An application to make MDMA and psilocybin more easily accessible to psychiatrists for mental health treatments will now be independently reviewed following an earlier rejection.
The Therapeutic Goods Administration has announced a decision would not be made on their reclassification from prohibited schedule-nine medicines to controlled schedule-eight medicines on April 22 as previously indicated.
Rather, a review will consider submissions received through two rounds of public consultations before making a final call, after promising results from clinical trials for the treatment of post-traumatic stress disorder and treatment-resistant depression.
An independent expert will examine the therapeutic value, risks and benefits to public health outcomes, as well as seeking advice from the Advisory Committee on Medicines Scheduling, according to the Department of Health.
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Psychedelic advocacy group Mind Medicine made the application to the TGA in July 2020, after overseas trials demonstrated the possibility of curing the debilitating illnesses.
A Health Department spokesman said the publication of submissions on the interim decision was expected to be completed by mid-May.
Mind Medicine Australia founder Peter Hunt said the wrongful scheduling of these medicines was preventing medical practitioners obtaining the consents from the state and territory governments.
"We are delighted with this development," he said.
