A Startup Used AI to Make a Psychedelic Without the Trip
8 hours ago
- #AI-drug-design
- #psychedelics
- #mental-health
- Psychedelic drugs show promise in treating severe mental health conditions but have downsides like scary hallucinations and potential worsening of existing mental illness.
- Mindstate Design Labs uses AI to design psychedelic-like drugs without hallucinations, with their first compound, MSD-001, showing promising results in Phase I trials.
- MSD-001 targets the serotonin 2a receptor, producing psychoactive effects without hallucinations, and aims to be combined with other drugs for precise therapeutic states.
- The therapeutic benefit of psychedelics may come from promoting neuroplasticity rather than hallucinogenic effects, suggesting a 'trip' might not be necessary.
- Mindstate's approach could make psychedelic therapy accessible to individuals currently excluded from trials, such as those with psychotic or personality disorders.
- Regulatory hurdles remain, as seen with the FDA's rejection of MDMA-assisted therapy, but Mindstate plans to focus on drug evaluation separate from talk therapy.
- Experts debate whether non-hallucinogenic psychoactive drugs should be classified as psychedelics, with some valuing the unpredictability and depth of traditional psychedelics.
- Not all patients seeking relief from mental health conditions may want intense psychedelic experiences, highlighting the potential appeal of milder alternatives.