Israeli company introduces psilocybin nasal spray system

Israeli biopharmaceutical company Madrigal Mental Care will be exhibiting at Biomed Israel 2022 from May 10-12, 2022 at the David InterContinental Hotel in Tel Aviv, Israel, according to a May 9 press release.

Biomed Israel is a broad celebration of the life sciences and technology industry. At previous events, the event attracted over 6,000 visitors, including 1,000 from over 45 countries around the world.

The novel nasal spray system enables the delivery of organic nanoparticles that encapsulate molecules of psychedelic substances – in this case psilocybin – from the nose to the brain. This nasal spray delivery system can also be used to deliver ketamine, mescaline, MDMA, and other psychedelics.

Nanotechnology was invented by Prof. Amnon Sintov, Department of Biomedical Engineering at Ben-Gurion University of the Negev (BGU) under license from BGN Technologies, BGU’s Technology Transfer Company.

“An increasing number of studies are pointing to the benefits of using psychedelics to treat psychiatric disorders such as PTSD, depression, anxiety, obsessive-compulsive disorder and even addiction in low doses,” Professor Sintov said. “Because of their powerful effects on the human brain, being able to deliver these drugs safely and in precise doses is essential. Our novel nanotechnology platform enables the encapsulation of precise drug doses in nanoparticles that are delivered directly to the brain via an intranasal spray in a very efficient, fast and safe manner.”

A growing number of studies are investigating the use of psilocybin to treat depression, end-of-life care, and PTSD. Because psilocybin is a 5-HT2A agonist, its usefulness in many of these areas is being explored. The cerebral cortex is packed with 5-HT2A receptors—particularly in areas that control reflection, imagination, and introspection.

“Our technology ensures targeted and rapid delivery of precise doses of psychoactive substances. The nanoparticles are biodegradable and offer a significant advantage over traditional methods in terms of stability and accuracy,” said David Gabay, Co-Founder and Chair of Madrigal Mental Care BGU Department of Biochemistry and Pharmacology show that the doses of psilocybin used in the nanoparticles have a beneficial effect on inflamed brain cell cultures. We are currently beginning pre-clinical studies in rodents with the aim of obtaining approvals for efficacy and safety in order to start the first human clinical trials next year. We have great confidence in this novel technology […] will advance the field of psychedelics-based treatments to the benefit of millions of people around the world struggling with chronic and acute psychiatric conditions such as PTSD and depression.”

The leadership recognized the growing need for alternative therapies, needed when conventional therapies fail, such as in treatment-resistant depression.

dr Galit Mazooz Perlmuter, Senior Vice President of Business Development, Bio-Pharma at BGN Technologies, commented, “There is a tremendous need for better treatments for PTSD and other mental disorders. We have filed a patent application to protect this unique approach, which is an excellent example of the kind of breakthrough technologies coming from top scientists at Ben Gurion University.”

As it turns out, the benefits of microdosing psilocybin to treat depression, PTSD, and other disorders is no longer just a Reddit topic as we see it being used in a scientific setting.

Regarding nasal sprays for administering psychedelics, the FDA in the US has approved an esketamine nasal spray for use in licensed clinics across the country.

Israel is also home to a proliferation of cannabis-related medical device development, thanks to the country’s progressive approach to cannabis research.