Private evening discussing Psychedelics with Guy Goodwin
Personal invitation
We are pleased to invite you to our private evening gathering with Guy Goodwin to discuss psychedelics. Here is what to expect.
Unconventional Format
Our "Mind Mixer" is designed to directly and collectively benefit from the expertise of scientists specialized in their fields, and to discuss these topics together. It will allow you to be both a spectator and an active participant in deep discussions on a subject, in small groups with various personalities present. Note that expertise in this field is not required to participate.
Psychedelic Thematic
Are hallucinogenic mushrooms shifting from the status of a drug to that of a medicine? For years, scientists have been seriously studying the therapeutic effect of psychedelics, substances often prohibited.
Who is Guy Goodwin, the scientific expert coming from Oxford for the occasion?
Professor Guy Goodwin is one of the most cited researchers in the world when it comes to psychedelics. His work focuses on applying neuroscience to understand the neurobiology of mood disorders, with an emphasis on developing new treatments. He is also the Chief Medical Officer of the British company COMPASS Pathways, established in 2016 and now listed on the Nasdaq. Guy Goodwin honors us by sharing his work and that of Compass Pathways. Lastly, he is also a member of the international scientific board of the FondaMental Foundation.
What is Compass Pathways, and its connection to psilocybin?
This pioneering company has developed an innovative therapy based on synthetic psilocybin. Psilocybin is a hallucinogen that produces effects similar to LSD. Combined with psychological support, it aims to help people who do not benefit from current treatments for severe depression. Compass launched a phase 2 clinical study, the largest to date on psilocybin in treatment-resistant depression. The results have shown effective symptom relief, at least in the short term. A phase 3 clinical program is underway. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has granted it breakthrough therapy status.
Here are some pre-event readings of the works Guy Goodwin has contributed to
The Therapeutic Potential of Psychedelic Drugs: Past, Present, and Future (2017)
Single-Dose Psilocybin for a Treatment-Resistant Episode of Major Depression (2022)
Post event recap
As you know, within the Newfund LP Experience, we have developed the exclusive concept of Mind Mixers to stimulate your intellectual curiosity. These private gatherings provide direct exposure to the insights of renowned scientists and foster in-depth discussions on carefully chosen topics.
A few days ago, we were honored to welcome Guy Goodwin who traveled from Oxford to meet with us and lead the evening discussion dedicated to Psychedelics. He is the Chief Medical Officer at Compass Pathways and one of the most cited researchers in the world regarding psychedelics.
Here is a recap to relive this fascinating discussion.
Guy Goodwin traced the history of psychedelics back to Albert Hoffman, who first synthesized LSD in 1943. He highlighted how the discovery of LSD and its effects on serotonin receptors significantly contributed to the development of neuroscience. Initially, LSD was distributed to doctors for experimentation, but the 1960s saw a moral panic and governmental ban on these drugs, freezing research and medical use for about 30 years.
He discussed two leading drugs likely to gain FDA approval: MDMA for PTSD and psilocybin for treatment-resistant depression. He focused on psilocybin, which Compass Pathways is developing. He presented the results of a groundbreaking Phase 2B clinical trial involving 233 patients across 22 sites in 10 countries. The trial showed a rapid and sustained reduction in symptoms of depression, with statistical significance at three weeks and durability up to 12 weeks.
Lastly, he shared how Compass Pathways has embarked on a Phase 3 program, with results expected in 2025. This could pave the way for FDA approval and broader clinical use of psilocybin for treatment-resistant depression.
To dive deeper, the Q&A session explored the evolution of regulations around psychedelic use, patenting, market competition, the safety profile and potential side effects of these drugs, microdosing, as well as the future trajectory of psychiatry.
Thank you again for being part of this insightful evening!