MindMed To Evaluate Ayahuasca’s Active Ingredient DMT In Phase 1 Clinical Trial Collaboration

Phase 1 Trial to experiment with dosing methods to better understand how humans react to DMT, setting stage for future potential Phase 2a proof of concept trials

BASEL, Switzerland, June 18, 2020 — MindMed will now pursue N,N-Dimethyltryptamine (DMT), the principally active ingredient in Ayahuasca, as part of its R&D collaboration with the University Hospital Basel’s Liechti Lab.  MindMed is providing startup funding for a Phase 1 clinical trial testing various intravenous dosing regimens of DMT, expected to begin in Q4 of 2020.

DMT is a naturally-occurring psychedelic substance and is the active ingredient used in Ayahuasca ceremonies by indigenous Amazonian shamanic practitioners. DMT causes a rapid onset and offset of action compared to similar psychedelic substances such as psilocybin or LSD. When administered as an Ayahuasca brew, natural substances are mixed with DMT to prolong its experiential effects and slow the metabolism in the human body. 

MindMed Co-Founder & Co-CEO JR Rahn said: “There is a growing trend in Western society to use Ayahuasca and DMT to facilitate a healing process for one’s mind.  However, there is very limited safety data and clinical trials evaluating DMT as a potential medicine so we are going to double down on understanding the therapeutic opportunity and more effective ways to administer DMT in a controlled setting to achieve this healing process.”

Through this Phase 1 clinical trial, MindMed and the Liechti Lab are exploring how DMT can achieve experiential effects similar to Ayahuasca by testing a more controlled intravenous dosing method.

There is non-clinical, anecdotal evidence which suggests DMT and Ayahuasca’s experiential effects are powerful healing tools for addiction disorders. The human safety data and associated knowhow gathered in this Phase 1 clinical trial will better enable MindMed’s clinical team to design future potential commercial drug development programs based on DMT sessions.

DMT is rapidly metabolized as it enters the body if taken orally and therefore it only has a very short duration of action. In contrast through a continuous intravenous perfusion application the effect is longer but can be stopped rapidly. In order to potentially induce a stable DMT experience lasting 1-2 hours, an intravenous dosing regimen including a starting dose and then a maintenance dose will be evaluated in this Phase 1 clinical trial. This intravenous administration may also allow therapists to induce and to end an experiential state safely and more quickly as required. 

Currently, no study has validly determined the elimination half-life of DMT and other pharmacokinetic parameters and there is limited known data on dosing regimens of pure DMT. This Phase 1 double blind placebo controlled 5-period crossover design study will provide a well controlled study setting to illuminate these shortcomings in the current clinical understanding of DMT and pave the way for future Phase 2a proof of concept efficacy studies in various indications.  

About MindMed

Mind Medicine (MindMed) Inc. is a neuro-pharmaceutical company that discovers, develops and deploys psychedelic-inspired medicines to improve health, promote wellness and alleviate suffering. The company’s has initiated or is initiating studies to evaluate potential treatments to help patients with ADHD, anxiety, cluster headaches and substance abuse. The MindMed executive team brings extensive biopharmaceutical industry experience to this groundbreaking approach to the development of next-generation psychedelic medicines. MindMed trades on the NEO Exchange under the symbol MMED. MindMed can also be traded in the US under the symbol OTC: MMEDF and in Germany under the symbol DE:BGHM. For more information: www.mindmed.co.

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