin there were 575 responses of which 553 (96 per cent) were supportive, 11 partially supportive and 11 opposed.

In the case of medicinal MDMA, there were 478 responses of which 453 (95 per cent) were supportive, 14 partially supportive and 11 opposed.

This Mind Medicine Australia video explains the way they hope to use psychedelics to treat mental illnesses.

Both psilocybin and MDMA have been granted Breakthrough Therapy Status by the Food and Drug Administration in the USA to fast-track their approval.

On the Northern Rivers, one doctor that has been trained and says he could start helping people living with PTSD is Dr Jamie Rickcord.

Dr Rickcord was one of the first GPs approved to treat patients with psilocybin-assisted therapy in northern NSW.

He said he was disappointed but not surprised by the TGA's decision.

"Everyone in our society is operating with this unconscious stigma about drugs such as cannabis and psychedelics, but the truth is that they have been scientifically proven to be a lot safer than many of the drugs actually available, whether it's alcohol, opiates, benzodiazepines, amphetamines," he said.

"There are medical versions of opiates and amphetamines that are widely prescribed. Just because there is an illicit market, it doesn't preclude medical use. They can all be abused and they can all be used medically.

>>>Army veteran wants psychedelic drugs used in PTSD treatment

"Why on earth is there such a funk about cannabinoids and psychedelics?

"It's just another bracket of drugs that can be used medically, and they are safer than the ones that are already out there."

Dr Rickcord said MMA will continue trying to change the TGA's decision.

"We will make a submission saying that their decisions is valid and noted, and we will submit our response to their concerns, and if they say no, they will have to provide further reasons as to why are not prepared to reschedule the drugs (to make them available to doctors to use in patients)."

Submissions must be sent to the TGA by March 4. The TGA's final decision will be announced on April 22.

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Move to treat PTSD with psychedelics blocked by TGA - Tweed Daily News

ATMA's Creekside Journey Center will provide a full range of services for mental health and psychological counselling, grounded in psychedelic-assisted therapy and treatment

CALGARY, AB, Feb. 19, 2021 /CNW/ - ATMA Journey Centers Inc. ("ATMA"), an Alberta-based company focused on delivering innovative psychedelic-assisted therapies internationally, revealed details today about the first Psychedelic Journey Center in Canada which will be located in central Alberta.

ATMA Journey Centers Inc. http://www.atmajourney.com (CNW Group/ATMA Journey Centers Inc)

The company will own and operate the private wellness center that is nestled within a retreat setting within a sprawling forest and nature, positioned approximately 2 hours from both Calgary and Edmonton. ATMA Creekside will provide a convenient destination in which clients will be able to experience a range of healing and transformational modalities as part of multi-day experiences, ceremonies, and retreats.

David Harder, Co-CEO of ATMA, said: "Creekside Journey Center begins the exciting rollout of our plans to create immersive retreat-style Journey Centers across Canada and beyond. Our aim is to position ATMA as the disruptor in a psychedelic renaissance that is so often focused on up-scaling the therapy."

Rather than focusing on patient through-put and optimizing to move as many people through medicine work as quickly as possible, the company says that its goal is to provide deeply immersive protocols that bring people inward and find life-long healing. The trend in psychedelic therapy appears to be in proprietary molecules and processes eligible to be patented or trademarked, but Harder points out that ATMA wants to provide a different experience.

"ATMA will be known for finding a place you can connect, find healing, and discover community," he said. "Our philosophy is that these deep inner medicine sessions are not best suited in a clinical appointment where only a few hours are allotted in the midst of a busy day and lifestyle. "

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Harder explained that the company's protocols are designed to be experienced over a number of weeks, and include, beyond the counselling and medicine work, time to connect with nature and others on a similar path. "This particular property at Creekside has a special energy to it, and with the incredible forest and relaxing creek that flows throughout the expansive property, we believe it's going to provide a magical space that will provide clients meaningful experiences and healing."

When the property opens this spring, it will provide full-service programs that include well-appointed cottages and suites, holistic and organic food prepared by certified chefs, and leading-edge psychedelic medicine therapy and protocols. The individual therapy sessions will be combined with group work which will intentionally provide both the individual processes needed to overcome mental health challenges as well as group journey opportunities where community can be fostered. A customized program of individual therapy sessions will occur both before and after the medicine work done at the Journey Center, allowing each client to be fully prepared for their experience and to have the support before and after their Journey Center visit.

