In 2021, investors poured a whopping $708 Million into the psychedelic medicine space. As 2022 goes on, even more psychedelic-focused startups are receiving the attention of major investors. So – what’s all the hype about?
Ketamine got its start in the 1960s and 1970s as an anesthetic. Now, decades later, ketamine is being heralded as the biggest psychiatric breakthrough in the last 50 years. Since 2000, Ketamine has been the subject of renewed interest as a fast-acting therapy for depression, suicidal ideation, trauma from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and severe anxiety.
Research has shown that ketamine has a rapid effect on depression and anxiety, unlike traditional antidepressants that take a far longer time to work. Additionally, it’s been hypothesized that ketamine creates a multi-day window where other therapies, such as talk therapy and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy become more effective, possibly due to enhanced neuroplasticity.
Ketamine doesn’t interact with common antidepressants like SSRIs (Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors), meaning that patients can continue to take their usual antidepressants while undergoing ketamine treatment.
While additional studies are needed, evidence has shown that for some people, ketamine provides a lasting improvement in depression and anxiety symptoms ranging from weeks to months to years. Needless to say, the promise of the treatment has caught the eye of prominent investors. Even billionaire social media mogul Adam Weitsman has invested in an NYC-based ketamine clinic.
As large investors flock to the space, so does public awareness and interest in Ketamine therapy. Stories about the promise of ketamine have been featured in major publications this year, including CNN, The Wall Street Journal, and The Washington Post. Expect the interest of media and institutional investors to grow as more psychedelic treatments are approved.
Here at Skylight Psychedelics, we are constantly keeping up with the latest news about ketamine and psychedelic medicine. We are physicians with extensive psychedelic and psychiatric training who teach licensed therapists to provide ketamine-assisted therapy. We also prescribe ketamine to eligible clients to be used in their certified therapists’ offices nationwide.
Once legalized, Skylight will prescribe MDMA and Psilocybin to eligible clients; we will also train therapists to work with these medicines.
Reference: wsj.com