Preliminary psychedelic studies are bountiful these days, but concrete conclusions are not. Academic journals publish systematic reviews and in vitro research monthly, ending with the same sentiment: the world needs a concrete understanding of these compounds.
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Filament Health Corp. is adding insight to this growing data pool by undergoing clinical trial testing with its botanical psilocybin drug PEX010, which shows promise for patients with severe alcohol use disorder (AUD).
“We are thrilled to announce positive results which support the efficacy of PEX010,” said Benjamin Lightburn, Filament co-founder and CEO, in a press release. “These data reinforce our confidence in the potential of botanical psilocybin to help the millions of people suffering from substance use disorders like AUD. We look forward to advancing to the next stage of development.”
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved PEX010 for investigation into treating substance use disorders in early 2024. The drug has since been authorized in 51 clinical trials, 14 of which touch on mental health. Now, the company has good news for those struggling with alcohol addiction.
Latest psilocybin pharmaceutical clinical trial
Filament released its latest results in an inquiry into psilocybin for alcohol addiction. All 10 clinical trial participants knew they were receiving a high dose (25 mg) of psilocybin. The adults were diagnosed with severe AUD and engaged in two preparation sessions: one mushroom experience with the drug and two integration sessions. Drinking was down across the board following the integrations.
In the 12 weeks after they consumed PEX010, alcohol consumption decreased significantly for participants. They reported reducing “heavy drinking days” from the baseline of 53.6 percent to 16.1 percent by week 12. They also reduced their “drinks per day” by an average of 3.4. There was a noticeable quick, lasting reduction in alcohol cravings as well. The whole cohort completed the course of the study, and no adverse effects were logged.
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“These results highlight the promising potential of psilocybin as a treatment for alcohol use disorder,” said co-principal investigator and PhD student Dr. Mathias Ebbesen Jensen, MD, in the release. “Our findings suggest that this therapy could offer a much-needed novel approach.”
The next steps of the investigation into PEX010 for alcohol addiction involve a larger cohort of participants. The Filament research team will also utilize a randomized, placebo-controlled trial to solidify these conclusions. Those suffering from addiction, and the people who love them, can only hope that this potential drug can help.
