Psilocybin could soon help millions of people tackle obesity and eating disorders. At the moment, the global obesity epidemic is still bursting at the seams. According to the World Health Organization (WHO) obesity has tripled in size over the last 50 years. In 2016, they note, 1.9 billion adults were overweight around the world. Of those, 650 million were considered obese. Just in the U.S., nearly 34% of adults and up to 20% of children are obese. By 2030, almost half of U.S. adults will be considered obese. By 2030, almost half of U.S. adults will be considered obese. Along with such weight issues, there can be complications with heart disease, stroke, type 2 diabetes, and several types of cancer. However, a solution may be found in psychedelics such as psilocybin, which activates serotonin receptors, or "nature's own appetite suppressant," as noted by Psychology Today. "This powerful brain chemical curbs cravings and shuts off appetite. It makes you feel satisfied even if your stomach is not full. The result is eating less and losing weight." With the story gaining big momentum, some of the top companies to keep an eye on include NeonMind Biosciences Inc. (CSE: NEON), HAVN Life Sciences Inc. (CSE:HAVN), Cybin Inc. (NEO:CYBN)(OTC:CLXPF), Tryp Therapeutics Inc. (CSE:TRYP), and Mind Medicine Inc. (NEO:MMED)(OTC:MMEDF).
NeonMind Biosciences Inc. (CSE: NEON), BREAKING NEWS: NeonMind Biosciences Inc. a psychedelic drug development company, is pleased to announce that it has engaged Dr. C. Laird Birmingham to consult with NeonMind to develop protocols for its Phase 2 Clinical Trial administering psilocybin to treat obese patients. Dr. Birmingham is a Specialist in Internal Medicine, an Epidemiologist and Biostatistician, and a Professor of Psychiatry at the University of British Columbia where he was previously Professor of Internal Medicine, and he has extensive experience in the design of clinical trials for treatments for eating disorders. He has also been appointed to NeonMind’s Board of Advisors.
Dr. Birmingham is an expert in the treatment and study of eating and weight disorders. He has pioneered several new internationally recognized treatments. He has more than 30 years of experience in eating disorder and obesity research and treatment and has 280 publications including 131 referenced articles, 23 invited chapters, and 9 books. He was Head of General Internal Medicine at St. Paul’s Hospital and UBC, Head of the Obesity Clinic at St. Paul’s Hospital, Leader of the BC Eating Disorders Epidemiology Project in the Centre for Health Evaluation and Outcome Sciences, BC Provincial Director of Eating Disorders, and Medical Director of the Woodstone Residential Treatment Centre for Eating Disorders. He is a Member of the Brain Research Centre at UBC.
His expertise includes eating disorders, anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, binge eating disorder, avoidant/restrictive food intake disorder (ARFID), phobia, emetophobia, obesity, imaging of the brain using LORETA 3D electrical brain scans, and treatment using LORETA neurofeedback, vagus nerve stimulation and transcranial electrical stimulation.
Dr. Birmingham’s research at UBC includes: nutrition and its relation to brain function, ambient temperature and its effect on activity and brain function, malnutrition and micronutrients, and the epidemiology, complications, and treatment of eating disorders and obesity.
Dr. Birmingham says, “The problem with the treatment of obesity is primarily that of weight maintenance. Most people lose weight, but they rarely maintain. Psilocybin has the potential to serve as a new and different tool to help people lose weight and maintain their weight loss by changing neural pathways. Changed habits and cognitions can increase caloric expenditure related to non-exercise and exercise energy expenditure and reset the behaviours and cognitions that link life stress and trauma to eating behaviour.”
NeonMind is currently conducting a preclinical trial at the University of British Columbia researching the administration of psilocybin as a treatment to aid in weight loss and it is now engaging its full team to develop its Phase 2 Human Clinical Trial as the next step in its drug development.
Obesity is the cause behind many diseases and other health problems and has been formally recognized by the World Health Organization as a global epidemic. According to WHO:
- 2.8 million people die each year as a result of being overweight or obese; and
- In 2016, more than 1.9 billion adults, 18 years and older, were overweight.
Other related developments from around the markets include:
HAVN Life Sciences Inc. (CSE:HAVN) is pleased to announce that, further to its news release dated December 15, 2020, the Company has completed its previously announced bought deal public offering of 10,747,900 units, including 1,401,900 Units issued pursuant to the Underwriter’s over-allotment option which was exercised in full, at a price of $1.07 per Unit, for aggregate gross proceeds of $11,500,253. Eight Capital acted as underwriter in respect of the Offering. Each Unit consists of one common share in the capital of the Company and one Share purchase warrant, with each Warrant entitling the holder thereof to purchase one additional Share at an exercise price of $1.34 for a period of 36 months from the date of issuance.
Cybin Inc. (NEO:CYBN)(OTC:CLXPF), a life sciences company focused on psychedelic pharmaceutical therapies, is pleased to provide an update on its eight patent filings, which cover the Company’s novel therapeutics, delivery mechanisms and treatment regiments. The Company is also pleased to announce that it intends to expand the development of its therapeutics program to include, in addition to psilocybin, psychedelic compounds such as DMT, psilocybin analogues and a range of tryptamines and phenylethylamines which are expected to have improved pharmacokinetic profiles, while retaining the efficacy of the original molecules. In addition, the Company intends to build a database of molecules and their chemically synthesized pathways for use in the pharmaceutical industry. “Our management team has a proven track record in developing and commercializing dozens of therapeutics, including a modified psychedelic targeted for treatment resistant depression and we intend to continue to advance our IP portfolio, drug discovery platform, delivery mechanisms and technologies all with the end goal of enhancing the patient experience and progressing the psychedelic industry,” said Cybin’s Chief Executive Officer, Doug Drysdale.
Tryp Therapeutics Inc. (CSE:TRYP) a clinical-stage pharmaceutical company developing therapeutics targeting diseases with high unmet medical needs, announced it has entered into an agreement with Albany Molecular Research Inc., a leading global contract research, development and manufacturing organization, to provide research, development and cGMP manufacturing of a proprietary psilocybin active pharmaceutical ingredient to support the clinical development of TRP-8802, TRP-8803 and TRP-8804 programs. “Working with AMRI as our U.S.-based active pharmaceutical ingredient supplier is a critical component of our rapid clinical development strategy and we very pleased to have engaged them to support our neuropsychiatric programs. By working with AMRI, we are able to create additional intellectual property around the manufacture and use of our proprietary psilocybin API.” said Larry Norder, Vice President of Manufacturing of Tryp. Mr. Norder further commented, “AMRI’s excellent industry reputation, size, and wealth of experience with manufacturing API under cGMP brings very high credibility to our efforts to develop psilocybin as a therapeutic for indications with high unmet medical needs.”
Mind Medicine Inc. (NEO:MMED)(OTC:MMEDF) is pleased to announce that it has closed its previously announced bought deal short form prospectus offering, including the exercise in full of the Underwriters’ over-allotment option. In connection with the Offering, the Company issued 20,930,000 units of the Company at a price per Unit of CAD $4.40 for gross proceeds of approximately CAD $92.1m. The Offering was conducted by Canaccord Genuity Corp., along with Eight Capital and CIBC Capital Markets.
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