Awakn plans line of psychedelics to treat AUD; Nutt joins as chief research officer
Alcoholism & Drug Abuse Weekly July 2, 2021 DOI: 10.1002/adaw.33124 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | News report Peer reviewed |
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| Key points | Reports that David Nutt was named chief research officer of Awakn Life Sciences, whose pipeline includes a ketamine-assisted psychotherapy trial for alcohol use disorder, described as the only such trial, and an MDMA-assisted psychotherapy trial for alcohol use disorder. Nutt and CEO Anthony Tennyson state the company aims to bring psychedelic-based addiction treatments into mainstream health care. |
Abstract
A “pipeline of new psychedelic medicines” to be used in treating addiction is underway, with the most recent announcement from Canada‐based Awakn Life Sciences, which on June 24 named David Nutt its chief research officer. Many of Awakn's candidate medications were acquired in March from Nutt's Equasy Enterprises. Also included in Awakn's list of promising drugs: the only ketamine‐assisted psychotherapy trial for alcohol use disorder (AUD). Finally, Awakn has a trial underway for MDMA‐assisted psychotherapy for AUD. Investors are interested in these companies. Nutt is also chair of Awakn's scientific advisory board. “I am delighted to take on the role of Chief Research Officer in this exciting new biotechnology company that promises to revolutionise the treatment of addictions. Awakn's combination of pre‐clinical and clinical research uniquely positions Awakn to solve some of the biggest societal problems,” said Nutt. Anthony Tennyson, Awakn's CEO, added, “Our ambition is to fully integrate effective psychedelic‐based treatments into mainstream health care to better treat addiction.”