Definium says LSD-based pill reduces anxiety in late-stage study
The benefit emerged as early as two days after dosing and lasted throughout the 12-week study
Definium Therapeutics announced on Wednesday that its LSD-based experimental pill, DT120, significantly reduced anxiety symptoms in a late-stage study, achieving its primary objective and driving the drug developer's shares up more than 20% premarket. The 214-patient trial evaluated a single 100-microgram dose of DT120, a lysergide-based tablet, in adults suffering from generalized anxiety disorder (GAD).
Participants on the drug experienced an 11.6-point reduction on a standard anxiety rating scale after 12 weeks, as opposed to a 6.2-point decrease in those receiving a placebo. This placebo-adjusted difference of 5.4 points was deemed both statistically significant and clinically meaningful by the company. RBC Capital Markets analyst Brian Abrahams stated that the data surpassed Wall Street's expectations, highlighting the efficacy of the therapy compared to other treatments for the disease.
The benefits of DT120 were noticeable as early as two days after dosing and persisted throughout the 12-week study. As a member of the psychedelic medicine class, DT120 has garnered regulatory and investor enthusiasm, contributing to a more than three-fold increase in Definium's shares this year. In April, U.S. President Donald Trump signed an executive order aimed at expediting access to research and treatments based on psychedelic drugs for serious mental health conditions.
GAD, characterized by persistent and excessive worry, affects around 26 million U.S. adults and is commonly managed with antidepressants, anti-anxiety medications, and psychotherapy. Unlike many anxiety medications, DT120 is administered as a single dose during a monitored dosing session and functions by interacting with brain receptors involved in mood and perception.
The majority of side effects were mild to moderate and temporary, primarily occurring on the day of dosing, with no rise in suicidal thoughts. This trial marks Definium's second late-stage success for DT120, following a positive outcome in a depression study in June.
Written by urgent.news from The Hindu - Sci-Tech's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — it may contain errors, so check the original before relying on it.