"Our goal is to create an ultra-comfortable, safe and peaceful environment where the only thing a client needs to focus on is their own work and healing in a community of safe spaces and community support," said Harder. He explained that the company's vision is not to create a portfolio of medical-style psychedelic clinics located in busy urban centers. "Our business plan is to create nature-inspired destinations where a client can remove themselves from daily life for a few days or a week or more. We believe it's important they have space and time to really focus on doing the deep work that will provide shifts and changes that are sustainable and life-changing."

ATMA was the first private company in Canada to legally conduct psychedelic-assisted therapy using psilocybin under a Section 56 Exemption that was granted to a palliative patient by Health Canada. Additional patients who have recently obtained Section 56 Exemptions are also scheduled to undergo legal psychedelic therapy with ATMA next week.

Greg Habstritt, President of ATMA, said: "While we remain optimistic that Health Canada will continue to increase access to psychedelic therapy, we're mindful that the timelines are not certain and that it will take some time before mainstream access to this medicine exists."

He suggested that because of this, ATMA's business model will allow the generation of immediate revenue and cash flow from more traditional retreat services while the company continues to work within the Health Canada guidelines and regulations.

"We're a bit different in the industry, because we're not building clinics out designed exclusively for psychedelic therapy and then waiting for the legislation to change. We'll be operating profitable Journey Centers immediately, with the ability to introduce and expand a range of psychedelic medicines and related services as they become accessible and legal."

Added Harder: "Today has special meaning to me because this is the realization of a vision that I've held for 5 years to have a special environment in which this medicine work can be done.

The acceleration of awareness and acceptance of psychedelics in the health care and medicine arenas over that time has been extraordinary to witness. In the end, what matters most is that those who are suffering and would benefit from this medicine get access to it as soon as possible."

ABOUT ATMA JOURNEY CENTERS INC.

ATMA is a Canadian company focused on delivering effective and innovative healing and transformative experiences that leverage the potential of psychedelic medicine to awaken the inner healer and allow a deeper connection with self, with others, and with the beauty of our world. ATMA was the first private company in Canada to conduct legal psychedelic-assisted therapy with psilocybin, one of the active hallucinogens found in 'magic mushrooms'. For more information, visit http://www.atmajourney.com.

ATMA Creekside Journey Center accommodations provide ample space for guests to enjoy the tranquility and healing energy of the natural surroundings (CNW Group/ATMA Journey Centers Inc)

ATMA Creekside features a warm and inviting main lodge for guests to gather and share (CNW Group/ATMA Journey Centers Inc)

ATMA Creekside guest accommodations are well appointed and comfortable spaces in which to rest and heal (CNW Group/ATMA Journey Centers Inc)

ATMA Creekside Journey Center in Alberta, Canada's first psychedelic therapy wellness center (CNW Group/ATMA Journey Centers Inc)

ATMA Creekside Journey Center is nestled at the foot of the Rocky Mountains with a creek that runs through the 60 acre forested property (CNW Group/ATMA Journey Centers Inc)

ATMA Creekside Journey Center offers modern conveniences and comfort to maximize the healing and transformational process that guests experience (CNW Group/ATMA Journey Centers Inc)

ATMA Creekside offers 60 acres of private natural sanctuary in which to explore, reflect and reconnect with self (CNW Group/ATMA Journey Centers Inc)

SOURCE ATMA Journey Centers Inc

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ATMA Unveils Canada's First Psychedelic Journey Center, Offering 60 Acres of Immersive Healing and Transformation in the Foothills of the Rocky...

Ehave, Inc. to leverage data and AI to correlate biomarkers for the identification of psychedelic drug administration as a treatment for Chronic pain, Depression (major and persistent), PTSD, Bipolar disorder, General anxiety, ADHD and Schizophrenia

MIAMI, Feb. 17, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Ehave, Inc. (OTC Pink: EHVVF) (Ehave or the Company), a provider of digital therapeutics for the psychedelic and mental health sectors, announced today it has entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Brain Scientific Inc. (OTCQB: BRSF) (Brain Scientific) that will allow the two companies to leverage both data and AI to correlate biomarkers for the identification of chronic pain, depression (major and persistent), PTSD, bipolar disorder, general anxiety, ADHD and schizophrenia. The terms of the MoU call for Ehave and Brain Scientific to collaborate to exploit graph based AI, linked data protocols with respect to such AI, and leverage such data and AI to develop neural net algorithms. As an initial matter, one purpose of the neural net algorithm would be to upload already trained neuronet into a specialized chip that Brain Scientific is developing into a temporary E-Tattoo.

