Why it matters: CaaMTech, a drug discovery company based in Washington, has received a patent from the US Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) for researching the therapeutic value of psilocybin in combination with cannabinoids. Through their research, CaaMTech has isolated derivatives of psilocybin, cannabinoids, and terpenes, which could have potential to treat some of the world’s most challenging mental health issues.
What they are saying: CaaMTech founder and CEO, Dr. Andrew Chadeayne, said that the company’s “goal from Day 1 has been to capture as much of CaaMTech’s scientific innovation as possible in our intellectual property portfolio as we develop the next generation of psychedelic drugs.”
The big picture: The medical cannabis community is growing increasingly excited about the potential of the combo compound, as cannabis combined with psychedelics has been found to shrink tumors significantly in breast cancer. However, there are serious obstacles to creating a combo compound, as cannabinoids and psychedelics act on different receptors in the brain.
What to watch: CaaMTech has filed in excess of one hundred additional patent applications since the application was filed in 2017, which could have significant implications for the future of mental health treatment.
My take: While developing a combination drug will not be easy, the potential benefits for mental health treatment could be groundbreaking. I am interested to see how CaaMTech’s research progresses and how it could potentially impact the pharmaceutical industry.
