What is psilocybin therapy?

Psilocybin therapy is an approach being investigated for the treatment of mental health challenges. It combines the pharmacological effects of psilocybin, a psychoactive substance, with psychological support.

Psilocybin is an active ingredient in some species of mushrooms, often referred to as ‘magic mushrooms’. We have developed a synthesised formulation of psilocybin, COMP360, and are investigating the effectiveness of psilocybin therapy, initially in treatment-resistant depression.

Early studies conducted in pioneering academic centres have shown signals that psilocybin could be a safe and effective medicine for patients with depression, anxiety, addiction and other mental illnesses, when administered with psychological support from specially-trained therapists.*

*Ross et al, 2016; Griffiths et al, 2016; Carhart-Harris et al, 2016