As part of the MoU, Ehave would integrate Brain Scientific's NeuroCap and NeuroEEG to acquire data from patients in real time, or put such data into a cloud. Ehave could also seek to deploy NeuroCap and NeuroEEG in clinical settings with Ehaves partner healthcare providers, such as psychiatrists, psychologists, psychotherapists and general practitioners. This will allow Ehave to capture the data around the electrophysiological changes in brain pre, mid and post psychedelic drug administration, and possibly build or partner with a functional lab to be equipped with NeuroCap and NeuroEEG devices to conduct market studies and collect data on various brain related physiological and mental disorders. These market studies and data collection activities are likely to begin in Australia and could be implemented in other parts of the world where Ehave operates. This same functional lab can be used to study consumer behavior and psychology in markets Ehave operates for further commercialization of Ehaves data and technologies.

Brain Scientific is seeking to improve neurology by modernizing the brain diagnostic market with its cutting-edge technology. As part of the MoU, Brain Scientific would provide its proprietary data signal acquisition devices, NeuroCap and NeuroEEG, for the Ehave platform. Brain Scientific will also provide the training and support needed to operate the installed equipment, the necessary software and hardware for the development of the technology and products, and will develop and validate products within three months of receiving any specifications from Ehave.

All data from any transactions contemplated by the MoU will be jointly owned by both Ehave and Brain Scientific. Ehave will cover the cost of testing and certification for products developed under this MoU and will receive full rights to all related intellectual property, including the right to sell and distribute any such products, on a 50/50 split basis after all expenses, including research and development.

The transactions contemplated by the MoU are subject to the negotiation, execution and delivery by the parties of definitive final agreements.

Victor S. Dorodny, MD,ND,PHD,MPH (www.DrDorodny.com), Medical Advisor to Ehave, said This revolutionary technology might discover the mechanism of the dissociative effects of Ketamine. Ketamine actually "brakes" the pathological neuronal associations of the disease, and by doing so resets the normal brain activity."

Alfred Farrington II, CIO @Ehave, Inc. said, The brain data in this platform is being compiled to help mental health researchers and give expertise to help practitioners make more informed decision about mental health care. We believe that data will revolutionize mental health, digitizing and analyzing it will give the health industry the opportunity to learn from this data while providing longitudinal insights that can link brain analysis and psychedelics.

Our current EEG device is about the size of a stamp. By shrinking the technology, the system allows for continuous measurement during a persons normal activities, while providing a non-intrusive way to monitor various disorders, said Boris Goldstein, Chairman of Brain Scientific. We believe the future of EEG testing will be centered around the ability to gather more precise data through non-invasive measures of the brain via 3D temporary imprint or implanted graphene electrodes. By utilizing graphene, which has been called a wonder material of the 21st century, Brain Scientific believes the size of the electrodes can be thinner than a human hair and will allow brain activity monitoring with minimal distraction from everyday life.

Ben Kaplan, CEO of Ehave, Inc. said, "One major goal of biomarker research is to improve the accuracy of diagnosis to improve patient outcomes. Biomarkers are measurable and do not define how a person feels or functions. There are currently 250 biochemical markers measured by assay to provide information about a broad range of the body's organic systems and their state of function, as well as how well the body responds to a treatment for a disease or condition." Mr. Kaplan continued, "This approach has been successful for some disorders, but for psychiatric disorders it still poses challenges. This MoU between Ehave and Brain Scientific could utilize graph based AI and linked data protocols to aid in the development of biomarkers for psychiatric disorders."

Additional Ehave Inc. Information

We are truly grateful for the support of EHVVF shareholders! Please join the conversation on our Ehave supporters telegram group at https://t.me/EhaveInc.

The company posts important information and updates through weekly videos from the official company YouTube channel https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCnyW1mgMd0qmYkEMq3O6FWA.

Please follow Ehave on Twitter @Ehaveinc1

About Ehave, Inc.

