Psilocybin, a Hallucinogenic Compound, May Prevent Chemotherapy-Induced Neuropathy in Mice

Animal experiments suggest that psilocybin, a hallucinogenic compound, may prevent peripheral neuropathy caused by cancer treatment.

According to U.S. biotech and pharmaceutical news outlet Fierce Biotech on the 3rd (local time), researchers at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center published findings in the journal Science showing that administering psilocybin before cancer treatment can prevent pain hypersensitivity caused by neurotoxic chemotherapy drugs.

In mice, the protective effect lasted up to 8 months.

Chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN) causes tingling, numbness and pain in the hands or feet. It affects up to 68% of patients during cancer treatment, and about 30% still have symptoms after 6 months.

Current approaches include placing ice packs on the hands during chemotherapy or using Eli Lilly’s antidepressant Cymbalta. The researchers said Cymbalta provides limited symptom relief.

Psilocybin is a naturally occurring hallucinogenic compound found in several mushroom species. In the body, it is converted into psilocin, which activates serotonin 5-HT2A receptors.

The researchers found that psilocybin activates 5-HT2A receptors in peripheral nerve cells, preserving the movement of mitochondria needed for nerve survival.

Patrick Dougherty, a professor of pain medicine at MD Anderson Cancer Center, said, “The 5-HT2A agonist (psilocybin) accelerates the transport machinery that sends mitochondria back down to the terminal regions.”

The researchers used real-time imaging to observe mitochondria in human peripheral nerves and confirmed that psilocybin preserved their active movement along the nerves.

Moran Amit, a professor of head and neck surgery at MD Anderson Cancer Center, emphasized, “Conducting this without controls outside a clinical trial setting could be irresponsible and dangerous. In the setting established at MD Anderson, we are proceeding safely.”

In about a month, the researchers plan to begin a phase 2 clinical trial, called NeuroGuard, to evaluate psilocybin’s ability to prevent CIPN in patients with breast, colorectal and head and neck cancers.

Meanwhile, U.S. President Donald Trump directed the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) last April to prioritize reviews of hallucinogens for treating mental illness. Before that, the pharmaceutical industry had already begun investing in psychedelics.

AbbVie acquired Gilgamesh Pharmaceuticals’ depression drug program for $1.2 billion a year ago, and Otsuka Pharmaceutical acquired Transcend Therapeutics, which has a treatment for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), for $700 million last March. Eli Lilly recently acquired atai Beckley for an upfront payment of $2.8 billion.