Expert Opinion on Drug Discovery
July 4, 2026
Christopher D. Verrico, Lynnette A. Averill, Cameron J Moore et al.
Ibogaine, a natural alkaloid, shows potential for treating substance use disorders, trauma, mood disorders, and suicidality, but clinical use is limited by safety concerns and regulatory barriers. Researchers are pursuing two main strategies: developing ibogaine-like compounds that keep broad effects while reducing risks, and creating selective 'bespoke' analogs targeting specific conditions like opioid use disorder, traumatic brain injury, or PTSD. The authors emphasize that the field should avoid oversimplified views that derivatives are uniformly better or interchangeable, and call for greater conceptual clarity and mechanistic humility as ibogaine-based therapies move toward regulated medical use.
JAMA
July 1, 2026
I Glenn Cohen, Holly Fernandez Lynch, Al Mcguire
An executive order supports the development and approval of psychedelic drugs, but their integration into clinical care raises ethical and evidence-based concerns that must be addressed.
Psychedelics
May 1, 2026
Madeleine Cluck, Alison B. Purcell, Zuzana Kazan et al.
Psychedelic-assisted therapy (PAT) differs from standard psychiatric treatments by requiring fewer doses and promoting profound cognitive shifts. Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) has been treated with medication and behavioral therapies, but adverse effects and negative perceptions of therapy within the autistic community have spurred interest in PAT. Overlap in neuropsychological effects of psychedelics with autism, such as serotonergic signaling and prosocial behavior, suggests potential benefits for autistic adults. However, PAT's sensation-heavy experiences may induce stress in some participants, and most research on reducing distress focuses on neurotypical populations. The modalities, goals, and integration of PAT may need adaptation for autistic adults, and ethical considerations are warranted before large-scale clinical trials.