FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
On January 19, 2022, the Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies (MAPS) and its wholly owned drug-development subsidiary MAPS Public Benefit Corporation (MAPS PBC) entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Awakn Life Sciences Corp. , a biotechnology company developing and delivering psychedelic therapeutics (medicines and therapies) to treat substance use disorders. Awakn and MAPS will explore the feasibility of a partnership to utilize MDMA-assisted therapy to treat Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD) in Europe.
Under the terms of this MOU, Awakn will explore a data licensing agreement with MAPS to support Awakn’s phase IIb and planned phase III studies for MDMA-assisted therapy for AUD in Europe. Awakn and MAPS will also assess a partnership to secure regulatory approval for the ethical commercialization of MDMA-assisted therapy for the treatment of AUD in Europe.
AUD is a chronic disease affecting 40 million people in Europe and 390 million people globally; alcohol use is one of the top five causes of disease and disability in the majority of countries in Europe.
MAPS’ role in driving and advancing the use of psychedelics in the clinical setting over the last 35 years is second to none. We believe that by licensing MAPS’ pre-clinical data and exploring options for future ethical commercialisation, we will improve the timeline and path to market for these life-changing treatments for AUD, providing hope for those for whom the status quo is not working.
Anthony Tennyson, CEO of Awakn
MAPS has been working with AWAKN scientists for decades in the effort to initiate trials into a range of clinical uses of MDMA-assisted therapy. We’re delighted to be entering into this MOU with AWAKN which holds great promise for people suffering from alcohol use disorder.
Rick Doblin, Ph.D., Founder and Executive Director of MAPS
This is another milestone in the advancement of successfully treating Alcohol Use Disorder. Currently there are millions suffering with very few promising lasting treatments and be it with MDMA or Ketamine-Assisted Therapy, we are exploring every promising avenue to treat a disease that not only impacts the individual, but also families and communities.
Dr. Ben Sessa, Chief Medical Officer for Awakn
NOTE
The safety and efficacy of MDMA-assisted therapy is currently under investigation. It has not yet been approved by medical regulators, does not work for everyone, and carries risks even in therapeutic settings. These statements are no guarantee of future regulatory approval or availability of MDMA-assisted therapy. These statements necessarily involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties, which may cause actual outcomes to differ materially from our projections.
ABOUT MAPS
Founded in 1986, MAPS is a 501(c)(3) non-profit research and educational organization that develops medical, legal, and cultural contexts for people to benefit from the careful uses of psychedelics and marijuana. MAPS is sponsoring the most advanced psychedelic therapy research in the world: Phase 3 clinical trials of MDMA-assisted therapy for PTSD. Since its founding, MAPS has raised over $130 million in donations and grants for psychedelic and marijuana research and education and has earned both the Guidestar Platinum Seal of Transparency and a 4-Star Rating from Charity Navigator. Learn more at maps.org.
About Awakn Life Sciences Corp.
Awakn Life Sciences is a biotechnology company, researching, developing, and delivering psychedelic therapeutics to better treat addiction. Awakn’s team consists of world leading chemists, scientists, psychiatrists, and psychologists who are advancing the next generation of psychedelic drugs and therapies to be used in combination.