SAN DIEGO–(BUSINESS WIRE)–CB Therapeutics, Inc. has achieved the successful biosynthesis of psilocybin, psilocin and related tryptamine-based compounds typically found in plants and fungi and has filed a patent for the production process. In early testing, the analysis of raw analytical samples has shown the biosynthetic process to be significantly more efficient, of higher purity and less expensive than existing chemical and biosynthetic techniques or other production methods.
CB Therapeutics platform can not only make the active compounds that occur naturally, but by using enzymatic processes CB Therapeutics has been able to create bioidentical compounds as well as their analogs. These analog compounds are very similar to their natural counterparts and may prove to be more effective, targeted and safer for therapeutic purposes.
“In historical and recent clinical trials and settings, psilocybin, psilocin and related tryptamine-based compounds have been shown to have implications for the treatment of Major Depressive Disorder (MDD), Treatment Resistant Depression (TRD), Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and other hard to treat psychiatric conditions. That’s why the FDA has granted these compounds ‘Breakthrough Therapy’ status. We are very excited to work with potential partners that seek to explore the therapeutic potential for these compounds and their analogs,” said Dr. Jacob Vogan, CSO at CB Therapeutics.
If approved by the FDA, psilocybin, psilocin or a tryptamine-based treatment for depression could become a blockbuster therapeutic. The World Health Organization estimates that more than 300 million people around the world suffer from depression, mankind’s most common mental disorder. “We are very curious about the properties of these compounds and the analogs of these compounds that may have a greater therapeutic benefit,” said Paul Schindler, VP of Business Development at CB Therapeutics. “This could provide greater efficacy and a better safety profile that could enable a much broader market for these treatments.”
The research and development of this breakthrough process was a long and difficult pathway requiring multiple licenses and approvals. CB Therapeutics first obtained regulatory approval from the California Research Board and recently obtained a United States DEA Schedule 1 license. “Unlike our core research and development of biosynthetic cannabinoids and terpenes, we are seeking medical researchers, business partners and scientific collaborators who will utilize these compounds exclusively for approved clinical trials and medical research,” said Sher Ali Butt, CEO of CB Therapeutics. ‘We hope to enable ultimate FDA approval for this promising class of therapeutics to meet a serious unmet medical and social need.”
About CB Therapeutics
CB Therapeutics, Inc., located in San Diego, California, is a biotechnology companyfocusing on the innovative production of high value molecules, compounds and rare ingredients from simple feedstock utilizing many different types of hosts and systems, including yeast, bacteria and cell-free expression systems. CB Therapeutics’ expertise in synthetic genomics, bio-engineering and cellular production processes can produce a broad range of phytochemicals faster, more sustainably, at greater yields and with higher purity, consistency and efficiency than competitive platforms.
