"Emyria managing director Michael Winlo said the big opportunity for his company was to become a leader in the delivery of MDMA-assisted therapy.
Emyria in early October dosed its first patient in its MDMA-assisted therapy trial for post-traumatic stress disorder, believed to be a first for a private specialist clinic operating distinctively from academic centres and public and private hospitals.
It follows a decision by the Therapeutic Goods Administration in February allowing medicines containing psilocybin — a psychedelic compound found in magic mushrooms — and MDMA to be prescribed to patients by authorised psychiatrists from July 1.
“Australia was a world leader in re-scheduling these medications, they moved at least a year ahead of the rest of the world,” Dr Winlo said.
“By establishing a leadership position we see an opportunity to contribute to the global effort to develop better treatments for mental health disease.”
In 2024, Dr Winlo hopes to launch the MDMA-assisted therapy program outside the clinical trial and get the engagement of major health players."
