The Promise Of Psilocybin When It Comes To Mental Health, And How COMPASS Pathways Is Advancing It

(NewsDirect)

By Faith Ashmore, Benzinga

Recent advancements in understanding mental health and the brain have allowed us to identify possible commonalities between different mental health conditions. One of the shared experiences among patients with conditions like treatment-resistant depression (TRD), bipolar II disorder and PTSD is the inability to move on and the presence of repetitive thoughts or ruminations. These thoughts can be persistent, counterproductive and even self-destructive. Patients often describe feeling disconnected from the world including friends and family. Although our ability to measure brain activity in humans is limited, doctors can use magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to observe blood flow, which is closely linked to brain activity. When there is an increase in blood flow in a specific area, it indicates increased local activity, particularly at synapses.

The brain is a highly energy-demanding organ, and different parts of the brain tend to fire together as modules rather than operating as completely independent entities. These modules control various functions such as vision, sensory/motor control of movement, the emotions, attention and even a default mode network associated with rumination and internal dialogues. This default mode network is where patients may experience the persistent and intrusive self-critical voice in their minds. In a number of mental health conditions, these functional modules appear to be more connected within and less between each other compared to individuals without the condition. Understanding the commonalities revealed by human imaging studies across conditions offers valuable insights for rethinking treatment approaches and providing proper care, especially for patients with unmet needs.

This is why the world of psychedelics is especially promising when it comes to mental health care. Drugs producing psychedelic experiences have shown promise in treating mental health conditions, perhaps by disrupting the connectivity of functional modules altered in depression, anxiety, and other conditions. For example, by reducing activity in the default mode network, it has been suggested that these drugs may also help individuals break negative thought patterns and ruminations. Animal studies suggest that they may help in promoting neuroplasticity and repairing neural circuits, which may lead to improved and sustained mental health outcomes in some patients. This potential is exciting and more research is needed to understand how psychedelics may be used.

COMPASS Pathways' (NASDAQ: CMPS) innovative approach has received FDA Breakthrough Therapy designation in the U.S. and Innovative Licensing and Access Pathway designation in the U.K. for their investigational COMP360 psilocybin in TRD. Moreover, in late 2021, COMPASS Pathways announced the completion of a randomized, controlled double-blind phase 2b study of investigational COMP360 psilocybin treatment involving 233 patients with TRD in 22 sites across Europe and North America.

While the company is currently focusing on TRD, it is also researching PTSD and anorexia nervosa, in part because of neurological similarities. Companies like COMPASS Pathways are working to develop interventions that address these common factors and support patients on their path toward improved mental well-being. For patients who have found no relief with current medications, this would be meaningful progress.

Company BioCOMPASS Pathways plc (Nasdaq: CMPS) is a mental health care company dedicated to accelerating patient access to evidence-based innovation in mental health. Our focus is on improving the lives of those who are suffering with mental health challenges and who are not helped by current treatments. We are pioneering the development of a new model of psilocybin therapy, in which our proprietary formulation of synthetic psilocybin, COMP360, is administered in conjunction with psychological support. COMP360 has been designated a Breakthrough Therapy by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and has received Innovative Licensing and Access Pathway (ILAP) designation in the UK for treatment-resistant depression (TRD). We have commenced a phase 3 clinical program of COMP 360 psilocybin therapy in TRD, the largest randomised, controlled, double-blind psilocybin therapy clinical program ever conducted. Previously, we completed a phase 2b study with top line data showing a statistically significant (p

This post contains sponsored content. This content is for informational purposes only and not intended to be investing advice.

Contact Details

Stephen Schultz

stephen.schultz@compasspathways.com

Copyright (c) 2023 TheNewswire - All rights reserved.

