VETERANS HEALTH ADMINISTRATION

The Orlando VA Healthcare System celebrates Jeremy Goldberg and Dr. Michelle Petrovic, selected as MIT Catalyst Fellows, addressing unmet medical needs through a partnership between MIT and the Veterans Health Administration Innovation Ecosystem.

Non-heterosexual women report better sexual functioning during midlife, with 2.2 times more likely to be sexually active and 12% reporting pain vs. 48% of heterosexual women. They also experience fewer vaginal symptoms.

The VA plans to study MDMA's effects on veterans with PTSD and alcohol use disorder, marking its first funded psychedelic-assisted therapy study since the 1960s. MDMA-assisted therapy received FDA's Breakthrough Therapy Designation in 2017 but faced disapproval in 2023 due to study design and health risks. A $1.5 million grant will fund a 2025 study at VA centers in Rhode Island and Connecticut, aiming to reduce stigma and explore MDMA's potential as an additional treatment option.

The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs plans to study MDMA's effects on veterans with PTSD and alcohol use disorder, marking the first VA-funded psychedelic therapy study since the 1960s. Despite FDA's recent denial of MDMA-assisted therapy approval, the VA awarded a $1.5 million grant for a 2025 study at two medical centers. The study aims to explore MDMA's potential as a regulated, alternative therapy, emphasizing the importance of accompanying therapy. Concerns remain about potential abuse if MDMA is reclassified.

Veterans Affairs announces $1.5 million grant for MDMA-assisted therapy study on PTSD and alcohol use disorder among veterans, marking the first department-funded psychedelic research in over five decades. The study, to be conducted at Providence and West Haven VA Medical Centers, will be overseen by researchers from Brown and Yale Universities, with enrollment starting early next year. The five-year project aims to gather definitive scientific evidence on the efficacy and safety of psychedelic compounds.

The Southwest Forum on Difficult to Treat Depression, chaired by Jordan F. Karp, MD, convened experts to discuss novel mechanisms, evidence-informed algorithms, and access to comprehensive depression care. Topics included advanced treatments like brain stimulation and neurosteroids, challenges in late-life depression, digital mental health treatments, and the role of biomarkers in precision psychiatry. The forum emphasized the need for equitable access and personalized medicine to improve outcomes in treatment-resistant depression.

PHARM-HF study at AHA 2024 shows VHA pharmacists receiving feedback on heart failure medication rates, plus education, increased management and adjustment frequency. Both intervention groups saw increases, with audit and feedback group showing significant improvements in heart failure management and medication adjustments.

NRx Pharmaceuticals plans to file New Drug Applications (NDAs) for NRX-100 (IV Ketamine) in treating suicidal ideation in depression and NRX-101 (Oral D-Cycloserine/Lurasidone) for Accelerated Approval in bipolar depression with suicidality or akathisia by year-end 2024, with a 2025 PDUFA date forecast. HOPE Therapeutics, a subsidiary, is acquiring Interventional Psychiatry Clinics to develop a best-in-class network of care, expecting first revenue by year-end 2024. The company reduced net operating losses by 74% compared to Q3 2023 and forecasts profitability in 2025. A conference call is scheduled for November 18, 2024, at 4:30 PM ET.

Researchers, including Dr. Lynnette Averill, study psychedelics for PTSD treatment in veterans, finding rapid symptom improvement in some cases. Despite challenges, psychedelic-assisted therapy shows promise for mental health issues like depression and anxiety, offering a potential lifesaving alternative to traditional treatments.

Trump's first-day agenda includes prohibiting federal funding for gender-affirming healthcare, restricting legal gender recognition, and deporting up to 20 million undocumented immigrants. He also plans to impose tariffs on Mexican imports, boost oil drilling, and withdraw from the Paris Climate Agreement. Additionally, Trump aims to end the war in Ukraine within 24 hours and impose sanctions on Iran.