Filament Health Stands Out in Psychedelic Research with Focus on Natural Sources

Company's Mushroom-Based Psilocybin Under Study for Treating Disorders, Ethical and Sustainable Practices Emphasized

Filament Health, a Vancouver-based startup, is distinguishing itself in the crowded field of psychedelic research by focusing on extracting drugs like psilocybin and mescaline from natural sources, including mushrooms and cacti, rather than synthesizing them in a laboratory.
Filament is studying its mushroom-based psilocybin as a treatment for opioid and stimulant use disorder, and more than a dozen other companies and academic centers are using the company's drugs in trials of depression, chronic pain and other disorders.
Filament CEO Benjamin Lightburn argues that natural products contain more than just one single active compound, which may contribute to differences or improvements in the therapeutic potential of these complex natural mixtures.
Filament also prioritizes ethically and sustainably harvesting these plants, working with groups in West Africa, where the iboga plant is indigenous, to ensure sustainable sourcing and equitable benefit sharing with the local community.
Lightburn believes that if people believe psychedelics are here to stay and want a choice to have a natural psychedelic product, then Filament is likely to be a long-term player in the field.