Journey Colab
Journey Colab is a US psychedelic pharmaceutical company developing synthetic mescaline hydrochloride for alcohol use disorder (AUD). Founded in 2020, the company has raised $30.7M from investors including Sam Altman, Apollo Projects, and Drew Houston. Journey Colab has dedicated 10% of its founding equity to a Reciprocity Trust supporting Indigenous communities from which mescaline knowledge originates. The company is partnering with All Points North (APN) for an FDA-authorised Phase 2 clinical trial.
Development Programmes
1JOUR-5700 (Synthetic Mescaline HCl)
MescalineAlcohol use disorder
Programme Tracker
Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD)
Preclinical and CMC completed; Phase 1 FIH ascending-dose study planned at CHDR Netherlands; no trial started as of early 2026; company has been quiet since late 2023
Milestones
Funding milestone
CompletedActual: Jan 1, 2020
Founded by Dr Jeeshan Chowdhury and Jennifer Pisansky; $3M seed from Apollo Projects (Sam Altman's moonshot fund)
Why it matters: First company to pursue synthetic mescaline through FDA clinical development. Apollo Projects backing (Sam Altman) signals Silicon Valley interest in psychedelic medicine for addiction.
Funding milestone
CompletedActual: Oct 1, 2022
$12M Series A raised (total $15M); preclinical and CMC programmes completed
Why it matters: Well-capitalized for Phase 1 entry. Preclinical and chemistry/manufacturing/controls completion means JOUR-5700 is Phase 1-ready from a drug development perspective.
Company milestone
CompletedActual: Oct 1, 2022
Nature profile published on mescaline clinical development and Journey Colab's approach
Why it matters: Nature coverage validates the scientific rationale for mescaline in AUD. Mescaline is the only classical psychedelic with no modern clinical trial data — it was studied extensively in the 1950s-60s for alcoholism but never progressed through modern regulatory frameworks.
Company milestone
CompletedActual: Dec 1, 2023
Last known public activity — no press releases, no NCT registered, no trial recruitment announced since late 2023
Why it matters: Phase 1 at CHDR was expected to begin by 2023 but appears not to have started. Over 2 years of silence is concerning. Company is still listed as active on PitchBook/Crunchbase with $15M total raised. May be in stealth-mode development or facing funding/regulatory challenges.
Watch next: Phase 1 trial registration on ClinicalTrials.gov; CHDR site activation; any press release or funding announcement
Recorded Events
Dec 1, 2023: Company milestone
Oct 1, 2022: Funding milestone
Oct 1, 2022: Company milestone
Jan 1, 2020: Funding milestone
Quick Facts
- Type
- Private Biotech
- Founded
- 2020
- Lead Stage
- Pre-clinical
- Website
- Visit