Novel Derivative of Psilocybin May Provide a More Accessible, Effective Form of Treatment for PTSD

Pharmacy Times interviewed Col. Dallas Hack, director of medical affairs at MagicMed, on the drug development program of a novel derivative of psilocybin for the treatment of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

Before joining drug development research, Col. Hack served as the army central command forward surgeon, arriving in Kuwait the day before the terror attacks of September 11, 2001. Col. Hack held a key role in establishing medical support for Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF) and spent significant time in Afghanistan overseeing care for wounded soldiers. In 2004, he was assigned as the Command Surgeon for Operation Iraqi Freedom and was responsible for managing the care and evacuation of severely wounded coalition service members at the height of combat operations.

Col. Hack’s experience working with service members with PTSD and his own experience with the disorder led him to his current work with drug development to support the advancement of treatments available for this disorder.

During the discussion, Col. Hack addresses why the development of a novel derivative of psilocybin would be beneficial for patients with PTSD, why a novel derivative of a psychedelic drug might allow for a greater level of accessibility for patients, what the value of the pharmacist is in the field of psychedelic medicine development, and how pharmacists might be involved in the future with the pipeline of drugs his company is looking to develop.