Generalised Anxiety Disorder

Incannex, in partnership with the Clinical Psychedelic Research Lab at Monash University, are investigating the use of psilocybin assisted psychotherapy to treat of Generalised Anxiety Disorder (GAD).

In 2020, Incannex partnered with Monash University to conduct a phase 2 clinical trial to assess psilocybin-assisted psychotherapy to treat patients with generalised anxiety disorder (GAD), a unique and proprietary form of therapy called PsiGAD.

In 2021, Incannex received approval from the Monash University human research ethics committee to commence the phase 2 proof of concept PsiGAD clinical trial in 72 participants.

Led by Dr Paul Liknaitzky, Head of Clinical Psychedelic Research at Monash University, the trial is the first in the world to examine the safety and efficacy of psilocybin for any primary anxiety disorder. The trial is well-controlled (triple-blind, active placebo), and includes a range of treatment innovations alongside the development of a specialised therapist training program.

To date, more than 45 participants have been enrolled in the trial, with at least 29 participants having now completed the treatment protocol and main outcome assessment following treatment. Interim analysis of the study data, conducted by an independent Data Safety Monitoring Board (‘DSMB’) comprising experts who are not part of the trial, has commenced. The complete trial is anticipated to conclude in 2H 2023.

Treatment of GAD with standard of care antidepressant medications and therapies remains inadequate, with less than half of patients achieving remission. Psilocybin-assisted psychotherapy has shown promise in the treatment of several other mental health conditions.

The PsiGAD trial is designed to assess the safety and efficacy of the Company’s unique psilocybin program in an active placebo-controlled study. The 10-week treatment program includes two dosing sessions with either psilocybin or active placebo. Safety, efficacy, quality of life, and other aspects of mental and physical health are assessed.

Generalised Anxiety Disorder (GAD) is characterised by excessive anxiety and worry that occurs more days than not for at least 6 months, and is not restricted to any particular environmental circumstances. Symptoms are variable, including feelings of persistent and excessive worry, nervousness, restlessness, difficulty concentrating, and a range of somatic manifestations. People with GAD find it difficult to control their worry, which may cause significant distress and impairment in social, occupational, or other areas of functioning. GAD is a relatively common disorder (about 6-9% lifetime prevalence, and about 3% 12-month prevalence in countries like Australia and the United States). As with other mood disorders, successful treatment of GAD remains inadequate, with less than half of patients achieving remission following evidence-based treatment, alongside high relapse rates, and substantial treatment side-effects or cost.

Monash will sponsor the trial, ensuring rigorous scientific independence and the highest standards in ethical and safe research. Monash is one of Australia’s leading universities and ranks among the world’s top 100. The treatment will be delivered within BrainPark (photos presented in Appendix 1), a state-of-the-art research platform at Monash’s Turner Institute for Brain and Mental Health and Biomedical Imaging Facility, that provides a highly conducive environment for this treatment approach in a research context. Both the School of Psychological Sciences within the Turner Institute for Brain and Mental Health, and the Department of Psychiatry within the School of Clinical Sciences, will combine forces to conduct this innovative trial, and the team will be comprised of leading researchers and clinicians in relevant fields of psychiatry, psychotherapy, and mental health treatment development.

Dr Paul Liknaitzky works as a Research Fellow at Monash University and has Adjunct or Honorary appointments at St Vincent’s Hospital, Macquarie University, Deakin University, and the University of Melbourne. He earned an Honours in Neuroscience and a PhD in Psychology from the University of Melbourne. His work examines mechanisms of mental illness and treatment development, primarily within mood disorders and addiction research. Dr Liknaitzky is Principal Investigator across a number of Australia’s first clinical psychedelic trials. He is currently establishing a rigorous program of research in psychedelic medicine at Monash University that seeks to evaluate therapeutic effects, innovate on treatment design, mitigate known risks, explore potential drawbacks, and understand therapeutic mechanisms.