Assessing the Efficacy of Micro-dosed Psilocybin on Reducing Anxiety & Depression Levels in Adults

Wake Network

Status and phase: Withdrawn; Phase 2

Conditions: Anxiety and Depression

Treatments: Drug: PSIL428; Dietary Supplement: Oyster mushroom

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: NETWORK; Other

Identifiers

NCT04989972

ECP242-19/20

Details and patient eligibility

About

To investigate the efficacy of a 16 week treatment with PSIL428 patient reported anxiety levels in otherwise healthy individuals suffering from depression and or anxiety symptoms.

Full description

Randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study assessing the efficacy of micro-dosed psilocybin on reducing anxiety and/or depression levels in adults

Study summary:

The Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation reported that Anxiety disorders currently affect an estimated 275 million people worldwide, about one in 13 people (7.3 percent).

COVID-19 has accelerated the rate of new anxiety diagnoses and exacerbated pre-existing diagnoses of anxiety in individuals worldwide.

The effectiveness of full dose psilocybin for treatment of anxiety and depression has been shown in a number of clinical trials. While there is a significant evidence of clinical efficacy of full dose psilocybin, acute effects of the dose result in a significant impairment - perceptual and sensory distortions incapacitating the patient for the duration of drug activity. Recent work suggests while not producing perceptual changes, micro-dosing may indeed be associated with improved mood and enhanced well-being. The practice of micro-dosing is gaining popularity in the general population, while clinical data on its safety and efficacy is lacking.

This will be a novel randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study aimed at establishment of safety and anxiolytic efficacy of psilocybin PSIL428 administered in a micro-dosing regimen (2-5% of a full therapeutic dose) to adults suffering from depression or anxiety.

The primary outcome of this study is the change in anxiety and/or depression levels from screening to week 16. Participant anxiety levels will be monitored through Beck Anxiety inventory, depression levels - through Beck Depression Inventory forms on a bi-weekly basis across the course of the study.

Study Drug PSIL428 is an experimental intervention and the active ingredient psilocybin is botanically derived. Similar interventions are currently undergoing Phase IIb/III clinical trials in international jurisdictions. It is being assessed for treatment of depressive disorders. Typically psilocybin used in full therapeutic doses associated with significant acute adverse effects. The proposed trial would utilize psilocybin in different dosing regimen - as micro-dosing - ingesting of sub-perceptual doses of the drug equal to 2-10% of the full dose. The micro-dosing practice is gaining significant popularity world-wide, however evidence-based data around it is minimal. Risks and benefits associated with the trial are not definitively established, however existing pre-clinical and clinical data around full-dose use of the drug carries a favorable risk-benefit potential.

The trial will be conducted in accordance with the most recently acceptable version of the Declaration of Helsinki, Good Clinical Practice (GCP) according to International Conference on Harmonization (ICH) guidelines, and applicable Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs). The trial will be conducted under a protocol reviewed and approved by an IRB; the trial will be conducted by scientifically and medically qualified persons; the benefits of the study are in proportion to the risks; the rights and welfare of the subjects will be respected; each subject will give his or her written informed consent before any protocol-driven tests or evaluations are performed.

The investigators are responsible for obtaining informed consent in adherence to GCP and according to applicable regulations prior to entering the subject into the trial.

A positive change in Beck Anxiety and/or Beck Depression numeric levels between PSIL428 and placebo groups will mark our primary outcome achievement of confirming beneficial effects of micro-dose-administered psilocybin on study participants' overall anxiety and/or depression levels

Sex: All

Ages: 18 to 80 years old

Volunteers: No Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion and exclusion criteria

Inclusion Criteria:

• Experiencing persistent anxiety and/or depression symptoms
• Scoring between 10-20 on BAI and/or between 15-25 on BDI-II
• Females and males with the minimum age of 18 at screening;
• Not of child bearing potential, which is defined as females who have had hysterectomy or oophorectomy, bilateral tubal ligation or are post-menopausal (natural or surgically with 1 year since last menstruation)

OR

• Female participants of childbearing potential must agree to use a medically approved method of birth control and have a negative urine pregnancy test result, prior to enrollment. All hormonal birth controls require a minimum stability of three months and remain consistent throughout the study. Acceptable methods of birth control include:
• Hormonal contraceptives; oral, hormone patch (Ortho Evra), vaginal ring (NuvaRing), injectable (Depo-Provera, Lunelle), or hormone implant (Norplant System)
• Double-barrier method
• Intrauterine devices
• Non-heterosexual lifestyle or agrees to use contraception if planning on changing to heterosexual partner(s)
• Vasectomy of partner (shown successful as per appropriate follow-up);
• Willing to maintain current levels of activity throughout the study;
• Healthy as determined by self-report and medical history;
• Willingness to complete all study visits and requirements associated with the study;
• Has access to a computer, tablet, or smart phone with internet connection; sufficiently comfortable with using app-based technology for data gathering;
• Has given voluntary, written, informed consent to participate in the study.

Exclusion Criteria

• Individuals who are pregnant, breastfeeding, or planning to become pregnant.
• Individuals with psychotic disorders including schizophrenia; bipolar disorder. personality disorder. Participants with 1st-degree relatives with related psychotic disorders.
• Alcohol or drug abuse within the last 6 months that meets the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 5th Edition (DSM-5) criteria.
• Participation in a clinical research study within 30 days of enrollment.
• Allergy or sensitivity to study product ingredients.
• Clinically significant abnormal laboratory results at screening.
• Unstable medical conditions as assessed by the Principal Investigator.
• Individuals who are cognitively impaired and/or unable to give informed consent.
• Any other condition which in the Principal Investigator's opinion may adversely affect the participant's ability to complete the study or its measures or which may pose significant risk to the participant.
• Individuals who have taken a psychedelic drug (Psilocybin, DMT, Peyote, Ayahuasca, Ibogaine, LSD, Ketamine) within 60 days of screening.

Trial design

Primary purpose: Treatment

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Parallel Assignment

Masking: Double Blind

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0 participants in 3 patient groups

Intervention arm

Experimental group

Description:

participants will take the active intervention PSIL428

Treatment:

Drug: PSIL428

Drug: PSIL428

placebo arm

Experimental group

Description:

participants will take the intervention 1 mg Oyster mushrooms

Treatment:

Dietary Supplement: Oyster mushroom

open label

Experimental group

Description:

all participants will take the active intervention PSIL428

Treatment:

Drug: PSIL428

Drug: PSIL428