Before we get started today, we wanted to follow up on our February 1st announcement about our latest investment in Immunis.

Immunis is a clinical-stage biotech company developing multi-active biologics with immune modulating factors that can address age-related diseases and immune dysregulation.

You see, as we age, immune health and metabolic health decline. This often manifests as muscle atrophy (sarcopenia), obesity, and reduced physical function. This is what Immunis is targeting with its IMM01-STEM therapy.

A few months ago, Immunis successfully completed its Phase 1/2a clinical trial investigating the safety, tolerability, and preliminary efficacy of IMM01-STEM in reversing muscle atrophy. Overall, the global osteoarthritis therapeutics market size was valued at $9.13 billion in 2024 and is projected to reach nearly $14 billion in just five years.

But this is much bigger than just osteoarthritis, because Immunis’ stem-cell derived treatment, which has already shown effectiveness in improving muscle size, strength, reduced inflammation and metabolic benefits, could also potentially be utilized for neurodegenerative and cognition indications. This is a very big deal.

Worth noting: Immunis was founded by world-renowned stem-cell pioneer Dr. Hans Keirstead, who has successfully exited three stem-cell companies, and leads the Human Immunome Project - a $3 billion project analogous to the Human Genome project. Some of its partners include Pfizer, Moderna, AstraZeneca, and the NIH.  Indeed, good company to keep.

We’ll have more on Immunis in future updates. And of course, if you have any specific questions about Immunis, feel free to set up a call.

Now let’s get to this week’s latest psychedelics and neuroscience news…

Nevada lawmakers introduced a bill this week to create a psychedelics therapy pilot program that would provide a treatment alternative for patients with certain mental health conditions.

The legislation from Assembly member Max Carter was filed on Monday, setting the stage to potentially build upon Nevada’s psychedelics laws.

Under the proposal, the state would establish an Alternative Therapy Pilot Program under the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), which would authorize the medically supervised use of psychedelics including psilocybin, DMT, ibogaine and mescaline.

According to the text of the bill, the Division of Public and Behavioral Health under HHS would be tasked with licensing at least one person to “cultivate, manufacture or otherwise produce” psychedelic substances for use in the Program. Check it out: https://www.marijuanamoment.net/nevada-lawmakers-file-bill-to-create-psychedelics-therapy-pilot-program/

Biotech firm, Right Brain Bio announced a manufacturing agreement with Suven Pharmaceuticals for the production of its lead drug candidate, RB-190, targeting the root cause of Parkinson's disease.

RB-190 represents a groundbreaking approach to Parkinson's disease, aiming to modify the disease progression rather than merely alleviating symptoms. The drug is a repurposed form of metyrosine, based on Right Brain Bio Founder and CEO Dr. Jonathan Sackner-Bernstein's discovery that excessive dopamine exposure leads to the neurotoxicity driving Parkinson's disease.

Preclinical studies in nine different models of Parkinson's demonstrate RB-190's potential to reverse disease pathology, offering a promising new avenue for patients. Here’s more: https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/in-preparation-of-phase-ii-studies-right-brain-bio-signs-manufacturing-agreement-with-suven-pharmaceuticals-for-rb-190-to-target-the-root-cause-of-parkinsons-disease-302398363.html

PharmaTher Holdings announced that the company had received an Amendment Acknowledgement Letter (“AAL”) from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for its New Drug Application for Ketamine. In the AAL, the FDA determined this is a minor amendment, meets the criteria for priority review, and assigned an approval goal date of June 4, 2025. Check it out: https://www.pharmather.com/news/pharmather-receives-us-fda-approval-goal-date-for-ketamine

The New Mexico Senate passed a bill to establish a therapeutic psilocybin program in the state.

After clearing three separate committees over the past month, the legislation was approved by the full chamber in a 33-4 vote on Wednesday, sending it to the House of Representatives.

If enacted, the Medical Psilocybin Act would allow patients with certain qualifying conditions to access psilocybin and use it under the guidance of a licensed healthcare provider. Here’s more: https://www.marijuanamoment.net/new-mexico-senate-passes-bill-to-create-psilocybin-therapy-program/

Did you know that there is growing evidence to suggest that those who were under the influence of LSD or MDMA during the Hamas attack at the Nova music festival, were protected (to some degree), from the trauma of that horrifying experience?

According to Haifa University neuroscientist Roy Salomon, more than 400 survivors from the festival were under the influence of recreational drugs including MDMA, LSD, marijuana or psilocybin, before the attacks took place.

MDMA, and especially MDMA that was not mixed with anything else, has so far shown to be the most protective. Salomon said that those on MDMA during the attack appeared to have coped much better mentally in the first five months afterwards, when a lot of processing takes place.

"They were sleeping better, had less mental distress – they were doing better than people who didn't take any substance.”

Salomon’s research team believes pro-social hormones triggered by the drug – such as oxytocin, which helps promote bonding – helped reduce fear and boost feelings of camaraderie between those fleeing the attack. And even more importantly, they say, it appears to have left survivors more open to receiving love and support from their families and friends once they were home. Here’s more: https://www.thejc.com/news/israel/nova-survivors-who-took-ecstasy-may-have-been-protected-from-trauma-study-suggests-far4floh