News Provided by TheNewsWire via QuoteMedia

CMPS:US
The Conversation (0)

Compass Pathways to Participate in December Investor Conferences

Compass Pathways plc (Nasdaq: CMPS), a biotechnology company dedicated to accelerating patient access to evidence-based innovation in mental health, announced today that members of the executive management team will participate in the following investor conferences in addition to hosting investor meetings:

  • 7 th Annual Evercore ISI HealthCONx Conference: Fireside chat at 10:25am ET on December 3, 2024
  • Piper Sandler 36 th Annual Healthcare Conference: Fireside chat at 3:30pm ET on December 4, 2024

A live audio webcast of these events will be accessible here for 30 days following the events.

News Provided by Business Wire via QuoteMedia

Keep reading...Show less

Compass Pathways to participate in Stifel 2024 Healthcare Conference

Compass Pathways plc (Nasdaq: CMPS), a biotechnology company dedicated to accelerating patient access to evidence-based innovation in mental health, announced today that management will present at the Stifel 2024 Healthcare Conference at 10:55 am ET on November 19, 2024.

A live audio webcast of the presentation will be accessible from the "Events" page of the Investors section of the Compass website. A replay of the webcast will be accessible for 30 days following each event.

News Provided by GlobeNewswire via QuoteMedia

Keep reading...Show less

Compass Pathways Announces Third Quarter 2024 Financial Results and Business Updates

  • Top-line COMP005 data for COMP360 phase 3 pivotal program in treatment-resistant depression now expected in second quarter 2025
  • COMP006 data will now be announced after 26-week time point, expected in the second half of 2026
  • Strategic reorganization to focus all efforts on COMP360 program resulting in reduction of workforce of approximately 30%
  • Cash position of $207 million
  • Conference call October 31 at 8:00 am ET (12:00 pm UK)

Compass Pathways plc (Nasdaq: CMPS) ("Compass"), a biotechnology company dedicated to accelerating access to evidence-based innovation in mental health, today reported its financial results for the third quarter 2024 and an update on recent business progress.

News Provided by Business Wire via QuoteMedia

Keep reading...Show less
Emyria Limited

Emyria and UWA in Partnership to Commercialise Novel Serotonin-Releasing Agents for Mental Health and Neurology

Emyria Limited (ASX: EMD) (“Emyria”, or the “Company”) has signed an exclusive licence agreement with UWA, granting worldwide rights to a rapidly growing portfolio of selective serotonin-releasing agents. (See Appendix for Key Commercial Terms). These novel compounds, realised through a UWA–Emyria research partnership launched in 2021,2 include potential next-generation treatments for mental health and neurological conditions such as PTSD and Parkinson’s disease.

Keep reading...Show less

Seelos Announces Second Postponement of its Annual Meeting of Stockholders

Seelos Therapeutics, Inc. (OTCQB: SEEL) ("Seelos"), a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on the development of therapies for central nervous system disorders and rare diseases, today announced that its 2024 Annual Meeting of Stockholders (the "Annual Meeting"), which was previously postponed to Friday, October 25, 2024 from its originally scheduled date of Friday, September 27, 2024 has been further postponed. The Annual Meeting is now scheduled to be held virtually, via live webcast at www.virtualshareholdermeeting.comSEEL2024 on Monday, November 25, 2024 at 8:00 a.m., Eastern Time . The record date for the Annual Meeting, August 19, 2024 is unchanged and applies to the postponed Annual Meeting.

News Provided by PR Newswire via QuoteMedia

Keep reading...Show less

Compass Pathways to Announce Third Quarter Financial Results on October 31, 2024

Compass Pathways plc (Nasdaq: CMPS), a biotechnology company dedicated to accelerating patient access to evidence-based innovation in mental health, announced today that it will release financial results for the third quarter 2024 ending September 30, 2024, and provide an update on recent business developments, on October 31, 2024.

The management team will host a conference call at 8:00 am ET (12:00 pm UK) on October 31, 2024. To access the call, please register in advance here to obtain a local or toll-free phone number and your personal pin.

News Provided by Business Wire via QuoteMedia

Keep reading...Show less

Latest Press Releases

Related News

×