Burnaby company granted Health Canada licence to produce 'magic mushroom' medicine
At Burnaby’s Albert Labs, it’s science meets nature. On the walls, you’ll find posters of various mushrooms next to scientific formulas, symbolizing the company's mission to develop mental health medicine derived from natural substances. The small team of around 20 employees recently received a Health Canada license to further pursue its work in producing psilocybin from mushrooms.
“Oh, it’s very big,” said Ali Gulamhusein, chief development officer for Albert Labs.
“That licence grants us the ability to produce, manufacture, export and import psilocybin.”
Gulamhusein refers to psilocybin as the magic medicine of the magic mushroom. The company also operates in the U.K. and Portugal, and plans to begin clinical trials in the U.K. this fall.
“(The) first early indications that we’re targeting is cancer-related anxiety,” said Gulamhusein, who adds that the company also hopes to treat people with depression, anxiety and PTSD.
Gulamhusein says the process involves isolating the psilocybin from the root and bio-engineering the drug in a controlled setting to help ensure consistency.
The company’s CEO says studies of the treatment have been overwhelmingly positive, calling psilocybin a potential game changer when it comes to mental illness therapy.
“One dose – and associated psychotherapy – cures anxiety for many months, and in some cases, permanently,” said Dr. Michael Raymont.
But it’s currently only available for Canadians with special permission from doctors. Christine Parlee lives with terminal stage four cancer and was granted permission for treatment to help ease her severe anxiety.
“It was phenomenal, probably one of the best experiences of my life to be honest,” said Parlee via Zoom from her home in Duncan.
“To say it changed me down to the bottom of my core is putting it mildly.”
One expert tells CTV News that despite high demand from patients, it could take two to three years before psychedelics become a common, more accessible treatment.
“I think there’s a lot of work to be done in training of professionals in understanding this new paradigm in mental health treatment,” said Dr. Devon Christie, senior lead of psychedelic programs at Numinus.
Meanwhile, if all goes well in the U.K., Albert Labs hopes to have its drug ready for trial in Canada by 2023.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
BREAKING Israeli forces seize Rafah border crossing in Gaza, putting ceasefire talks on knife's edge
Israeli tanks seized control of Gaza’s vital Rafah border crossing on Tuesday as Israel brushed off urgent warnings from close allies and moved into the southern city even as ceasefire negotiations with Hamas remained on a knife’s edge.
The Met Gala was in full bloom with Zendaya, Jennifer Lopez, Mindy Kaling among the standout stars
The Met Gala and its fashionista A-listers on Monday included Jennifer Lopez, Zendaya and a parade of others in a swirl of flora and fauna looks on a green-tinged carpet lined by live foliage.
Mediterranean staple may lower your risk of death from dementia, study finds
A daily spoonful of olive oil could lower your risk of dying from dementia, according to a new study by Harvard scientists.
Winnipeg man admits to killing four women, argues he's not criminally responsible
Defence lawyers of Jeremy Skibicki have admitted in court the accused killed four Indigenous women, but argues he is not criminally responsible for the deaths by way of mental disorder – this latest development has triggered a judge-alone trial rather than a jury trial.
An El Nino-less summer is coming. Here's what that could mean for Canada
As Canadians brace themselves for summer temperatures, forecasters say a weakening El Nino cycle doesn’t mean relief from the heat.
Man banned from owning animals after fatal Calgary dog attack
The owner of three Calgary dogs that got loose and mauled a woman to death in 2022 has been ordered to pay a $15,000 fine within one year and banned from owning any animal for 15 years.
Have you been removed from your family doctor’s patient list for visiting an Ontario walk-in clinic?
Some Ontarians are expressing frustration after they said that they were removed from their family doctor’s patient list for visiting a walk-in clinic in a process being called “de-rostering.”
East-end Ottawa family dealing with massive rat infestation
Residents in Ottawa’s Elmridge Gardens complex are dealing with a rat infestation that just won’t go away. Now, after doing everything they can to try to fix the issue, they are pleading with the city to step in and help.
Canadian government proposes new foreign influence registry as part of wide-spanning new bill
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's government is proposing a suite of new measures and law changes aimed at countering foreign interference in Canada, amid extensive scrutiny over past meddling attempts and an ever-evolving threat landscape.