Definium LSD therapy helped patients with major depression in late-stage trial

Data bring drug closer to possible approval as Trump administration prioritizes psychedelics

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Elaine’s stories explore the boom in new obesity treatments, new drug payment models, the ways companies are affected by FDA changes, and the emerging psychedelics drug sector. She co-writes The Readout newsletter, and co-hosts STAT’s weekly biotech podcast, The Readout Loud. You can reach Elaine on Signal at elaineywchen.70.

Definium Therapeutics said Monday that its LSD therapy significantly helped patients with major depression in its first Phase 3 trial, bringing the psychedelic drug closer to a potential approval.

Six weeks after a single dose, patients on the pill, called DT120, experienced a 13.3-point drop on a depression test called the Montgomery-Åsberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS), compared with a 5.2-point drop among patients taking placebo.