Masterclass: The Best and Brightest Minds Working with DMT
Described as the “spirit molecule”, the mysteriously powerful psychedelic drug dimethyltryptamine (DMT) is re-emerging in this modern renaissance in a big way and was the focus of our most recent Molecular Masterclass.
We’d like to thank our co-title sponsors Small Pharma and Entheon Biomedical, as well as gold sponsors Pharmadrug and Algernon Pharmaceuticals and Psilera.
Along with the luminaries representing our sponsors, we hosted another roster of world-class speakers, such as Carol Routledge, Brian Jahns, Andrew Hegle, Paul Van Slyke, and Natan Ponieman as the moderator for the panel on DMT drug delivery & safety panel.
What is DMT?
Dimethyltryptamine (DMT) is a powerful hallucinogenic compound in the tryptamine family of psychedelic compounds. It is found in several plants, is produced endogenously in the body, and the pure molecule can also be synthesized in a laboratory. The popular Amazonian psychedelic brew Ayahuasca contains DMT as its primary psychoactive compound. Other preparations include an unrefined mixture of plants/flowers that contain DMT that is known as “changa” and is smoked.
However, the companies, scientists, and speakers featured at this latest Masterclass are taking these traditional forms of DMT to new levels with next-generation products and practices, like in-clinic IV DMT, pharmahuasca, novel analogs, unique delivery methods, and much more on the horizon.
While a different molecule in the DMT family, the uniquely powerful hallucinogen 5-MeO-DMT, is also explored in this conference by Joël Brierri, founder of Kaivalya Kollectv and Symbiosis Retreats, along with Tricia Eastman, Rak Razam, Merrill Ward, Dr. Joseph Barsuglia, all leading experts and practitioner in working with 5-MeO-DMT
A Brief Snapshot & Key Highlights From the Conference
Thank you to our dedicated audience and partners for making this Molecular Masterclass the highest attended and engaged of all our molecular masterclass conferences
Small Pharma blazing ahead in DMT trials
The event started with Small Pharma CEO Peter Rands delivering a keynote address on Psychedelic Ethics: Patents, Patients and DMT. Carol Routledge, Small Pharma’s Chief Medical and Scientific Officer then spoke on our panel discussion titled ‘DMT Drug Development and Safety’.
Since coming on everyone’s radar earlier this year, Small Pharma has taken its place amongst the leaders in the DMT field with the industry’s most advanced DMT trial. Its lead candidate SPL026 is currently in a Phase I/IIa randomized-controlled clinical trial for Major Depressive Disorder, with topline data readout of the Phase IIa proof of concept data anticipated in H1 2022.
Peter Rands, CEO, Small Pharma, said: “With millions of people around the world suffering from depression, an alternative approach to mental health care is much needed. We all need to be open minded to different types of new treatments, such as DMT-assisted psychotherapy.
“As a short-acting psychedelic, DMT has unique properties that lend themselves to clinical use – and we believe that, when combined with psychotherapy, it has the potential to be an effective treatment for depressive disorders. Our clinical trial – the first of its kind – is helping us explore this potential with evidence-based research.
“We’re delighted to be the lead sponsor at Microdose’s 2021 DMT Conference and to speak alongside other exciting, innovative companies so that we can collectively champion the potential of psychedelic-assisted therapies.”
See here for recent news of Small Pharma completing its Phase 1 trial and Microdose’s coverage of the company going public. And here’s a fun clip of Small Pharma virtually opening the market.
Entheon Explores the Neuroscience of DMT
We then heard from Entheon Biomedical and how they’re exploring the neuroscience and clinical potential of DMT as a therapeutic.
For instance, Christopher Timmermann provided an intriguing theory based on the fact that in many experiences hallucinating highly geometric visuals (which he describes as ‘tunnels, Cyprus, lattices, and cobwebs’) is consistent across subjects, to a degree. He believes ‘this suggests that these geometries are actually manifestations of the primary visual cortex there, or somehow manifesting, the structure of the brain.’
While he acknowledges it’s a radical idea that somehow, instead of looking outwards, we’re starting to look inside of our brains instead, Timmerman believes further research could indeed reveal this.
Along with evaluating the significance of the subjective psychedelic experience, their team is also exploring the neurogenesis and neuroprotective effects of DMT in the body, which are mediated by the via Sigma one receptors that can lead to powerful inflammatory and anti-ischemic properties. Indeed, applications are currently underway to potentially use DMT for stroke.
So there’s a lot of exciting potential for DMT Both fascinating avenues of research the Entheon Team is sure to continue pursuing this important exploration into how these drugs work in the brain
PharmaDrug Opens the Conversation About Non-Psychiatric Medical Use
While psychedelics hold immense potential to treat the mentally ill, however, the buck doesn’t stop there. The aforementioned neurogenesis and neuroprotective properties expressed by DMT are being apple to a variety of non-psychiatric applications. For instance, the Pharmadrug team is developing a 30 nanomolar intraocular (goes in the eye) DMT solution for glaucoma treatment. They are finding that such a minuscule dose (factors of hundreds below the threshold dose for psychoactivity) can regrow the necessary nerves to reverse glaucoma. The team is even working on an implant to insert into the eye that will consistently release nanomolar amounts of DMT into the eye regularly.
