Lykos Therapeutics

Lykos Therapeutics (formerly Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies [MAPS])is a non-profit organization formed in 1986, one year after 3,4-Methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) was criminalized in the US, to establish MDMA as a legal medicine to treat post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). In addition to MDMA, MAPS also does research on medical marijuana and other psychedelic substances such as Lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD), Ibogaine, and Ayahuasca to treat conditions such as PTSD, autism, anxiety, and drugaddiction.

Lykos Therapeutics also produces various educational materials, training workshops, and conferences to educate the public about the benefits of psychedelics and marijuana. It also sponsors Zendo Project which provides harm reduction training and aims at educating and supporting psychedelic users. Lykos Therapeutics  works with regulatory bodies to develop regulatory frameworks advocating for the reduction of barriers to scientific research on psychedelics and marijuana. It has also partnered with biotechnology companies Wesana Health (September 2021) and Awakn Life Sciences (January 2022) to research using MDMA for traumatic brain injury and alcohol use disorder, respectively.

As of January 2024, Lykos Therapeutics had completed two Phase 3 trials for PTSD and submitted a new drug application to the FDA for MDMA. If approved it will be the world’s first FDA-approved psychedelic drug.