Magic mushroom therapy targets Cancer-Related anxiety in new trial
NCT ID NCT07072728
First seen Jun 27, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026
Summary
This study tests whether a single dose of NPX-5 (a psilocybin drug) combined with talk therapy can reduce severe anxiety in people who have trouble adjusting to a cancer diagnosis. About 87 adults aged 18–80 with moderate-to-severe anxiety will receive one of three doses (25 mg, 10 mg, or 1 mg) during an 8-hour therapy session. The goal is to see if the treatment safely lowers anxiety and improves quality of life.
This is an AI summary of the original study and may miss details. Read our disclaimer.
Study facts
What this study's own registry entry says, in plain language.
- Phase
-
Phase 2
Tests whether the treatment actually works, and watches for side effects, in a larger group.
- Participants
-
About 87 people
The number the study aims to enrol. It can still change while the study runs.
- Started
-
Oct 2025
- Expected to finish
-
Jul 2027
An estimate. End dates often move.
- Lead sponsor
-
A company
The lead sponsor is a pharmaceutical, biotech, or medical-device company.
Who can take part
This study's own entry requirements. Only the study team can say for certain whether you qualify.
- Ages
-
18 to 80 years
- Sex
-
Anyone
- Healthy volunteers
-
Not accepted
This study is not open to healthy volunteers. The entry requirements below say who it is open to.
Show the full entry requirements Hide the full entry requirements
Copied word for word from the study's registry entry, so the wording is the study team's rather than ours.
Inclusion Criteria: To be eligible for study entry participants must satisfy all of the following criteria: 1. Screening AjD diagnosis (ICD-11), as defined by an ADNM-20 score ≥ 47.5, a score of ≥ 4 on the Distress Thermometer. 2. Screening HAM-A Score ≥18 (moderate anxiety). 3. Adults aged 18 to 80 years (inclusive) at screening. 4. Diagnosed with cancer (exempting those cancers listed in the exclusion criteria) and a minimum life-expectancy of 6 months in the opinion of the treating physician, with performance status of 0-2 on the Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) scale performed at screening. 5. Agrees not to commence any new psychiatric medications or psychotherapies from Screening to Week 10. 6. Able to communicate well and follow study procedures, judged as sufficiently competent with the English language by the investigator, able to build adequate rapport with study staff. 7. Judged to be of low suicide risk based on Sheehan-Suicide Tracking Scale (S-STS) and the opinion of a research team psychiatrist. 8. Be medically suitable in the opinion of the investigator as determined by screening for medical problems via a personal interview, a medical questionnaire, a physical examination, an electrocardiogram (ECG), and blood tests. 9. Have access to a device that is compatible to use the digital technology, i.e smart-phone device or tablet. 10. Agree not to take any sedating medications for a minimum of 12 hours before the dosing session including benzodiazepines, zopiclone, eszopiclone, zaleplon and zolpidem. Medications for cancer-related pain are permitted. 11. Must be willing and able to refrain from smoking throughout the duration of the dosing session. Nicotine replacement therapies may be permitted with the agreement of the medical monitor. 12. Agree that for 1 week before the psilocybin dosing session, participants will refrain from taking any illegal drugs or non-prescription medication (including cannabis, or CBD or THC containing products), nutritional supplement, or herbal supplement except when approved by the study investigators. Additionally, agree not to take any form of psilocybin outside of the study, including microdosing, from baseline through Day 70/Week 10 (Visit 11). 13. Participants taking any other medication that is not explicitly detailed as an excluded medication will be discussed with the investigator and medical monitor as appropriate. Decisions on inclusion will be based on clinical judgement and with sufficient justification provided. Exclusion Criteria Participants will be excluded from the study if one or more of the following criteria are applicable: Psychiatric Exclusion Criteria: 1. Current Major Depressive Disorder MDD (or within 12 months of Screening) deemed independent from the cancer diagnosis, current or past diagnosis of schizophrenia, psychotic disorder, unless this was resulting from a medical condition (e.g. lupus or malaria etc.), bipolar disorder I and II, delusional disorder, paranoid personality disorder, schizoaffective disorder, borderline personality disorder, anti-social personality disorder or judged to be incompatible with establishment of rapport or safe exposure to psilocybin, as determined using clinical judgement of past and present medical and psychiatric history by any specialist psychiatrist or registered medical professional under the authorized delegation of a specialist psychiatrist. 2. First-degree relative with a diagnosed psychotic disorder. 3. Scores from the screening psychiatrist (or registered medical professional under the authorized delegation of a specialist psychiatrist) and baseline (S-STS) that indicate that the participant is of clinically significant risk of suicide. A decision will be formed based on S-STS scores and used in combination with other clinically significant data at screening. Sites should refer to the medical monitor if required. 4. Has attempted suicide in the twelve months preceding the screening visit. 5. Current (\< 1 year) alcohol or drug misuse as identified as moderate or severe during screening in accordance with Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5) criteria, using the MINI 7.0.2, not able or willing to abstain from alcohol consumption in the period 12 hours prior to the dosing session. 6. Any other reason that might prevent a participant from engaging in therapeutic preparation and integration sessions. 