Toronto Company To Conduct Jamaica’s First Psilocybin Clinical Trial For Managing Depression

Article by Sam Riches, Growth Op

Toronto-based Psirenity Inc., a mental-wellness brand, has received approval to conduct the first clinical trial protocol with psilocybin in Jamaica to help manage depression, the company has announced in a press release.

The trial was approved by the University of the West Indies’ Ethics Committee and will involve 32 patients using standard and controlled release oral tablets. It will be conducted at the Caribbean Institute for Health Research, at the University of West Indies (UWI), and is set to begin within the next 90 days.

The trial is aimed at assessing the “safety, tolerability and pharmacokinetics” of two of Psirenity’s psilocybin micro-dose products in the management of mild to moderate depression.

“The clinical trial is not only a historical first for Jamaica, it showcases the advanced state of Psirenity and its commitment to science-backed methods for improving wellness,” said Psirenity CEO Chris McCullough. “We are confident our Phase 1 trial will highlight the medical benefits and positive impacts of using our innovative psilocybin delivery systems to manage depression in adults.”McCullough added that the trial is the only one of its kind approved in the Caribbean and should pave the way for further studies on the medical benefits of psilocybin.

Psirenity is a wholly-owned subsidiary of New Leaf Canada Inc., a medical cannabis company founded by former NHLer Ryan Vandenbussche.

Vandenbussche retired from hockey in 2007 and transitioned off opioids as he delved deeper into plant-based medicine. An enforcer during his playing days, Vandenbussche had 12 surgeries and more than 20 concussions during his career.

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