MindMed announced that the first patient has been dosed in its Phase 3 Voyage study of MM120 ODT, a pharmaceutically optimized form LSD for the treatment of Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD). 

Voyage is the first of two Phase 3 studies in GAD evaluating the efficacy and safety of MM120 ODT versus placebo, and is expected to enroll approximately 200 participants in the U.S. The Panorama study, the second Phase 3 trial, will be conducted in the U.S. and Europe and is on track to initiate in the first half of 2025. Here’s more: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20241216046321/en/

The DEA called for an increase in DMT production in 2025 in an effort to support the development of new DMT-based treatments for a variety of mental health conditions.  

The production goal for DMT has now been raised from 11,000 grams to 20,000 grams.  A more than 80% increase. This comes just three months after the DEA released new quotas for the production of Schedule I and Schedule II controlled substances for research purposes, and calling for an increase in the manufacturing of ibogaine, psilocybin and psilocyn, while continuing to maintain stable quotas for MDMA.

Check it out: https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2024/12/17/2024-30023/established-aggregate-production-quotas-for-schedule-i-and-ii-controlled-substances-and-assessment

Researchers from Johns Hopkins and Harvard released the results of a new study which focused on how Ketamine can induce plasticity and promote behavioral perseverance. 

The research took advantage of the ability of zebrafish to exhibit “giving up” behavior during tasks where trying to swim is futile. Their study found that exposure to ketamine caused a lasting suppression of this “giving up” behavior by overstimulating astroglia, which is a type of neural cell that supports and regulates the brain. 

The study found that a brief exposure to ketamine suppressed the giving up behavior by overstimulating astroglia. Although the animals still struggled when their swimming was not effective, they did not give up as easily and were less passive. 

The co-lead authors of the study noted that their work suggests potential links between astroglial modulation of brain state with previous work on the role of astroglia in both depression and the efficacy of antidepressants. Here’s more: https://www.cell.com/neuron/fulltext/S0896-6273(24)00836-5?_returnURL=https%3A%2F%2Flinkinghub.elsevier.com%2Fretrieve%2Fpii%2FS0896627324008365%3Fshowall%3Dtrue

Did you know that there could be a link between hyperactivity and an immune system gene regulator called STAT1?

According to researchers at Duke Health, prolonged activation of STAT1 in dopamine neurons can disrupt brain function, suggesting a potential link to certain neurodevelopmental disorders.

The immune system and brain are closely interconnected, with many immune pathways also influencing brain development and behavior. STAT1 is a gene regulator activated during immune responses, particularly in fighting infections. However, researchers have observed that its prolonged activation can negatively affect brain function.

This raised questions about whether dysregulated STAT1 activity might contribute to neurodevelopmental disorders, which often involve behavioral and cognitive challenges. Given the prevalence of immune-related abnormalities in individuals with disorders such as autism and ADHD, the research team aimed to explore STAT1’s role in brain function and behavior. Here’s what they found: https://www.psypost.org/dopamine-neurons-sensitivity-to-immune-system-gene-offers-clues-to-hyperactivity-and-behavioral-disorders/