Having just listed under the ticker: PHRX on the Canadian Stock Exchange (CSE), Pharmadrug is ready to take advantage of psychedelic capital markets and we wish them luck!
Can DMT Help Stroke Patients? Algernon Pharmaceuticals is on Their Way to Find Out
The aforementioned neurogenesis and neuroprotective properties of DMT make it a versatile therapeutic that seems to have applications well beyond neuropsychiatry and the psychedelic experience. One company investigating DMT as a possible treatment for stroke in current phase 2 trials is Algernon Pharmaceuticals.
Due to its aforementioned properties of DMT to be able to regrow, repair, and protect neurons, Algernon is exploring the possibility of DMT being the next, highly efficacious generation of treatments for stroke patients, who currently have limited quality options. In a similar spirit, other plant medicines and psychedelics, such as ibogaine, are also being investigated for non-psychiatric use, such as in the treatment of Parkinson’s Disease. It is these novel applications of psychedelics we couldn’t develop in the 60s’ and ’70s since biotechnology still had a long way to go.
Today, combined with cutting-edge technology, companies like Algnernon are curating second-generation psychedelic medicines targeting a range of clinically important indications, not all of which revolve around mental illness.
Psilera Biosciences Looks Ahead to The Future of DMT in Mindful Medicine Practices
As a clinical biologist myself, with a genuine passion for neuropharmacology, I always enjoy when Jackie von Salm, Chief Science Officer, and Chris Witowski, Psilera CEO, present. Among their primary goals is to develop the next generation of psychedelic drugs that are more amenable and practical for the mainstream public, their healthcare practitioners, and insurance companies.
Find Jackie & Chris as interesting as I do? Check out each of their guest appearances on the PsyFi podcast!
Episode #5: PsyFi podcast ft. Pisilera Biosciences CEO, Dr. Chris WIitowski
Episode #7 PsyFi podcast ft. Psilera Biosciences CSO Dr. Jackie von Salm
Their team of advanced and experienced chemists is skilled at developing derivatives of traditional psychedelics to reduce psychoactivity, for instance, so they are more practical in an outpatient setting. By employing this strategy, the Psilera team hopes to bring insurers on board and provide maximum accessibility to these compounds for those who need it. They are currently incubated by the University of South Florida and have a collaboration with the Neuroscience Institute that specializes in alcohol addiction and circadian rhythm studies as well.
Not Just About the Science: Exploring Business & Markets as it Relates to DMT
Our law and policy experts, David Wood, Ruth Chun, Hadas Alterman, Sasha Sisko, all offered important insights into DMT, during the law and regulations panel. Since DMT is a schedule-1 substance and restricted across most of the world, this panel had some particularly important takeaways.
The renowned Rick Strassman delivered a beautiful presentation on his panel “DMT is Everywhere: Past, Present, and Future”. Rockstar leadership from Entheon such as Brian Jahn and Timothy Ko, CBO and CEO of Entheon respectively, spoke to their efforts while the dynamic Nadia Van der Hayden, Director of Sales & Marketing at Psygen Labs, spoke brilliantly on the Business & Markets panels they shared Be sure to check out the recording if you missed it!
Beyond N,N-DMT: Exploring the Even More Powerful 5-MeO-DMT
While traditional N, N-DMT, more commonly known simply as DMT, is a unique and powerful compound on its own, it is worth mentioning its cousin 5-MeO-DMT. This panel featured Joël Brierre, Tricia Eastman, Rak Razam, Merrill Ward, Dr. Joseph Barsuglia. Known as one of, if not the most powerful psychedelic drug known to man, 5-MeO-DMT is said to induce a state of non-duality, which is one of the most profound states of consciousness known to man. Increased cell proliferation, anti-addictive effects, and lasting anti-depressive effects are only a few of the many benefits associated. Unlike traditional psychedelics, 5-MeO-DMT acts more on the serotonin 1A and 7 system rather than the 5HT2A receptor system, which is the receptor generally known to produce those classic psychedelic effects caused by tryptamines.
Dr. Barsuglia went on to say that it has “Been hypothesized to be associated with consciousness depth of engendering depth of consciousness experiences and the Sigma receptors are connected to the anti-inflammatory and neuro regenerative properties of it, so there’s for sure in effect on radically altering consciousness and also a lot of potential for medical therapies, whether it’s pain, inflammation and a host of neurologic disorders as well, and I would say there’s a lot of observational research that had been done.
Dr. Barsuglia even went on to talk about a study he did involving 515 subjects that empirically showed 5-MeO-DMT is not addictive or habit-forming–valuable data that is sure to influence drug policy. He is also a vocal supporter of the mystical experience holding the real therapeutic value in all the purported benefits from the “5”.
Finally, practitioners Joël Brierre and Rak Razamalso had the real-world experience to share about how they have established the safest and best practices after years of training and thousands of administrations of medicine. 5-MeO-DMT and psychedelic expert Merrill Ward kindly shared his valuable insights as well. As the last panel to close this masterclass, we would like to thank all our sponsors, speakers, and, of course, our dedicated audience.
Hope to see you all in Miami, live, celebrate, and share deeper insights about this exciting movement.