When it comes to the burgeoning arena that is psychedelic medicine, one field that is ripe with innovation and intrigue is that of dimethyltryptamine (DMT) therapeutics. While visually stunning hallucinations often consisting of machine elves and sacred geometries are par for the course when it comes to the DMT trip, one unique company is far more interested in its clinical benefits at a sub-perceptual dose. The team at Algernon Pharmaceuticals is investigating the neurogenesis properties of microdosing DMT through an IV infusion in the treatment of ischemic stroke. The clinical-stage pharmaceutical company hopes to expand on promising preclinical data in which rats treated with DMT recovered more quickly than those not treated with the drug. Here are three key takeaways from their February 2021 Psychedelic Capital presentation.
Don’t miss the next Psychedelic Capital event which will feature renowned thought leaders in the psychedelic industry, including MAPS founder, Rick Doblin. You can grab your free ticket here. Use Coupon Code PSYCAP on the checkout.
Key Takeaway #1: DMT Induced Neurogenesis is a Promising Area of Study
A study published in the September 2020 edition of Nature found that “DMT administration activates the main adult neurogenic niche, the subgranular zone of the dentate gyrus of the hippocampus, promoting newly generated neurons in the granular zone. Moreover, these mice performed better, compared to control non-treated animals, in memory tests, which suggest a functional relevance for the DMT-induced new production of neurons in the hippocampus.” In layman’s terms, this means that DMT administration activates neuron growth in the hippocampus of these rat brains. Additionally, the mice that received DMT were found to perform better than non-treated mice in memory tests, which shows the functional relevance of the neurons found to be growing in the hippocampus. This study is one of several journal articles demonstrating the neurogenic potential of psychedelic drugs. The ability of psychedelic drugs to induce neuroplasticity and regenerate brain cells is astonishing and a key area of research for psychedelic medicine today. Algernon’s plan to capitalize on these findings by utilizing IV DMT for stroke patients is a novel idea that may offer significant paradigm shifts in the way we treat neurodegenerative disorders.
Key Takeaway #2: IV DMT Has Several Clinical Advantages
One of the most intriguing elements of this particular form of psychedelic therapy being crafted by the Algernon team is the fact DMT is being administered intravenously. Due to how fast DMT can enter the body, and the fact it doesn’t stick around for very long allows for the researchers to effectively utilize an “on/off” switch during treatment. The drug can be infused over an optimal length of time so that a steady-state concentration can be achieved. Furthermore, utilizing DMT via IV infusion eliminates the need for MAOI drugs which would otherwise be required for an oral preparation of the drug (like in ayahuasca).
Key Takeaway #3: Algernon is a Pre-Revenue Company That’s Publicly Traded & Generating Investor Interest
With 2.5-3 million capital in the bank, the team at Algernon Pharmaceuticals is ready to take on their DMT for the ischemic stroke research project. Stroke physicians have been looking for effective new treatments in a field that has otherwise been a graveyard for new treatment modalities. Currently, after 24 hours, the only “treatment” out there for stroke patients is prayer. The team at Algernon hopes that DMT will be effective in helping the brain regrow neural networks and regenerate the following injury due to stroke. Not only is this exciting for the field of stroke therapy and brain inflammation, but hopeful for investors looking to get involved in new treatments that can help the brain heal. Furthermore, the company’s intellectual protection around a liquid form of DMT made for IV infusion has a lower risk for diversion since it’s not orally active, making it more attractive to the pharma industry and their investors as a commercially viable product.
A Look Ahead for Algernon Pharmaceuticals
The innovative team at Algernon Pharmaceuticals is conducting truly fascinating research into the benefits of DMT for stroke patients. Considering how barren the treatment landscape currently is for ischemic stroke patients, Algernon’s DMT formulation may prove to be just what this field of medicine needs. As the modern psychedelic renaissance continues to evolve, the team at Algernon Pharmaceuticals is certainly worth keeping an eye on.
