Speaker Bio
Matthias E. Liechti is the head of the Clinical Pharmacology Division and a professor for clinical pharmacology and internal medicine at the University Hospital Basel. With his psychopharmacology research group at the Departments of Biomedicine and Clinical Research, Matthias Liechti investigates the pharmacology of psychoactive substances both in vitro and in humans. The group is best known for the work on the acute effects of MDMA (ecstasy) and psychedelics including LSD, psilocybin, DMT, and mescaline in humans. The team also characterizes the pharmacology of the constantly emerging novel psychoactive substances (designer drugs) using in vitro methods. In experimental clinical studies, the team investigates the clinical pharmacology of psychedelics and MDMA. The team also conducted Pharmaco-fMRI studies and phase 2 studies with LSD in patients with anxiety disorder, major depression, cluster headache, and ADHD in collaboration with the respective disease specialists. The group closely collaborates with other academic researchers in Switzerland and with pharmaceutical companies.
ICPR 2024 Abstract
Clinical Pharmacology of Psychedelics and MDMA
Psychedelics and MDMA are increasingly used in research and therapeutically in patients and are investigated in phase 2-3 clinical trials to develop them into medications. Information on the clinical pharmacology and acute effects of these substances are needed to design and conduct trials in patients. Many clinical pharmacological phase 1 studies were conducted in healthy volunteers over the past 10 years at the University Hospital Basel. These studies defined the clinical pharmacology of psilocybin, LSD, MDMA, mescaline, and intravenous DMT in humans. An overview on the clinical pharmacology of these substances in humans will be provided. Specifically, the presentation will describe the acute effects, differences in the subjective response between substances, pharmacokinetics, concentration-effect relationship, metabolism, and pharmacogenetics and derive dosing recommendations for men and women and humans with genetically less common backgrounds (CYP2D6 poor metabolizer). Relevant medication-substance interactions will also be addressed with the goal of providing basic information for the planning of research trials and clinical treatments.