mental health (cover) by JEGAS RA is licensed under Adobe Stock
For North American readers interested in psychedelic drugs and/or psychedelic stocks, everyone knows who “MAPS” is.
The Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies has been the major North American non-profit organization in the psychedelic drug sector. Active in advocacy, treatment research and drug development, MAPS is a major player in this emerging industry.
Its most notable claim to fame (at present) is MAPS’ Phase 3 clinical trial using MDMA-assisted psychotherapy to treat PTSD.
Not only has MAPS been obtaining outstanding treatment results (~90% of patients in the study report clinical progress), but a parallel economic study conducted by MAPS estimates treatment savings of $103,000 per patient versus existing therapy options.
Across the Atlantic, parallel to MAPS is the Beckley Foundation. Founded in the UK in 1998 by noted psychedelic drug advocate Amanda Feilding, the Beckley Foundation:
…has been at the forefront of global drug policy reform and scientific research into psychoactive substances. [They] collaborate with leading scientific and political institutions worldwide to design and develop ground-breaking research and global policy initiatives.
Its activities are directed toward two specific “Programmes”.
- Research on the effects and medicinal potential of psychedelic drugs
- Advocating for legislative reform with respect to psychedelic drugs to best achieve harm reduction and cost effectiveness for society
Why should investors in psychedelic stocks care about the activities of non-profit organizations like the Beckley Foundation?
In general terms, the Beckley Foundation (like MAPS) is an important player in this industry. It recently raised £14 million (~US$19 million) in its latest financing round.
That’s not in the same ballpark with a few of the largest public and private companies in the psychedelic drug industry. But it’s on par (or better) than the amounts being raised by the rest of the pubcos.
Of more specific interest to psychedelic stock investors is what this cash is funding.
- Research collaborations with many of the leading academic institutions in psychedelic drug research
- Broad research on psychedelics microdosing
- Clinical applications of psychedelic drugs for
- depression
- addiction
- end-of-life palliative care
- PTSD
- cancer
- pain
- Research supporting global drug reform
It’s a basic trait of humanity that we are much better at improving on some discovery or innovation than in creating such breakthroughs.
We are masters of imitation. Monkey see, monkey do.
Research being done by psychedelics non-profits may occasionally steal some of the thunder from parallel research being done by other private/public players in the industry. But such research inspires much more new R&D on balance.
And this is a big industry.
Maybe not today (yet). But certainly over the longer term.
Just the four main mental health conditions that comprise the Mental Health Crisis (depression, anxiety, addiction and PTSD) afflict over 1 billion people world-wide. The COVID pandemic (and related lockdowns) is causing this Crisis to rapidly worsen.
That’s just the starting point for this industry. Psychedelic drug R&D is rapidly spilling over into many other fields of medical research.
Billions of patients could potentially benefit from psychedelics-based medicine. Billions of potential customers.
With mental health treatment alone, roughly $1 trillion per year of revenue is already on the table with $300 billion of that spending originating just inside the United States.
In short, there are plenty of drugs, health applications and treatment markets to keep a large industry with its pedal to the metal – for many years.
Also of great interest to investors in psychedelic stocks is the Beckley Foundation’s research on psychedelics microdosing.
The commercial potential with psychedelics microdosing is enormous. Medicinal applications and health-and-wellness applications – all of which can be safely self-administered at these dosage levels. Success here will float all boats in the industry.
Similarly, the work done by the Beckley Foundation on drug reform and policy advocacy can only pay long-term dividends for this industry.
With capital flooding into the industry and clinical trials consistently producing spectacular results, all that seems to stand in the way of the commercial success of this emerging industry are ridiculously antiquated drug Prohibition laws.
The Beckley Foundation (and MAPS) can, has, and is playing a significant role here. Indeed, arguably non-profits wield more influence in such advocacy because they are immune to accusations of bias – in the chase for commercial success.
Investing in a new industry, especially one based on emerging science/technology is all about due diligence.
Learning about the science. Learning about the companies. Learning about the industry.
When it comes to the psychedelic drug industry, the Beckley Foundation is an integral part of that due diligence.
