The use of psychedelic-assisted therapy to treat cancer-related conditions has come a long way. Recently, several clinical studies have been set up to assess different kinds of treatment, including LSD microdosing and psilocybin for palliative care and cancer-related distress.
One of them, a Phase 2 study conducted by Sunstone Therapies, published initial results of psilocybin’s long-term efficacy in cancer patients with Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) in the JAMA Oncology journal back in April.
That data corresponded to an 8-week follow-up period. In June, Sunstone will present its 18-month follow-up outcomes at the American Society for Clinical Oncology (ASCO) meeting. Its importance relies on the fact that it is possibly the longest follow-up data ever generated for a psilocybin study.
The open-label study assessed 25mg of COMPASS Pathways’ (NASDAQ: CMPS) synthetic psilocybin provided to 30 patients with curable and incurable cancer in adjacent rooms in a one-on-one therapist/patient ratio. Preparation and administration sessions were collective and supplemented by individual therapy.
Meanwhile, the University of Washington and psychedelics philanthropist Steven and Alexandra Cohen Foundation are sponsoring a new …