MDMA for PTSD
MDMA for PTSD
The First and Only to Sponsor a Phase 3 Clinical Trial with MDMA
After preliminary studies demonstrated the safety and efficacy in the treatment of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) granted Breakthrough Therapy designation for MDMA.
Find out more about enrollment in our clinical trials.
What is MDMA?
Breakthrough Therapy designation is a process designed to expedite the development and review of drugs that have the potential to:
- Treat a serious, life-threatening illness and
- Demonstrate a benefit over available therapies
A drug that receives Breakthrough Therapy designation is eligible for the following:
- More frequent communication with FDA regarding treatment approval requirements and a rolling New Drug Application review (all Fast Track designation features)
- Intensive guidance on an efficient drug development program, beginning as early as Phase 1
- Organizational commitment involving senior managers from the FDA
Breakthrough Therapy Designation – A Major Breakthrough
“Discovering a method paired with a molecule—MDMA-assisted therapy — that can heal trauma of the mind — PTSD — is by nature healing suffering, easing suffering, changing the human condition. That is not only a breakthrough, but a miracle of science, nature, and multidisciplinary collaboration.”
MDMA Is Now in Phase
3 Clinical Trials
Study Design
For each participant, the study will consist of:
- Screening and enrollment of eligible participants
- Preparatory sessions and baseline assessments
- Treatment period:
- three monthly blinded experimental sessions and associated non-drug integrative sessions over ~12 weeks
- Follow-up period and study termination
- Four weeks with no study visits followed by assessments and the study termination visit
- Invitation to participate in 12-month follow-up extension study to determine long-term effects of treatment
- Individuals in the placebo group invited to participate in an open-label MDMA study with a similar study design
Once the study blind is broken and participants know which treatment they received, all participants in the placebo group will be offered the opportunity to enroll at no cost in an open-label extension study to receive the exact same treatment of MDMA-assisted therapy as in the initial study. Data will be included in MAPS’ overall safety database.
How We Made it to Phase 3
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Fall 2016 - End of Phase 2 Clinical Trial
Fall 2016MAPS meets with the FDA to discuss Phase 3 clinical trials at 14 sites after successful completion of Phase 2 clinical trials. -
Summer 2017 - Breakthrough Therapy Designation
Summer 2017Approval by the FDA of the Special Protocol Assessment process, a rigorous and lengthy review of the trial design. MAPS receives Breakthrough Therapy designation. -
Summer 2017 - Negotiations with European Medicines Agency (EMA)
Summer 2017MAPS meets with the EMA to ensure that all regulatory requirements are met for a Phase 3 clinical trial to begin in Summer of 2019. -
Fall 2017 - Phase 3: Open-Label Supervision Study
Fall 2017MAPS begins open-label studies with no placebo group. This study is setup to contribute safety data and calibrate the therapeutic approach across the 14 sites that will conduct the Phase 3 trials. -
Spring 2018 - Phase 3: First Double-Blind Study
Spring 2018MAPP1, the first Phase 3, placebo-controlled clinical trial of MDMA-assisted psychotherapy to treat PTSD begins. The Phase 3 Trial started in November 2018, and will complete in the Fall of 2019. -
Fall 2019 - Expanded Access Program Application
Fall 2019Submitted our application for the Expanded Access Program, with the goal to start this program in the Summer of 2019. -
Fall 2019 - Phase 3: Second Double-Blind Study
Fall 2019MAPP2, the second Phase 3 clinical trial of MDMA-assisted psychotherapy to treat PTSD begins as a confirmatory study to MAPP1. -
2020-2021 - IND Application
2020-2021Phase 3 data is submitted on an ongoing basis in order to expedite the FDA review. Ongoing meetings with the FDA are expected as part of the Investigational New Drug (IND) process.
Six Phase 2 trials suggest – Safe and effective in reducing the symptoms of PTSD
Trial Design
Trial Design: Randomized, double-blind, dose-response, phase 2 trials at an outpatient psychiatric clinics in the USA, Canada, and Israel.
Study Subjects
Study Participants: Adults with chronic PTSD lasting 6 months or longer, and who had a Clinician-Administered PTSD Scale (CAPS-IV) total score of 60 or greater.
Phase 2 Results
Phase 3 Study Locations
Looking for more info? Let us lead you to all things clinical.
View Publications
View MDMA Investigator Brochure
ClinicalTrials.gov
“If results of the first two Phase 3 studies are statistically significant and no safety concerns are identified, these would be the only Phase 3 studies needed for FDA approval.”
– Amy Emerson, MAPS PBC Executive Director & Head of Clinical Development and Regulatory Affairs