Ehave, Inc. (EHVVF) is a leader of digital therapeutics delivering evidence-based therapeutic interventions to patients. Our primary focus is on improving the standard care in therapeutics to prevent or treat brain disorders or diseases through the use of digital therapeutics, independently or together, with medications, devices, and other therapies to optimize patient care and health outcomes. Our main product is the Ehave Telemetry Portal, which is a mental health informatics platform that allows clinicians to make objective and intelligent decisions through data insights. The Ehave Infinity Portal offers a powerful machine learning and artificial intelligence platform with a growing set of advanced tools and applications developed by Ehave and its leading partners. This empowers patients, healthcare providers, and payers to address a wide range of conditions through high quality, safe, and effective data-driven involvement with intelligent and accessible tools. Additional information on Ehave can be found on the Companys website at: http://www.ehave.com.

About Brain Scientific:

Brain Scientific is a commercial-stage healthcare company with two FDA-cleared products, providing next-gen solutions to the neurology market. Its smart diagnostic devices and sensors simplify administration, shorten scan time and cut costs, allowing clinicians to make rapid decisions remotely and bridge the widening gap in access to neurological care. To learn more about Brain Scientifics corporate strategy, devices or for investor relations please visit: http://www.brainscientific.comor email at info@memorymd.com.

Forward-Looking Statement Disclaimer

This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such statements may be preceded by the words intends, may, will, plans, expects, anticipates, projects, predicts, estimates, aims, believes, hopes, potential or similar words. Forward-looking statements are based on certain assumptions and are subject to various known and unknown risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond the Company's control, and cannot be predicted or quantified and consequently, actual results may differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements: (i) the initiation, timing, progress and results of the Companys research, manufacturing and other development efforts; (ii) the Companys ability to advance its products to successfully complete development and commercialization; (iii) the manufacturing, development, commercialization, and market acceptance of the Companys products; (iv) the lack of sufficient funding to finance the product development and business operations; (v) competitive companies and technologies within the Companys industry and introduction of competing products; (vi) the Companys ability to establish and maintain corporate collaborations; (vii) loss of key management personnel; (viii) the scope of protection the Company is able to establish and maintain for intellectual property rights covering its products and its ability to operate its business without infringing the intellectual property rights of others; (ix) potential failure to comply with applicable health information privacy and security laws and other state and federal privacy and security laws; and (x) the difficulty of predicting actions of the USA FDA and its regulations. All forward-looking statements included in this press release are made only as of the date of this press release. The Company assumes no obligation to update any written or oral forward-looking statement unless required by law. More detailed information about the Company and the risk factors that may affect the realization of forward-looking statements is contained under the heading "Risk Factors" in Ehave, Inc.s Registration Statement on Form F-1 filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) on September 24, 2015, as amended, which is available on the SEC's website, http://www.sec.gov.

Ehave Inc

Media Inquiries: Gabe Rodriguez

Gabe@Ehave.com

Investor Relations:

Email: Ir@Ehave.com

Phone: (623) 261-9046

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Psychedelic Partnership Reached, Ehave Inc. and Brain Scientific Sign Memorandum of Understanding to Map Brain Response to Psychedelic Treatment,...

A resolution to amend the Idaho Constitution in a way that would prevent marijuana or other drugs from being legalized in the state advanced through a Senate committee on Friday, creating complications for activists who are seeking to put cannabis reform measures on the 2022 ballot.

The Senate State Affairs Committee approved the resolution along party lines in a 6-2 vote, moving it to the full chamber for consideration.

It stipulates that the production, manufacture, transportation, sale, delivery, dispensing, distribution, possession, or use of a psychoactive drug shall not be permitted in the state of Idaho.

It would make an exception for substances that are approved by the federal Food and Drug Administration (FDA), but it would effectively kneecap efforts to establish a medical cannabis program that looks anything like those implemented in other legal states.

Watch the panel discuss the constitutional resolution on psychoactive substances below:

Part of the complication is that, should the legislature approve the resolution, sponsored by Sen. C. Scott Grow (R), it would put a constitutional initiative on the states 2022 ballot that would take precedence over any statutory legalization measures that appear alongside it, regardless of the margin that any measure ultimately gets approved by.

Activists are dealing with this development as they work to collect signatures on an initiative to legalize medical cannabis and while a separate group is preparing to place adult-use legalization before voters.