7. Anyone who has taken a microdose of psilocybin within 5 days of baseline, taken a higher dose of psilocybin (e.g., dried mushrooms or capsules) within 30 days of baseline and experienced euphoria, hallucinations, or altered mental status, or used any classic psychedelics (LSD, ibogaine, ayahuasca, DMT, mescaline) within 3 months prior to baseline. Medical Exclusion Criteria: 1. Diagnosed with brain metastases, glioblastoma, phaeochromocytoma, bowel obstruction or intestinal failure, active carcinoid syndrome, uncontrolled hypercalcaemia, or uncontrolled diabetes mellitus or insipidus. 2. Currently taking or planning to take any of the following: any typical or atypical antipsychotic and monoamine-oxidase inhibitors. Participants with prior use of these medications must be willing to discontinue their use for at least 2 weeks prior to the baseline visit and to Day 28. 3. Currently taking or planning to take any anticonvulsant or mood stabilizer, including carbamazepine, lithium, phenytoin, and valproate. Participants with prior use of these medications must be willing to discontinue their use for at least 1 week prior to the baseline visit and to Day 28. 4. Any form of fungal allergy. 5. Positive pregnancy test at screening, women who are breastfeeding or of childbearing potential who are unwilling or unable to use an effective form of contraception (or abstinence) for the study period and for 1 month post NPX-5 dose will be excluded. Women will be required to conduct a serum pregnancy test at the in-person screening visit and urine test prior to dosing session. Male participants who do not agree to use contraception for the study period and for 90 days post NPX-5 dose to mitigate the risk of pregnancy will also be excluded. Note: Refer to Section 4.3.2.1 for further details about contraception. 6. A diagnosis of epilepsy or at significant risk of seizures based on medical history. 7. Cardiovascular conditions including stroke and/or myocardial infarction (less than one year before providing informed consent), uncontrolled hypertension (blood pressure \> 140/90 mmHg) or clinically significant arrhythmia at screening. Results are exempt if they are a direct result of the participant's cancer diagnosis and do not present a risk to administration of psilocybin, following discretion of the investigator. 8. Anyone who, at screening, has clinically significant findings on physical examination, including resting vital signs (HR below 40 or above 120 bpm, blood pressure below 90/60 or above 140/90), ECG (QTcF \> 450 msec for males and \>470 for females), and positive alcohol breath test. Note: Inclusion of individuals with any out-of-range values, including blood pressure, is at the discretion of the Investigator. 9. Liver dysfunction at screening as defined by AST and/or ALT \> 1.5 times the upper level of normal or upper reference range. Results are exempt if they are a direct result of the participant's cancer diagnosis and do not present a risk to the administration of psilocybin, following discretion of the investigator. 10. Renal Function: estimated glomerular filtration rate \<60 mL/min (calculated using Chronic Kidney Disease Epidemiology Collaboration) unless this is a direct result of the cancer diagnosis and does not present a risk to the administration of psilocybin, following the discretion of the investigator. 11. Any clinically significant laboratory abnormality(s) that in the opinion of the investigator would present a risk to the administration of psilocybin. 12. Any clinically significant renal, pulmonary, gastrointestinal, hepatic, or other illness that could affect the interpretation of results or be a potential health risk for the person if they were to be included in the study. Results are exempt if they are a direct result of the participant's cancer diagnosis and do not present a risk to administration of psilocybin, following discretion of the investigator. 13. Below 18 or above 32kg/m2 Body Mass Index (BMI) score at Screening. 14. Anyone with organic brain injury or diagnosed with any cognitive impairment. 15. Positive urine drug test for non-prescribed psychoactive substances at the dosing session visit. Positive urine drug test for psychoactive substances at the in-person screening should be referred to the medical monitor. Note: Testing may be repeated once at the discretion of the Investigator. 16. Anyone on a research study of an investigational drug or who has been on a clinical trial within 3 months of enrolment.
Get updates
Get notified about this study
Sign up to get updates when this study changes or when new studies for Adjustment disorder are added.
Genom att skicka in godkänner du våra Användarvillkor
Conditions
The condition(s) this trial relates to.
As listed by the trial registrant
The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.
How to take part
Only the study team decides who joins. These are the ways to reach them.
-
The places running it
3 sites. The list below names each one and where it is.
-
The official record
ClinicalTrials.gov lists the study team's own contact details, including names and phone numbers. We don't republish those.
-
A doctor treating you
A doctor who knows your case can contact a study site on your behalf, and can tell you whether this study is worth pursuing at all.
Contacts and locations
Locations
-
Empax Centre
RECRUITINGLeederville, Western Australia, 6007, Australia
-
Mind Medicine Australia Clinic
RECRUITINGAbbotsford, Victoria, 3067, Australia
-
Paratus Clinical Research Melbourne
RECRUITINGNorthcote, Victoria, 3070, Australia
More trials for these conditions
Other studies related to the condition(s) this trial covers.
- Can colorectal surgery patients go home in two days?
- Can a personal navigator help young cancer patients through treatment?
- Can a smartwatch predict which cancer patients return to hospital?
- Two-Drug combo aims to stall advanced breast cancer
- Blood thinner flush could boost tumor biopsy success
- Could a frailty score predict which older cancer patients survive intensive care?