There\u2019s a pill for just about everything these days. Soon, we may be seeing a pill for depression made from psilocybin, the psychedelic component of magic mushrooms.<\/p>\n
On Monday, the UK pharmaceutical company COMPASS Pathways<\/u><\/a> announced that it received a US patent<\/u><\/a> for a \u201cpreparation of psilocybin\u201d designed to control treatment-resistant depression. According to the World Health Organization<\/u><\/a>, over 264 million people worldwide suffer from depression. Half of all suicides involve individuals who were depressed, as well. <\/p>\n “Too many people are suffering with treatment-resistant depression,\u201d said COMPASS CEO and co-founder George Goldsmith in a press release<\/u><\/a>. \u201cWe are committed to developing innovations, such as psilocybin therapy, to address this rapidly growing problem.\u201d<\/p>\n Last year, COMPASS became the first organization to receive a fast-track designation<\/u><\/a> from the US FDA, a special program that expedites the FDA approval<\/u><\/a> process. Drugs can only receive fast-track designation if they (1) have clinical data supporting that they work, and (2) will be used for conditions that traditionally resist conventional therapies.<\/p>\n Currently, COMPASS\u2019s psilocybin pill is undergoing Phase II clinical trials, which have already shown that psilocybin is incredibly safe<\/u><\/a> to administer to human patients. If the trials are successful, the drug enters Phase III. If it clears Phase III, it qualifies for final FDA approval. <\/p>\n