FAQ

■ How do LPH-5 and LPH-48 differ from traditional natural psychedelic and other second-generation compounds?

LPH-5 and LPH-48 have been optimized with several parameters in mind: potency, selectivity, Ligand Efficiency (LE), Lipophilicity Ligand Efficiency (LLE), aqueous solubility and stability in order to tailor the ligands with respect to CNS drug-like properties and therapeutic efficiency.

■ How was Lophora’s compound class identified?

Lophora’s proprietary Phenylpiperidines are inspired by the 2C-X family of phenethylamines which have been investigated for decades in the scientific literature as ligands for the 5-HT2A receptor.

■  What route of administration will be used in the clinical trials of LPH-5?

LPH-5 will be administered orally. The properties of LPH-5 offer maximum flexibility with respect to future possible formulations – tablets, inhalation powder, infusion, etc.

■  Do Lophora’s compounds induce a psychedelic trip?

Clinical evaluation of LPH-5 will commence in 2024. Once we have completed the SAD/EEG investigations, we will be able to detail the extent of possible acute subjective effects, but we do expect our lead compound to induce the cognitive effects related to classic psychedelic compounds.

■  What is the expected duration of action of LPH-5?

We speculate that possible effects of LPH-5 will be measured in hours rather than minutes. Our follow-up candidate LPH-48 is developed specifically to have significantly shorter duration of action.

■  Some companies claim that stimulating the 5-HT2AR without inducing a psychedelic experience will lead to beneficial effects and that inducing a psychedelic trip is not required for the effect. How do you view this statement?

Before anything meaningful could be said about this, putative “non-psychedelic psychedelics” will have to undergo clinical evaluation.

■  What indication will LPH-5 be developed for?

The unique pharmacological profile of LPH-5 and its related structural class, lends itself to application in a wide variety of different behavioral and mental disorders including: substance abuse disorder, MDD, TRD, eating disorders, OCD and any other indication wherein psychedelics have shown clinical promise.

■  Why is activity at the 5-HT2B receptor a safety concern?

Activity at this receptor is linked to cardiac valvulopathy – a undesirable change in the heart musculature.

■  Does LPH-5 possess addiction-risk potential?

Classical psychedelics like psilocybin and LSD do not possess addiction potential so there is no reason to believe that this should be an issue with the Lophora compound class.

■  It has been reported that genetic polymorphisms of CYP2D6 significantly influence the pharmacokinetic and subjective effects of LSD. Is there a similar concern with LPH-5?

We have conducted in-depth investigation of LPH-5 with hepatocytes from various species that clearly show that LPH-5 is not metabolized by CYP2D6, so this is not a concern with LPH-5.