Promising results emerge from Compass Pathways' investigative journey.
A single 25-milligram dose of psilocybin significantly reduced eating disorder symptoms for 40% of female subjects participating in a Compass Pathways research study.
Compass, a U.K.-based biotechnology company, reported the findings on July 24 in Nature Medicine after studying the effects of its investigational COMP360 psilocybin formulation on 10 female patients.
The investigator-initiated open-label study conducted at the University of California San Diego School of Medicine is the first-known trial to report the effects of psilocybin treatment in anorexia nervosa, according to a Compass news release.
The study investigated the safety, efficacy and tolerability of psilocybin on 10 female patients with anorexia nervosa.
Of the patients participating 40% experienced clinically significant reductions in eating disorder psychopathology related to their shape, weight and eating habits at the three-month follow-up.
Changes in body mass index were not statistically significant. In general, participants regarded their psilocybin experience as meaningful, including 90% who said they felt more positive about life endeavors and 80% who said it was one of the top-five most impactful experiences of their life.
Another 70% reported experiencing a shift in personal identity and overall quality of life.
Compass says participants tolerated its treatment with mild adverse events, which included headache, fatigue and nausea. No serious adverse events were reported.
Compass is looking to investigate these findings further in a larger phase 2 study, says Dr. Guy Goodwin, chief medical officer at Compass Pathways.