Research by Compound & Indication

A potent tryptamine psychedelic known for profound mystical experiences, currently under clinical investigation for TRD and anxiety.

Ayahuasca is a botanical decoction combining DMT with MAO-inhibiting harmala alkaloids, producing intense psychedelic effects lasting 3-6 hours. Clinical trials show rapid, large antidepressant effects from a single dose, with a favourable safety profile in controlled settings.

A powerful, short-acting tryptamine psychedelic found in many botanical sources, known for rapid onset and intense subjective experiences.

Esketamine (Spravato) is the S-enantiomer of ketamine, approved as an intranasal treatment for treatment-resistant depression and MDD with acute suicidal ideation. It is administered under clinical supervision with post-dose monitoring and has reached over $1.6 billion in annual sales.

A unique indole alkaloid with complex pharmacology, investigated primarily for its capacity to interrupt substance use disorders and withdrawal.

A dissociative anesthetic with rapid-acting antidepressant properties, widely used in clinical settings for mood and pain disorders.

LSD is a classic psychedelic ergoline with high potency at microgram doses and an 8-12 hour duration of action, mediated primarily via 5-HT2A receptor agonism. Modern Phase IIb data in generalised anxiety disorder and FDA Breakthrough Therapy Designation for MM-120 have reignited clinical development.

MDMA is a synthetic empathogen that enhances monoamine release, producing prosocial and anxiolytic effects without frank hallucinosis. Two Phase III trials demonstrated significant PTSD symptom reductions, though FDA review raised concerns about blinding, durability, and safety characterisation.

A naturally occurring phenethylamine psychedelic found in certain cacti, investigated for its role in religious practice and psychiatric research.

Nitrous oxide (N₂O) is a rapid-acting NMDA receptor antagonist with emerging evidence for antidepressant efficacy in treatment-resistant depression. Delivered as a 50% N₂O/50% O₂ inhalation mixture over one-hour sessions, it produces rapid mood improvements that can persist for days to weeks. Its established safety record in anesthesia, short session duration, minimal recovery time, and low cost position it as a potentially scalable alternative to IV ketamine and esketamine, though the psychiatric evidence base remains early-stage and no formal psychiatric indication exists. Key open questions include optimal dosing frequency, long-term durability, and the mechanism by which NMDA antagonism without intense psychedelic phenomenology produces antidepressant effects.

Placebo is the most widely referenced comparator in psychedelic clinical research, appearing in over 500 trials. Understanding how placebos are designed, administered, and interpreted is essential to evaluating the evidence base for psychedelic-assisted therapies — and one of the field’s most contested methodological challenges.

Psilocybin is a naturally occurring tryptamine psychedelic that acts as a prodrug to psilocin, a potent 5-HT2A receptor agonist. It is the furthest advanced psychedelic in clinical development, with two positive Phase III trials in treatment-resistant depression and expanding regulated access in Australia, Germany, and US states.