CMPS - The Promise Of Psilocybin When It Comes To Mental Health And How COMPASS Pathways (NASDAQ: CMPS) Is Advancing It
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By Faith Ashmore, Benzinga
Recent advancements inunderstanding mental health and the brain have allowed us to identifypossible commonalities between different mental health conditions. Oneof the shared experiences among patients with conditions liketreatment-resistant depression (TRD), bipolar II disorder and PTSD isthe inability to move on and the presence of repetitive thoughts orruminations. These thoughts can be persistent, counterproductive andeven self-destructive. Patients often describe feeling disconnectedfrom the world including friends and family. Although our ability tomeasure brain activity in humans is limited, doctors can use magneticresonance imaging (MRI) to observe blood flow, which is closely linkedto brain activity. When there is an increase in blood flow in aspecific area, it indicates increased local activity, particularly atsynapses.
Thebrain is a highly energy-demanding organ, and different parts of thebrain tend to fire together as modules rather than operating ascompletely independent entities. These modules control variousfunctions such as vision, sensory/motor control of movement, theemotions, attention and even a default mode network associated withrumination and internal dialogues. This default mode network is wherepatients may experience the persistent and intrusive self-criticalvoice in their minds. In a number of mental health conditions, thesefunctional modules appear to be more connected within and less betweeneach other compared to individuals without the condition.Understanding the commonalities revealed by human imaging studiesacross conditions offers valuable insights for rethinking treatmentapproaches and providing proper care, especially for patients withunmet needs.
Thisis why the world of psychedelics is especially promising when it comesto mental health care. Drugs producing psychedelic experiences haveshown promise in treating mental health conditions, perhaps bydisrupting the connectivity of functional modules altered indepression, anxiety, and other conditions. For example, by reducingactivity in the default mode network, it has been suggested that thesedrugs may also help individuals break negative thought patterns andruminations. Animal studies suggest that they may help in promotingneuroplasticity and repairing neural circuits, which may lead toimproved and sustained mental health outcomes in some patients. Thispotential is exciting and more research is needed to understand howpsychedelics may be used.
COMPASS Pathways’ (NASDAQ: CMPS)innovative approach has received FDA Breakthrough Therapy designationin the U.S. and Innovative Licensing and Access Pathway designation inthe U.K. for their investigational COMP360 psilocybin in TRD.Moreover, in late 2021, COMPASS Pathways announced the completion of arandomized, controlled double-blind phase 2b study of investigationalCOMP360 psilocybin treatment involving 233 patients with TRD in 22sites across Europe and North America.
While the company is currently focusing on TRD, it is alsoresearching PTSD and anorexia nervosa, in part because of neurologicalsimilarities. Companies like COMPASS Pathways are working to developinterventions that address these common factors and support patientson their path toward improved mental well-being. For patients who havefound no relief with current medications, this would be meaningfulprogress.
Company BioCOMPASS Pathways plc (Nasdaq: CMPS) is amental health care company dedicated to accelerating patient access toevidence-based innovation in mental health. Our focus is on improvingthe lives of those who are suffering with mental health challenges andwho are not helped by current treatments. We are pioneering thedevelopment of a new model of psilocybin therapy, in which ourproprietary formulation of synthetic psilocybin, COMP360, isadministered in conjunction with psychological support. COMP360 hasbeen designated a Breakthrough Therapy by the U.S. Food and DrugAdministration (FDA) and has received Innovative Licensing and AccessPathway (ILAP) designation in the UK for treatment-resistantdepression (TRD). We have commenced a phase 3 clinical program of COMP360 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 astatistically significant (p<0.001) and clinically relevantimprovement in depressive symptom severity after three weeks forpatients who received a single high dose of COMP360 psilocybin withpsychological support. We are also conducting phase 2 clinical studiesof COMP360 psilocybin therapy for post-traumatic stress disorder(PTSD) and anorexia nervosa. COMPASS is headquartered in London, UK,with offices in New York and San Francisco in the United States. Ourvision is a world of mental wellbeing.
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ContactDetails
Stephen Schultz
stephen.schultz@compasspathways.com
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