Latest reporting
Eli Lilly Just Paid $3.8 Billion to Bet That Depression's Next Blockbuster Looks Like DMT
Eli Lilly's up-to-$3.8 billion acquisition of AtaiBeckley, weeks after FDA finalized psychedelic clinical trial guidance, signals mainstream pharma is done waiting on the sidelines of psychedelic medicine.
Stop Treating the Trip as a Side Effect
A single 25 mg psilocybin dose raised brain entropy within an hour, and that spike predicted psychological insight the next day and better well-being a month later. The FDA is now asking who should be in the room. Here is why the answer matters.
The FDA Finally Wrote Down How to Blind a Trial When the Drug Makes You Trip
The FDA finalized clinical trial design guidance for psychedelic drugs, codifying a fix for the functional-unblinding problem that doomed Lykos's MDMA therapy in 2024. A public hearing is set for September 14.
Through eight lenses
Science
5-HT2A agonism (classical psychedelics), MDMA serotonin/dopamine/NE release, ibogaine multi-receptor (anti-addiction window).
Biology
Acute autonomic effects, serotonin syndrome risk in combos, ibogaine cardiac risk (QT prolongation — real, requires screening), HPPD rare but possible.
Psychology
"mystical experience" correlating with therapeutic outcome (Griffiths et al.); challenging experiences and how they're handled in set/setting.
Policy
Mostly Schedule I; Oregon Measure 109, Colorado Prop 122, FDA breakthrough designations; MDMA 2024 rejection; state-level initiatives for decrim/regulated access.
Trends
Psychedelic clinic growth (often off-label ketamine), "microdosing" research (mostly null), ayahuasca tourism.
Treatment
Psilocybin+therapy for AUD (NYU + Hopkins RCTs); ibogaine for OUD (Stanford case series, Kentucky state research); MDMA-AT for PTSD (post-2024 setback, new trials).
The DEA Banned Ibogaine in 1970. This Week, Three Federal Agencies Bet on It Anyway.
Jul 20Arizona Firefighters Are Eating Psilocybin Chocolates for PTSD. The FDA Just Decided to Take It Seriously.
Jul 6Psilocybin Just Got the Federal Fast-Track. The Science Is Further Along Than the Policy Knows.
Jun 30
Harm Reduction
Set/setting, integration, contraindications (SSRIs, heart conditions, family psychosis history for classical psychedelics), test kits.