Lennham Pharmaceuticals Announces Issuance of U.S. Patent Covering Deuterated Psilocybin Products

• Claims provide broad coverage of pharmaceutical compositions comprising deuterated forms of psilocybin
• New patent expires in 2040

CONCORD, Mass.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Lennham Pharmaceuticals, a clinical-stage start-up focused on the creative use of deuterium chemistry to improve the metabolic and pharmacological profile of existing compounds, today announced that the United States Patent & Trademark Office (USPTO) issued U.S. Patent No. 11,000,534 with an expiration date of December 2040. This patent broadly covers pharmaceutical compositions comprising deuterated forms of psilocybin.

“Psilocybin has shown incredible promise in recent clinical studies as a potential treatment for major depressive disorder and other psychiatric diseases and disorders,” said Bradford C. Sippy, Founder and CEO of Lennham. “However, because psilocybin is a naturally occurring and extensively studied compound, it is unlikely that meaningful patent protection can be obtained on psilocybin or any products incorporating psilocybin. The issuance of this patent positions Lennham to have the most significant patent coverage for any psilocybin-based product in development. We intend to rapidly advance our differentiated product through the 505(b)(2) approval pathway by leveraging the existing known data on psilocybin.”

The issued patent is entitled “Deuterated Derivatives of Psilocybin and Uses Thereof”. The issued claims are directed to pharmaceutical compositions comprising two forms of deuterium-enriched psilocybin.

About Psilocybin

Psilocybin is a well-known, naturally occurring chemical in certain mushrooms that is known to produce hallucinogenic (psychedelic) effects in humans when consumed. It is currently being evaluated as a potential treatment for treatment-resistant depression¹ and major depressive disorder, among other diseases and conditions.

About Deuterated Psilocybin

Deuterium is a naturally occurring, stable isotope of hydrogen, with an additional neutron in its nucleus. Selectively substituting hydrogen with deuterium, or deuteration, is a way to alter a molecule’s metabolic profile while maintaining the core pharmacodynamic characteristics.

Deuteration strengthens the chemical bond between two elements. Depending on where deuterium is placed, it has the potential to alter the overall metabolism of a molecule, or to reduce conversion to specific, unwanted metabolites.

Deuteration has been successfully leveraged in several approved and/or late-stage pharmaceutical products.

Psilocybin exposure and pharmacological effects are known to be enhanced by concomitant use of MAO-A inhibitors.² Selective deuteration of psilocybin may slow the metabolism of psilocin via MAO-A by inhibiting the demethylation of psilocin, potentially resulting in improved pharmacokinetics.

About Lennham Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

Lennham is a privately held, clinical-stage life sciences company focused on the creative application of deuterium chemistry to highly utilized and well-characterized compounds. Founded in 2019, Lennham’s unique approach to deuteration has enabled it to rapidly develop a pipeline of product candidates, including deuterium-enriched forms of psilocybin, caffeine, and an androgen-receptor agonist.

For more information please visit www.lennham.com or contact [email protected].

References

1. Carhart-Harris R, et al. Trial of Psilocybin versus Escitalopram for Depression. N Engl J Med. 2021 Apr 15;384(15):1402-1411
2. Ricardo Jorge Dinis-Oliveira (2017) Metabolism of psilocybin and psilocin: clinical and forensic toxicological relevance, Drug Metabolism Reviews, 2017, 49:1, 84-91

Contacts

Corey MacGregor

Chief Business Officer

Lennham Pharmaceuticals

[email protected]
(978) 254-3201