When it comes to the burgeoning arena that is psychedelic medicine, one field that is ripe with innovation and intrigue is that of dimethyltryptamine (DMT) therapeutics. While visually stunning hallucinations often consisting of machine elves and sacred geometries are par for the course when it comes to the DMT trip, one unique company is far more interested in its clinical benefits at a sub-perceptual dose. The team at Algernon Pharmaceuticals is investigating the neurogenesis properties of microdosing DMT through an IV infusion in the treatment of ischemic stroke. The clinical-stage pharmaceutical company hopes to expand on promising preclinical data in which rats treated with DMT recovered more quickly than those not treated with the drug. Here are three key takeaways from their February 2021 Psychedelic Capital presentation.
Don’t miss the next Psychedelic Capital event which will feature renowned thought leaders in the psychedelic industry, including MAPS founder, Rick Doblin. You can grab your free ticket here. Use Coupon Code PSYCAP on the checkout.
Key Takeaway #1: DMT Induced Neurogenesis is a Promising Area of Study
A study published in the September 2020 edition of Nature found that “DMT administration activates the main adult neurogenic niche, the subgranular zone of the dentate gyrus of the hippocampus, promoting newly generated neurons in the granular zone. Moreover, these mice performed better, compared to control non-treated animals, in memory tests, which suggest a functional relevance for the DMT-induced new production of neurons in the hippocampus.” In layman’s terms, this means that DMT administration activates neuron growth in the hippocampus of these rat brains. Additionally, the mice that received DMT were found to perform better than non-treated mice in memory tests, which shows the functional relevance of the neurons found to be growing in the hippocampus. This study is one of several journal articles demonstrating the neurogenic potential of psychedelic drugs. The ability of psychedelic drugs to induce neuroplasticity and regenerate brain cells is astonishing and a key area of research for psychedelic medicine today. Algernon’s plan to capitalize on these findings by utilizing IV DMT for stroke patients is a novel idea that may offer significant paradigm shifts in the way we treat neurodegenerative disorders.
Key Takeaway #2: IV DMT Has Several Clinical Advantages
One of the most intriguing elements of this particular form of psychedelic therapy being crafted by the Algernon team is the fact DMT is being administered intravenously. Due to how fast DMT can enter the body, and the fact it doesn’t stick around for very long allows for the researchers to effectively utilize an “on/off” switch during treatment. The drug can be infused over an optimal length of time so that a steady-state concentration can be achieved. Furthermore, utilizing DMT via IV infusion eliminates the need for MAOI drugs which would otherwise be required for an oral preparation of the drug (like in ayahuasca).
Key Takeaway #3: Algernon is a Pre-Revenue Company That’s Publicly Traded & Generating Investor Interest
With 2.5-3 million capital in the bank, the team at Algernon Pharmaceuticals is ready to take on their DMT for the ischemic stroke research project. Stroke physicians have been looking for effective new treatments in a field that has otherwise been a graveyard for new treatment modalities. Currently, after 24 hours, the only “treatment” out there for stroke patients is prayer. The team at Algernon hopes that DMT will be effective in helping the brain regrow neural networks and regenerate the following injury due to stroke. Not only is this exciting for the field of stroke therapy and brain inflammation, but hopeful for investors looking to get involved in new treatments that can help the brain heal. Furthermore, the company’s intellectual protection around a liquid form of DMT made for IV infusion has a lower risk for diversion since it’s not orally active, making it more attractive to the pharma industry and their investors as a commercially viable product.
A Look Ahead for Algernon Pharmaceuticals
The innovative team at Algernon Pharmaceuticals is conducting truly fascinating research into the benefits of DMT for stroke patients. Considering how barren the treatment landscape currently is for ischemic stroke patients, Algernon’s DMT formulation may prove to be just what this field of medicine needs. As the modern psychedelic renaissance continues to evolve, the team at Algernon Pharmaceuticals is certainly worth keeping an eye on.