Safety, Tolerability, and Preliminary Efficacy of Psilocybin Oral Solution in Adults With Generalized Anxiety Disorder

Launched by QUEEN'S UNIVERSITY · May 8, 2025

Keywords

ClinConnect Summary

This clinical trial is studying the safety and effectiveness of a new treatment for Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD) using a substance called psilocybin, which is found in certain mushrooms. The researchers are looking at how well a 3 mg dose of psilocybin can help reduce anxiety symptoms. The trial is divided into three parts: first, there is a screening phase to see if participants qualify; then, they will enter a four-week open-label phase where everyone receives the treatment and is monitored closely; finally, those who respond well will be randomly assigned to either continue with psilocybin or receive a placebo (a treatment that looks the same but has no active ingredients) for another four weeks.

To be eligible for this trial, participants must be adults aged 18 to 60 who have been diagnosed with GAD and show a certain level of anxiety on a specific assessment scale. They should not be taking anxiety medications or undergoing certain therapies during the study. Throughout the trial, participants will have regular check-ins, complete various assessments, and share their experiences to help researchers gather important information about the treatment's safety and effectiveness. **It's essential for anyone considering participation to discuss their medical history with the research team to ensure they meet the study's requirements.**

Gender

ALL

Eligibility criteria

• Inclusion Criteria:
• • 1. Must provide written informed consent prior to the initiation of any protocol-specific procedures.
• • 2. Male and female adults, between 18 and 60 years of age, inclusive.
• • 3. Meets DSM-V criteria for a primary diagnosis of GAD at Screening (duration of diagnosis ≥1 year, based on self-report), confirmed using the MINI.
• • 4. Clinician-rated GAD-7 score ≥14 at Screening (Visit 1).
• • 5. Clinician-rated HAM-A score ≥14 at Screening (Visit1).
• 6. Females must be non-pregnant and non-lactating and must fulfil at least one of the following:
• • Be surgically sterile for a minimum of 6 months (achieved through hysterectomy, oophorectomy, or bilateral salpingectomy; note that tubal ligation is not considered a method of permanent sterilization).
• • Post-menopausal for a minimum of 1 year (confirmed by follicle-stimulating hormone test).
• • Agree to avoid pregnancy and use a medically acceptable method of contraception with male sexual partners from at least 30 days prior to the study until 30 days after the study has ended (last study procedure).
• * Medically acceptable methods of contraception include any of the following:
• • Double-barrier methods (e.g., male condom, spermicide with diaphragm or spermicide with cervical cap)
• • Oral contraceptives; hormonal patch, implant or injection; or hormonal or non-hormonal intrauterine device. The male partner should use, at all times, a male condom with spermicide, should the female Patient choose to use any of these methods
• • Complete abstinence, should it be in line with the Patient's preferred and usual lifestyle.
• 7. Males who are able to father children must agree to use medically acceptable methods of contraception during the study and for 30 days after the last study drug administration. If a patient's partner should become pregnant during his participation in the study and for 30 days after he has completed his last study drug administration, the patient must inform study staff immediately. Medically acceptable methods of contraception include:
• • Using a condom with a female partner of child-bearing potential who is using oral contraceptives; hormonal patch, implant or injection; hormonal or non-hormonal intrauterine device; or diaphragm or cervical cap with spermicide
• • Complete abstinence, should it be in line with the patient's preferred and usual lifestyle.
• • 8. Males must refrain from sperm donation from clinic admission to at least 30 days after the last dose of study drug.
• • 9. Must be able to speak, read, and understand English sufficiently to allow completion of all study assessments.
• • 10. Must be willing to comply with the requirements and restrictions of the study.
• Exclusion Criteria:
• • 1. Personal history of schizophrenia, bipolar affective disorder, delusional disorder, paranoid disorder, moderate or severe panic disorder, moderate or severe social anxiety disorder, schizoaffective disorder, moderate or severe obsessive-compulsive disorder, anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, moderate or severe post-traumatic stress disorder (as assessed by the IES-R), moderate or severe personality disorder (Cluster B and Cluster C only), moderate or severe MDD (as assessed by the MINI and total scores on the MADRS \> 19).
• • 2. History or presence of any clinically significant cardiac, endocrine, hematologic, hepatic, immunologic, metabolic, urologic, pulmonary, neurologic, dermatologic, renal, or other disease at Screening, which, in the opinion of the investigator, would jeopardize the safety of the patient or the validity of the study results.
• • 3. Recently initiated non-pharmacological treatment (e.g., Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, psychotherapy) with a psychologist or health care professional (i.e., \<4 weeks prior to Screening). Patients who began a stable non-pharmacological treatment regimen \>4 weeks prior to Screening will be permitted. Patients currently stable on treatment will not be permitted to modify or introduce new elements to their existing treatment regimen while enrolled in the study.
• • 4. Currently taking pharmacological treatment for GAD or depressive symptoms on a daily basis as outlined in Table 2. Patients who discontinue pharmacological treatment within a minimum of 4 weeks or more of baseline will be permitted to enroll in the study. Sporadic, prn use of anxiolytics will be permitted; however, patients will be required to document all medication use prior to study enrollment (See Section 9.7).
• • 5. Clinically significant abnormality on ECG, including a QT interval corrected for heart rate (Bazett; QTcB interval) of \>440 milliseconds in males and \>460 milliseconds in females.
• • 6. History of allergies to the investigational product or excipients.
• • 7. History of seizures, family history of seizures, history of head trauma, history of neurosurgery, or close family history of idiopathic generalized epilepsy or other congenital epilepsies.
• • 8. Positive for hepatitis B virus surface antigen, hepatitis C virus antibody, or human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) antibody.
• • 9. Positive urine drug screen at Screening , inclusive of cannabis use at a rate above 0.5g/day or 3g/week;
• • - Abstinence commitment clause: Patients who use cannabis at below or up to the frequency/amount listed above may be allowed to participate if they are willing and able to discontinue use for the duration of the study period without experiencing withdrawal symptoms.
• • 10. Current or history of moderate or severe drug or alcohol use disorder (excluding caffeine and nicotine) within the past 2 years, or lifetime history of participation in a drug rehabilitation program (other than treatment for smoking cessation).
• • 11. Has used CNS drugs with perception-altering properties (e.g., ketamine, lysergic acid diethylamide \[LSD\], phencyclidine \[PCP\], 3,4 methylenedioxymethamphetamine \[MDMA\], mescaline, psilocybin, tryptamine derivatives, or ring-substituted amphetamines with perception-altering effects) on more than 1 occasion for therapeutic or non-therapeutic purposes (i.e., for psychoactive effects) within the past 6 months. History of single or episodic use will not be considered exclusionary.
• • 12. History of suicidal ideation in the past 12 months or active/current suicidality, based on C-SSRS results.
• • 13. Is currently using an investigational drug or device or has used such in the 30 days prior to receiving study drug.
• • 14. Female patient is pregnant or breastfeeding.
• • 15. Patient, in the investigator's opinion, is unsuitable for clinical study participation.
• • Criteria for Randomization into the Double-Blind Treatment Phase
• • 1. Minimum 50% reduction in GAD-7 score from Open-Label Baseline Visit (Visit 1) to Double-Blind Baseline Visit