Can psychedelic drugs treat depression? Fitchburg institute wants to be leader in the field
Wisconsin State JournalSep 24, 2022
Sep. 24—With cathedral ceilings and spa-like treatment rooms, the
Usona, co-founded by
The institute is developing a synthetic version of 5-MeO-DMT, a psychoactive substance found in the venom of the Sonoran Desert toad, and plans to start the first
The 93,000-square-foot facility, expected to open in fall 2023 on 17 wooded acres northwest of
In a floating pool, sauna, steam room and botanical room, patients will be able to prepare themselves for guided, hallucinogenic experiences in serene spaces, with the goal of helping them break free from the grip of mental anguish. Three residential cottages are planned.
"Their hope is for some sort of personal transformation," Linton said. "It's my belief that people are undergoing a change in self-awareness, a re-set of 'who am I?'"
The development of a headquarters for Usona, now housed in other
Now,
By the first half of 2024, the
The drugs act on specific brain receptors to change perception and cognition, with psilocybin having a very low risk of addiction because it doesn't seem to involve the addictive reward circuitry of the brain, scientists say. The benefits can come from just one or two doses.
"There has been a resurgence, I think, of the interest in psychedelic drugs, which for a while were sort of considered not an area that researchers legitimately ought to go after," Dr.
Transformative experience
It was a friend's relief from depression during late-stage cancer that got Linton tuned into the psychedelic revival. In a study at
"Her whole demeanor changed," Linton said. "She went from this state of deep depression to a sense of gratitude, feeling that each day was a gift."
Linton and Dr.
After an initial study of a dozen healthy people at UW-Madison found no significant side effects, Usona sponsored a phase 2 trial involving 100 people with major depression at UW-Madison and six other sites, including
Usona expects to start a phase 1 study of 5-MeO-DMT, the toad compound, in
Studies have suggested 5-MeO-DMT might have benefits for anxiety, depression and stress, but it's not clear what condition Usona will target. "We believe it offers a lot of therapeutic potential, but we haven't decided what that indication is going to be," Linton said.
Usona's synthetic versions of psilocybin and 5-MeO-DMT have been manufactured in
Scaling up
In Usona's research and development lab at
In an effort to understand the mechanisms of action of psychedelics to develop improved drugs, they're studying MDMA, LSD, mescaline and other psychoactive substances, synthesizing reconfigured compounds and participating in the
"The goal of this lab is to produce small amounts of many things," Sherwood said.
Next door,
"The idea is to have the perfect process to make these huge, massive batches," said Williamson, a process development research scientist.
In 2020, Usona scientists published their process for synthesizing psilocybin, allowing others to produce their own supply for research. Scientists can also obtain psilocybin for studies from Usona at minimal cost. Usona provides psilocybin, 5-MeO-DMT and other compounds to some 120 research centers around the world.
Last year, Usona started Porta Sophia, an online library of research findings and other information on psilocybin and other psychedelics, to show patent seekers and examiners what is already in the public domain.
Porta Sophia has challenged numerous claims in Compass patent applications. They include some describing the setting in which psilocybin is given, such as the patient using an eye mask and being in a room with muted colors and soft furniture. The company recently canceled those claims.
"We support good patents, on things that are truly innovative," Linton said.
While Linton supports decriminalization, he said Usona and its new facility are focused on helping people with major depression, with which an estimated 21 million Americans have at least one episode each year.
"This is the first center ... specifically designed with this in mind," Linton said. "It offers an opportunity for that change to occur with one single treatment, which is quite remarkable."
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