The committee-approved resolution says that the normalization of illicit drug use is having a profound negative impact on Idaho citizens and, therefore, it is reasonable and necessary to enact the constitutional change.

But to advocates, the request is anything but reasonable and is intended to undermine the democratic process, misleading voters by neglecting to directly explain how the measure would impact medical cannabis reform efforts and instead referring broadly to psychoactive drugs.

Heres the language of the constitutional amendment that the lawmakers hope to place before voters:

Shall Article III of the Constitution of the State of Idaho be amended by the addition of a new Section 30 to provide that the production, manufacture, transportation, sale, delivery, dispensing, distribution, possession, or use of certain psychoactive drugs shall not be lawful in the State of Idaho unless such drugs are: (a) approved by the federal Food and Drug Administration and permitted by the state; (b) lawfully prescribed; and (c) lawfully dispensed?

If approved, that would mean that Kind Idahos medical cannabis legalization measure and another initiative in the works to legalize for recreational purposes would be rendered null and void, regardless of whether a majority of Idahoans passed either of them.

Marijuana Moment is already tracking more than 450 cannabis, psychedelics and drug policy bills in state legislatures and Congress this year. Patreon supporters pledging at least $25/month get access to our interactive maps, charts and hearing calendar so they dont miss any developments.Learn more about our marijuana bill tracker and become a supporter on Patreon to get access.

Beyond opposition from activists, Grows resolution is also facing personal pushback from a relative of his who moved to neighboring Oregon so that she could treat symptoms of her multiple sclerosis with cannabis.

In a letter shared by the Idaho Citizens Coalition (ICC) on Friday, the husband of the senators sister-in-law, Keith Detro, said that few people have had the opportunity to witness firsthand, investigate and discover for them-self the potential benefits of medical marijuana than Mr. Grow.

Mr. Grows sister-in-law no longer needs to muffle her agony. She no longer suffers from intense constipation, picking at her skin, insomnia addiction, rebound headaches and other opioid side-effects. She no longer needs to face the risk of overdose, he wrote. But to receive this treatment, she must leave the State of Idaho. She must escape the tired rhetoric of those who will oppose a thing without exploring a thing, even when it exists within their own family.

Russ Belville, who previously served as a campaign spokesperson for ICC and is now the chief petitioner of the recently proposed Idaho Marijuana Legalization Act, explained the political dynamics at play in a Facebook video on Friday, following the committee vote.

He said that supporters of the resolution will attempt to put forward a narrative that misleadingly suggests that it would prevent the legalization of drugs like cocaine and meth. The committee gave a preview of that argument in the hearing, where much conversation was dedicated to Oregons voter-approved drug decriminalization initiative.

When this goes before the voters, you know theyre gonna sell it as, Oh, this makes drugs illegal. We dont want legal cocaine, we dont legal meth, we dont want legal heroin. We dont want to do like Oregon does and have legal drugswhich Oregon doesnt, but theyre gonna say it that way, Belville said. A lot of people who dont pay attention might be fooled into thinking, Oh yeah, we want to ban illegal drugs, we dont like cocaine and meth, and not realize that it bans medical marijuana forever.

But its not just the resolution that could derail reform efforts. A Republican lawmaker also plans to introduce a bill this session that advocates say would create a seriously limited medical marijuana program.

If the legislation is enacted, advocates worry that it would undermine any measures that may go before voters next year, giving the impression that the state already has an effective medical cannabis system in place and raising questions about why they would need to approve an additional reform.

As it stands, the state is already mostly surrounded by neighbors that have legalization on the bookswith Montana voters approving the police change in November.

An attempt to put medical cannabis reform on Idahos 2020 ballot was abandoned due to signature gathering complications caused by the coronavirus pandemic. Advocates briefly had hope that a federal court ruling on an unrelated campaigns request for electronic petitioning could help them qualify last November, but that was overturned by an appeals court.

Meanwhile, activists in Nebraska are also seeking to put both medical and adult-use cannabis on that states 2022 ballot. They also attempted to have voters decide on a medical marijuana legalization measure last year, but the state Supreme Court rejected the bid following a technical challenge.

Montana Governors Plan For Marijuana Tax To Fund Drug Treatment Departs From Voter-Approved Initiative

Photo courtesy of Mike Latimer.

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Psychedelic Mushroom Bills Filed In Florida And Connecticut As Movement Expands To Multiple States - Marijuana Moment