We all know someone affected by depression.
Major Depressive Disorder is a mental health condition characterized by pervasive low mood, low self-esteem, and a loss of interest or pleasure in normally enjoyable activities. It is a leading cause of disability worldwide and a major contributor to the overall global burden of disease. [1]
Despite existing treatments and forms of therapy on offer, depression remains a global health crisis. We believe that too many people fail to experience sufficient benefit from current treatments.
Existing treatments
The primary treatment for depression, Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRIs), have played a positive role in helping patients overcome their mental health challenges. But like all treatments, there are pros and cons that patients must weigh up. Antidepressants like SSRIs are commonly prescribed, but many patients are challenged with considerable side effects.
At Small Pharma, we’re rapidly exploring new treatment possibilities for mental health conditions using short-duration psychedelics.
"We believe that these novel therapies may have the potential to offer patients a much-needed alternative approach to mental health care. Too many people put up with their struggle because they simply don’t have another option. We’re working to change that."
Dr Carol Routledge
CMSO Small Pharma
Potential benefits of short-acting psychedelic therapies
Short treatment session
ability to treat more patients per day
Near immediate antidepressant relief
compared with up to a 6-8 week delay in symptom relief with current antidepressants [9].
Short-duration psychedelics for depression
We are evaluating short-duration psychedelics, like SPL026, with supportive therapy as a potential new approach to the treatment of depression.
“It needs to be competitive in public health systems; it needs to be kind of cost-effective. If a more condensed, powerful experience could have therapeutic effects... then it's totally worth exploring.” Dr David Erritzoe, Psychiatrist at Imperial College London