For the multi-site open-label extension study of MDMA-assisted psychotherapy for PTSD (MAPPUSX) sponsored by MAPS, Numinus will manage two new clinics in Montreal and Vancouver.
The Montreal and Vancouver sites in MAPPUSX will continue to study the safety and efficacy of MDMA in treating severe PTSD, under the leadership of MAPS Public Benefit Corporation (PBC) as study organiser.
Numinus will also financially support costs relating to therapists who deliver the therapeutic intervention in Numinus clinics during the trial.
The Vancouver and Montreal psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy clinics were previously used to conduct MAPS PBC’s earlier study, MAPP1, in which 88 per cent of participants experienced a clinically meaningful reduction in symptoms and 67 per cent no longer qualified for a PTSD diagnosis.
Numinus vice president and therapist for the Montreal site of the trial, Dr Joe Flanders, VP, Psychology, commented: “We are honoured to host the Canadian sites of the MAPPUSX trial as we continue to examine the important findings around MDMA-assisted therapy for PTSD.
“Our clinical and research teams are well positioned to implement MAPS’ research and, ultimately, to work with MAPS on the translation of research findings into mainstream clinical practice. We are excited about this study in both BC and Quebec and look forward to how the MAPPUSX study supports expanded collaboration in the future.”
“We are happy to work with a trusted ally to quickly complete the extension trial at the Canadian sites” added Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies (MAPS) founder and executive director, Rick Doblin, Ph.D..
“As we get closer to our goal of making MDMA-assisted therapy a reality, it is critical that we work with clinics who will advance making this treatment widely accessible in real-world settings.”
Numinus CEO, Payton Nyquvest, commented: ”We are thrilled that our two new locations, which are purpose-developed for psychedelic-assisted therapy, regulatorily compliant and leading in industry standards, can be used to help advance this crucial work on psychedelic medicine.
“We look forward to deepening our collaboration with MAPS while expanding the resources and solutions available to those suffering from PTSD.”
A total of 25 Numinus-affiliated therapists have gone through the MAPS training programme for delivery of MDMA-assisted therapy, a number of which will have roles in the trial. The trial will be open to eligible participants who were previously enrolled in the placebo arm of the MAPP1 parent study or who were not able to receive treatment due to COVID-19 restrictions.
Securing the Canadian sites will allow Numinus to expand its clinical activities in Quebec and BC, including its ketamine-assisted psychotherapy programme.
