The long awaited results from the MAPS Phase III clinical trial on MDMA as a therapeutic for PTSD have finally been announced. And the results are creating a euphoria throughout the psychedelic medicine space.

‍What’s happening:‍

• New highly anticipated clinical trial data from MAPS on their Phase III trial for MDMA to treat PTSD has been published
  
• The study shows that MDMA assisted therapy is twice as effective compared to placebo
  
• This is the second large clinical trial by MAPS that has validated MDMA assisted therapy is effective for PTSD
  

By the numbers:‍

• 71% of participants from the trial no longer qualified for a PTSD diagnosis after receiving MDMA assisted therapy
  

Why it matters:‍

• Since MAPS has already earned the coveted Breakthrough Therapy definition from the FDA, their results should be fast tracked for evaluation
  
• This means that its possible MDMA could be FDA approved by the end of the this year
  
• If that happens MDMA would no longer be illegal in the United States for therapeutic use and it would be able to be administered in a clinical setting
  
• FDA approval would also open the funding floodgates for researchers who want to do more scientific evaluation of MDMA for other types of treatments
  

Going deeper:‍

• In June, Australia recently became the first country to approve MDMA for therapeutic use and allowed physicians to prescribe it
  
• There has been growing discussions globally about MDMA as a therapeutic given the increasing clinical data to support it
  
• If MDMA does get approved by the FDA, it could open up a regulatory pathway for other countries to adopt similar policies

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