In Partnership with Imperium Group
According to the National Alliance on Mental Illness, approximately 48M people suffer from anxiety disorders each year. Despite the treatment options available, it is estimated that over 30% of cases are treatment resistant – meaning they don’t work. The need for new treatment options is becoming more prominent every day. Are there any new potential treatment options for those suffering with mental illness?
In the last few years, the results of clinical trials have revealed that psychedelic molecules may help with treating multiple mental health conditions. With promising new data released from various preclinical and clinical trials, psychedelics are receiving increased interest for their newly discovered potential to treat depression, anxiety, PTSD, and other mental health conditions.
Research and development of psychedelic therapies has become a rapidly growing industry over the past several years. Cybin Inc., a leading clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company headquartered in Canada with operations in the United States, United Kingdom, the Netherlands, and Ireland, is one such company that is on a mission to create safe and effective therapeutics to address a multitude of mental health conditions. Cybin is focused on progressing “Psychedelics to Therapeutics” [TM] and recently announced the launch of its first-in-human trial of its psychedelic-based molecule CYB003 in people with major depressive disorder (MDD).
“In our view, psychedelics have the potential to transform the way that mental health conditions are currently treated. Psychedelic molecules, like CYB003, have the potential to unlock the powerful benefits of psychedelics without many of the well-known limitations. This could be absolutely life -changing and transformative for millions of people,” said Doug Drysdale, CEO of Cybin.
CYB003 is the Company’s first psilocybin analog to be evaluated in a first-in-human Phase 1/2a clinical trial in people with MDD. The clinical trial, which commenced in August 2022, will evaluate up to 32 participants in a double-blind placebo trial.
“Approximately one-third to one-half of people with MDD demonstrate an inadequate response to antidepressant drug treatment. Treatment options for these patients currently are limited to dose escalation, switching or combining antidepressants, or augmentation therapy, often with unsatisfactory results,” said Dr. Gary Zammit, President & CEO of Clinilabs, the company partnering with Cybin for the MDD clinical trial.
Within just a few years, treatments like CYB003, coupled with psychological support, have the potential to treat mental health conditions like MDD. “The high level of participant interest in our study serves to validate the significant unmet need for alternative and better treatment options to improve mental health conditions. We expect that this Phase 1/2a trial will provide valuable insights and data. These findings will be critical in establishing a safe and efficacious treatment profile for CYB003 so we can continue to progress our mission to help revolutionize the treatment landscape for people suffering from depression,” said Drysdale.
As Cybin continues its rigorous research and development in this space, it is possible that society is on the doorstep of a more effective, scalable, and accessible treatment for depression, addiction, and other mental illnesses. While it may be too early to say for certain, people who suffer from these mental health conditions may be able to take comfort in knowing that innovative companies like Cybin are committed to discovering the full hidden potential of psychedelics.
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