Psilocybin Transdermal Patches Could Be The Next Big Thing In Psychedelics – Forbes

As more and more research hints at the potential therapeutic uses of psychedelics, finding new ways to deliver the powerful drugs has taken on new interest. For example, the active component of psilocybin mushrooms, psilocin, shows promise as a treatment for several challenging mental health issues, including severe depression and addiction. However, commonly administered forms of the drug can cause unwelcome side effects for patients.

Mushroom Magic: studies have found that psilocybin, the psychedelic compound found in some ... [+] mushrooms, has potential to treat some medical conditions like depression.

To address the issue, Hawaii-based psychedelic medicines startup Ei.Ventures announced on Thursday that it has engaged Tioga Research to develop a safe and effective transdermal patch for the sustained delivery of psilocin.

John M. Newsam, the CEO of Tioga Research,saidin a press release that the San Diego company specializing in the research and development of skin-applied products will deploy our proprietary technologies and deep expertise to address key psilocin formulation issues, such as delivery and stability. A transdermal delivery route can circumvent issues with oral administration, such as nausea.

Ei.Ventures project development specialist Tyler Strause says that the transdermal patch may make psychedelics a more viable treatment option for many people while enhancing the therapeutic experience.

One of the unique challenges with psychedelics is managing the peak experience, where people may experience some adverse effects, Strause says in a virtual interview. By utilizing transdermal technology, our hope is that were going to be able to essentially flatten the curve, make the acute peek a little bit less acute and also allow for a more extended duration of the sort of threshold effects.

Ei.Ventures hopes to develop a range of therapeutic products that give mental health professionals new options to successfully treat their clients, acknowledging that there are a range of potential, therapeutic applications from microdosing up through sort of breakthrough doses. And even, potentially, what have been sort of described as heroic doses, Strause notes.

A transdermal patch could become a safe and effective way to deliver therapeutic psychedelic drugs.

David Nikzad, president of Ei.Ventures, says that to prevent misuse or abuse, the companys research and development is primarily focused on psilocybin patches intended for use with the supervision of a mental health professional.

I think that the psychedelic experience at this point needs to be done with a therapist, Nikzad says, adding, I used to think differently about that, but Ive seen where psychedelics can be taken and used in too much of a recreational manner.

But eventually, as regulations governing the use of psychedelics ease and a safe and effective microdose is determined, additional wellness products that can be used outside of the clinical setting could also be developed for the public.

The goal is to have a range of transdermal, psychedelic products that will give therapists and practitioners as many tools as they need in order to help people overcome their mental health challenges, Strause explains. But ultimately with an eye for the future, where people will be using these products, not just to alleviate their mental health challenges, but also for their more positive benefits.

Research into the potential health applications of psilocybin, which is converted to psilocin in the liver, continues. Astudypublished last year in the journalJAMA Psychiatryfound that psilocybin-assisted psychotherapy was a quick-acting and effective treatment for a group of 24 participants with major depressive disorder. Separateresearchpublished in 2016 determined that psilocybin treatment produced substantial and sustained decreases in depression and anxiety in patients with life-threatening cancer.

Ei.Ventures director of clinical development Linda Strause, who has a doctorate in neurophysiology and biochemistry and more than 30 years of experience in drug development, notes that there are also other potential mental health applications for psilocybin under investigation.

Weve talked about everything from major depression disorder to schizophrenia [and] PTSD, Linda Strause, who is also Tylers mother, explains in the joint interview. Theres so many needs out there.

Follow this link:

Psilocybin Transdermal Patches Could Be The Next Big Thing In Psychedelics - Forbes