Algernon Pharmaceuticals Inc. (CSE:AGN, OTCQB:AGNPF) said it “was very excited” to have independently confirmed the potential of psychedelic drug DMT to stimulate neuroplasticity – the brain’s ability to modify and adapt.
Algernon is planning to evaluate a DMT derivate drug's potential to treat stroke victims, decoupling its hallucinogen elements from its restorative qualities in two preclinical assessments. In doing so it is emulating the work of Professor David Olson of the University of California, Davis.
The initial data set from the first phase of the vitro experiment was designed to provide information on the dose and duration of infusion needed to achieve “maximal cortical neurite outgrowth”.
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Researchers found that AP-188 (the company’ DMT-based drug candidate) increased the growth of cortical neurons by 40% when compared to control. Algernon also reported that the increased growth was achieved with a sub hallucinogenic dose.
The company’s chief executive, Christopher Moreau, said: “We are very excited to have now independently confirmed with our own study that DMT is active in stimulating neuroplasticity.
“It is also vital to have shown that this activity in the neurons can be achieved with a sub hallucinogenic dose and with only one hour of exposure, a dramatically shorter period when compared to Olson’s study.”
The second data set will focus on the duration of treatment time ranging from one hour to 72 hours and is expected to be completed by the end of October.
Work currently underway is the prelude to a Phase 1 clinical trial of AP-188.
Contact the author at ian.lyall@proactiveinvestors.com