RM: We have plenty of evidence published in the biomedical literature as well as our own clinical experience and research conducted at CRTCE indicating that the efficacy of ketamine is far superior to conventional antidepressant approaches. Ketamine is currently suggested as a treatment for adults who have treatment resistant depression. For most adults with treatment resistant depression, only about 10 to 20% respond to any type of treatment. With ketamine, we see response rates occurring in about 60 to 65%. Importantly, with conventional treatments, it takes 6 to 8 weeks to work, but with Ketamine people can see benefits, usually, within a week. The science that is currently looking at psilocybin gives us a reason to believe that psilocybin, like ketamine, may also be able to improve symptoms of people with treatment resistant depression and may also be able to improve symptoms rapidly, unlike anything else that we’ve seen before. However, we still have multiple phases of drug discovery to do. What’s different about our organization is we are the only organization in the world that does not need clinical organizations or other third parties to conduct research, as we are able to conduct our own research at scale.

PA: And, what about mood stabilizers? Are there psychedelic alternatives that may better help those with bipolar disorder, for example?

RM: At this point in time ketamine and psychedelics have not been sufficiently studied in adults who have bipolar disorder. The CRTCE has just published the largest study ever in a community center showing that ketamine is capable of improving hypomanic and depressive symptoms. We strongly believe Ketamine will be a viable alternative to some treatments, especially in treatment resistant bipolar depression and patients who continue to have ongoing mood instability. Our research paper was just published in the journal Bipolar Disorders.

PA: Given the criminalization of many psychedelics in North America, do you think stigmatization could present a barrier to those seeking psychedelic-related therapies and treatments?

RM: There is no question that there remains a very significant stigma as it relates to psychedelics. In addition, it is criminal in Canada and the United States to be in possession of these products, as they continue to be schedule one drugs according to the DEA. That being said, there is increasing acceptance of these medications. We’ve seen decriminalization in some US cities. In the U.S., the FDA has declared psilocybin a potential breakthrough drug in the treatment of depression. I think these developments give a reason to believe that psilocybin’s stigma will be reduced. I don’t expect that they will be allowed to be dispensed on the street, but if psilocybin is demonstrated to be effective at treating depression and gets FDA approval, it will be available at accredited centers to give to people for the treatment of depression and related diseases.

PA: Many of our readers are interested in gaining exposure to this nascent space via investments. What would you say to those looking to invest in this emerging sector?

RM: My advice to people who are thinking about investing in this space is that they should pay close attention to organizations that currently have a clinical infrastructure in which they see patients, a positive cash flow, that are operating a profitable business, have a scale and growth, have a track record of doing their own clinical research, and have commercialization opportunity with their own products. There is no other organization in ketamine or psychedelic research that has the clinical infrastructure, the human capital, and their own IP commercialization products like we do. Moreover, we have the largest research footprint in the world and are able to produce products that are in early phase 2. We have joined with our extensive pharmaceutical partners to bring products across the finish line in about two years rather than the conventional 6 to 8 years.

PA: How has, and/or will, COVID-19 affect your operations and growth?