The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has opened a public docket to gather feedback on the design of the first government-funded clinical trials for ibogaine, a psychedelic drug being studied for opioid addiction and post-traumatic stress disorder. The agency is seeking input on specific parameters including dose selection, patient eligibility, safety monitoring, study-stopping rules, and oversight mechanisms by November 20.
This initiative follows an executive order signed by President Trump in April that dedicated $50 million to federal ibogaine research. The move comes amid recent calls from experts and veterans for the establishment of strict safety standards for psychedelic treatments.
In separate news, AstraZeneca is expanding its presence in the U.S. biotechnology sector with the opening of a new research and development center in Cambridge, Massachusetts. The facility is located in the Kendall Square area, a region described as one of the world's densest biotech clusters with hundreds of large and small biopharma companies.
The new building covers 570,000 square feet of lab and office space across 18 stories. This development is part of a $1 billion investment program in Massachusetts, which is the centerpiece of a broader U.S. market pivot for the U.K.-based company. AstraZeneca first announced this major investment program in 2024 and subsequently expanded it to approximately $50 billion last year.