- Study shows that COVID-19 pandemic has affected mental health of 59% of U.S. population, intensifying already-serious issue
- CYBN-sponsored feasibility study indicates ketamine-induced changes in brain’s functional connectivity persisted for several days after receiving the substance
- Kernel Flow pivotal in developing most accurate, effective treatment regimens for patients
The challenges associated with mental-health issues are rising, following the global pandemic. Already a serious problem before COVID-19, mental health has become even more pressing now, with many companies committed to offering relief to the nearly 1 billion people worldwide who deal with mental-health issues. Cybin (NEO: CYBN) (NYSE American: CYBN), a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company committed to progressing psychedelics to therapeutics, is making major progress in that direction based on pilot results from a recent study evaluating a proprietary neuroimaging technology (https://ibn.fm/1vach).
“In our national survey on mental health and coronavirus, we found that the COVID-19 pandemic has affected the mental health of 59% of people in the United States,” reported a recent SingleCare article (https://ibn.fm/IBtft). “Dismantling the stigma around mental illness is important now more than ever.”
SingleCare reported that an estimated 970 million people worldwide have a mental-health or substance-abuse disorder, with anxiety being the most common mental illness in the world, impacting 284 million people. Other significant mental-health challenges that are leading causes of serious disabilities include major depression, anxiety, alcohol-use disorders, schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, and dysthymia, or persistent mild depression.
Cybin has joined the ranks of companies dedicated to finding and offering effective solutions to those suffering from mental health conditions. Most recently the company announced that pilot results from its sponsored feasibility study evaluating Flow, Kernel’s quantitative neuroimaging technology, indicate that ketamine-induced changes in the brain’s functional connectivity persisted for several days after receiving the substance.
“Kernel’s Flow technology is revolutionary in the field of brain imaging as it is the first easy-to-use wearable that can collect real-time brain activity before, during and after a psychedelic experience,” said Doug Drysdale, Chief Executive Officer of Cybin. “Previously, studies had to rely on subjective patient reporting. By utilizing Flow, we will now be able to quantifiably gather real-time functional brain activity during our clinical and research studies evaluating psychedelic-based therapeutics.
“Measuring where and how psychedelics work in the brain unlocks new frontiers of discovery in this space,” continued Drysdale. “Most importantly, Kernel Flow will enable us to measure the duration of effect during a psychedelic experience, which will be pivotal in developing the most accurate and effective treatment regimens for patients. This technology is precisely what we need to accelerate the development of psychedelics into therapeutics.”
The purpose of the four-week study is to evaluate the altered state of consciousness of an individual following the administration of ketamine. The Kernel Flow headset facilitates this; the system is equipped with hi-tech sensors that record brain activity and report a participant’s experience using structured questionnaires and validated assessments during study visits and at follow-up. Cybin and Kernel signed a partnership agreement in January 2021 that gives Cybin exclusive interest in any innovations discovered or developed through the company’s independent analysis of the study findings, while Kernel retains the same rights relating to its Kernel technology.
“Kernel Flow is a groundbreaking neuroimaging technology that enables rigorous characterization and quantification of physiological processes in the human brain,” said Kernel founder and CEO Bryan Johnson. “We’re excited to report the pilot results of a longitudinally rich dataset of brain activity before, during a ketamine-induced altered-state experience, and after. The quality of the data recorded with Flow may lead to a better understanding of the neuro effects from psychedelics on the brain and help to advance these powerful new therapies for patients.”
Cybin is currently working on three active drug programs: CYB003 targets major depressive disorder and alcohol use disorder, CYB004 is focused on anxiety disorders and CYB005 is studying neuroinflammation. The company has completed more than 140 preclinical studies and is making steady progress toward FDA IND filings; in addition, Cybin has developed 50 novel compounds and completed more than 10 patent filings across three patent families.
The company is collaborating with a network of world-class partners and internationally recognized scientists as it progresses on its mission to create safe and effective therapeutics for patients to address a multitude of mental health issues.
For more information, visit the company’s website at www.Cybin.com.
NOTE TO INVESTORS: The latest news and updates relating to CYBN are available in the company’s newsroom at https://ibn.fm/CYBN
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