In crowded field of psychedelic startups, Filament CEO makes case for ‘natural’ drugs

By MATTHEW PERRONE
AP Health Writer

More drugmakers are seeking to harness the medical potential of psychedelics for treating depression, addiction and other hard-to-treat conditions. In this crowded field, Vancouver-based Filament Health has a unique approach: extracting drugs from natural sources, including mushrooms, rather than synthesizing the ingredients in a laboratory. Filament is studying its drugs for use in treating addiction. And more than a dozen other companies and academic centers are using the company’s products in trials. Filament CEO Benjamin Lightburn spoke with The Associated Press about the case for using naturally derived psychedelics.