LSD Pill Beats Depression in Phase 3 Trial
The Spin
Narrative A
With a single dose of LSD outperforming the placebo by 8.1 points on a depression scale in a rigorous Phase 3 trial, Definium just opened a life-changing door for psychiatric patients. Existing antidepressants leave two-thirds of patients without remission, and DT120 delivered rapid relief within the first week that held through 12 weeks. The safety profile was clean, with no uptick in suicidal ideation, making this the most compelling depression treatment data in years.
Narrative B
Psychedelic trials routinely exclude people with psychosis-related disorders because these drugs can worsen psychosis or trigger mania, so the excitement around these studies hides a massive blind spot. Psilocybin, the most-studied psychedelic, performs no better than standard antidepressants already on the market, and the broader field is riddled with hype masquerading as science. Rushing LSD to approval without fixing the broken mental health infrastructure will repeat decades-old mistakes.
