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Psychedelics Business Briefs: MAPS PBC, Johns Hopkins Center, Numinus Wellness
MAPS PBC Announces Deal to Use NIDA Data in New Drug Application
MAPS Public Benefit Corporation announced on Wednesday that the National Institute on Drug Abuse has agreed to provide data to supplement the company’s new drug application to the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for MDMA-assisted therapy to treat post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
NIDA will share select pharmacokinetic data from a previously published early-stage MDMA study conducted in the institute’s Intramural Research Program for the Safety Pharmacology section of MAPS PBC’s new drug application.
FDA requested pharmacokinetic data of acute MDMA administration to help investigate the safety profile of MDMA. With an agreement reached to use NIDA’s data to augment its application, MAPS PBC said in a news release it expects to submit its new drug application to the FDA in the second half of 2023.
In 2017, MDMA-assisted therapy received breakthrough therapy designation from the FDA, a process to expedite the development and review of drugs intended to treat specific conditions and demonstrate substantial improvement over existing treatment options.
Johns Hopkins Center Names New Director
The Johns Hopkins Center for Psychedelic & Consciousness Research (CPCR) announced on Tuesday that Frederick S. Barrett, PhD, has been appointed as the center’s new director. Dr Barrett succeeds Roland R. Griffiths, PhD, who has served as director since the center was founded in 2019. Dr Griffiths will continue as a member of the Hopkins University School of Medicine faculty and as a member of the CPCR leadership team.
Dr Barrett, who previously served as associate director for CPCR, is an associate professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, and he has been conducting psychedelic research at the university since 2013. Currently, Dr Barrett is leading a clinical trial to investigate the use of psilocybin therapy to treat major depressive disorder and co-occurring alcohol use disorder, and he is also leading ongoing studies to better understand the psychological, biological, and neural mechanisms underlying the therapeutic efficacy of psychedelic drugs.
Numinus Partners With HealingMaps
Numinus Wellness announced on Thursday that it has signed an agreement with HealingMaps, a source for individuals seeking information about psychedelic-assisted therapy, to increase awareness of Numinus’ clinics and the Numinus Network licensing model, as well as to offer practitioner training information and referrals exclusively to Numinus.
Per terms of the deal, HealingMaps will list Numinus services and clinics on its site and engage with practitioners who are interested in participating in the Numinus Network as licensees or furthering their psychedelic-assisted therapy training through Numinus’ certification programs.
“[HealingMaps’] data will also help us identify regions with unmet demand for psychedelic-assisted therapy services, as we look to expand our clinic network—both through corporately owned locations, and those joining our platform through our Numinus Network licensing program,” Numinus founder and CEO Payton Nyquvest said in a news release.
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