MDMA came close to becoming medicine on Friday, but it missed the mark.
The Food and Drug Administration declined to approve what would have been the first psychedelic drug used for the treatment of post-traumatic stress disorder, a blow to advocates who have touted the potential of the Schedule I controlled substance also known as ecstasy to treat mental health disorders.
The FDA was considering an application for a treatment manufactured by the California-based biotech Lykos Therapeutics that involves intense psychotherapy sessions administered to the patient in conjunction with MDMA. The idea is that MDMA, in combination with psychotherapy, can help patients access parts of their memory for deeper healing.
