LSD: A Promising Treatment for Mental Health, Neurological, and Neurodevelopmental Disorders

 

How We are Defending and Employing
Psychedelics Research and Development

Emerging research is starting to change the perception of LSD from a drug that can negatively affect mental health and wellbeing to one that can help with symptoms of anxiety and depression. Its benefits are also being studied to help those individuals struggling with alcohol or substance use disorders.

LSD is a classic psychedelic with a largely similar pharmacology as the classic psychedelic psilocybin. Although the primary mechanism of action is the same as psilocybin, both compounds have secondary effects and these differ between psilocybin and LSD.

However, research into the medical benefits of LSD, and sales of any approved LSD-based medicine, could be discouraged, impeded or even blocked if anyone attempts to obtain a patent on the chemical structure or polymorphic forms of LSD and its salts. That is what Compass has attempted to do with respect to psilocybin. Accordingly, FTO is sponsoring research into the physical forms of LSD and publishing that research so that any LSD pharmaceutical researcher can benefit from that information, and it can be used by patent examiners and others to reject claims attempting to patent physical forms of LSD and its salts.

If you would like to support FTO’s tax-exempt efforts to protect LSD as a potential medicine, please consider donating now.

Freedom to Operate Research

FTO Publishes Study to Protect the Development of LSD-based Therapies from Unfounded Patent Claims:
New study establishes the existence of a single polymorphic form of LSD D tartrate

Update April 12, 2022

FTO has just published new research on the polymorphic form of LSD D-tartrate, a common salt form of LSD. In furtherance of its mission to advance science and education, specifically research, in the public interest and for the public benefit, this new FTO sponsored study can be used by researchers, patent examiners, and others to reject unfounded claims and to fight back against anyone attempting to patent a polymorphic form of LSD and its salts. In doing so, FTO is taking a critical step to help protect and advance research and the development of LSD-based therapies that may eventually benefit millions of currently underserved patients.

According to Carey Turnbull, Founder and Director of Freedom to Operate, “FTO has sponsored and published this research so that any LSD researcher can benefit from this information, and it can be used by patent examiners and others to reject claims attempting to patent certain physical forms of LSD and its salts.”

Patents are awarded when a claim to a new invention is determined to be useful, novel, and non-obvious. Such claims, when validly made and awarded with a patent, allow patent holders the exclusive use of their inventions. However, patent applications can be denied and existing patent grants revoked when evidence exists that the invention claimed was publicly known or obtainable prior to the filing of a patent application. Known as “prior art”, this evidence includes the publication of research such as this FTO sponsored Polymorph Investigation of Lysergic Acid Diethylamide (LSD) D-Tartrate.

When LSD is made in a lab, it can be turned into a solid through crystallization. This process creates crystals that contain molecules that repeat through space and settle into ordered patterns known as a polymorphic form, each with its own unique profile. These forms can be differentiated by using a laboratory technique known as X-ray powder diffraction to refract x-rays off samples. FTO engaged an experienced independent chemical analysis laboratory to conduct the research. The researchers discovered that LSD D-tartrate, the most researched of the two forms of LSD tartrate, exists in a single polymorphic form, which they have designated as Form A. In establishing the existence of this single polymorphic form of LSD D-tartrate, this research will prevent others from claiming and being awarded a patent based on an alleged invention of this polymorph.

“This research establishes prior art on the existence of a single polymorphic form of LSD D- Tartrate”, said Turnbull. “By publishing this information and preventing patent claims we are ensuring that this potentially life-changing molecule will continue to be available for use in research and the development of treatments for patients.”

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