The Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies (MAPS) has received funding of $1.5m from Wasana Health in a first-of-its-kind collaboration to accelerate research into MDMA-assisted therapy for traumatic brain injury (TBI).
Life sciences company, Wesana Health will provide the initial funding to MAPS in order to assess the viability of its MDMA-assisted therapy to treat TBI. The collaboration will accelerate research timelines and provide additional support for further research, advocacy, education, and equitable access to MDMA-assisted therapy treatments.
The non-profit MAPS has been focusing its research on the use of MDMA-assisted therapy for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) – a condition TBI shares symptoms with – where the first of two Phase 3 trials demonstrated a clinically significant reduction in PTSD symptoms for 88% of participants.
The memorandum of understanding (MoU) will allow MAPS’ subsidiary MAPS Public benefit Corporation to have a team evaluate the scope of unmet need for TBI treatment, as well as help to define terms of a desired joint venture.
Rick Doblin, Ph.D., MAPS executive director, commented: “Wesana is a serious, thoughtful and ethical company engaged in the development of psychedelic-assisted therapy. What Daniel and his team are doing is in line with MAPS’ ethics, mission, values and scientific rigour, and we believe together, MAPS and Wesana can bring much needed help to the massively underserved TBI population.
“Data collected from MAPS-sponsored Phase 3 clinical trials suggests that MDMA-assisted therapy appears promising in the treatment of TBI. Consistent with our mission, we seek to investigate treatments for affected patients who can be helped by MDMA – this is an important step in that direction.”
Daniel Carcillo, CEO of Wesana Health, and former hockey player, said: “The work MAPS has done for more than 35 years with regulators and clinical researchers to navigate the rigorous and necessary FDA approval process for MDMA therapeutic use has positioned psychedelic-assisted therapy on the precipice of national – and global – acceptance. The millions of people afflicted with PTSD may soon have access to MDMA therapy, and we believe the millions suffering from TBI may experience similar relief in the future.
“Success in forming a research collaboration with MAPS is expected to shrink Wesana Health’s time to market for MDMA therapy for TBI to a handful of years. With millions of people around the world experiencing injuries impacting their brain health, our hope is that through this partnership we will soon deliver meaningful help to the victims, families, friends and communities affected by TBI.”
