Papers of the Week

Psychedelic compounds, particularly psilocybin and psilocin, have shown significant therapeutic potential in treating neurological and psychiatric disorders. However, their bioavailability, rapid metabolism, and stability challenges have limited their clinical use. This Patent Highlight reviews recent innovations in psychedelic drug delivery systems and the development of psilocin analogs aimed at improving their pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic profiles. Three patents-focused on controlled-release delivery systems, ester analogs, and acetal/ketal derivatives-present novel approaches to enhancing the stability, bioavailability, and efficacy of psilocin and related compounds. These advancements promise more effective treatments for conditions such as depression, chronic pain, and neurodegenerative diseases.