Emyria Ltd (ASX:EMD) is hopeful of treating severe and treatment-resistant depression with its unique ketamine-assisted therapy (KAT) program and has tapped KAT expert Dr Ben Sessa to lead as scientific advisor based at its subsidiary the Pax Centre.
The KAT program will initially target treatment-resistant depression through a course of generic ketamine, either intramuscularly or subcutaneously paired with a personalised program of attentive psychotherapy, with patients covering the costs of the drug treatment and therapy themselves.
As generic ketamine currently costs about $5 per dose, compared to proprietary formulations that can cost $800 a dose, the company expects the program to deliver strong cost-effectiveness.
The KAT program is tailored to become a set of protocols that can be licensed to other providers.
Expert guidance
Sessa brings 25 years of experience in psychiatry, having directly overseen more than 100 KAT sessions and earning recognition as one of the UK's foremost figures in psychedelic research and clinical medicine.
"I am deeply committed to ensuring patients have the opportunity to receive the safest and most effective treatments for mental health, which include psychedelic-assisted therapies,” Sessa said.
“Australia has an incredible opportunity to lead the world in this promising new field and I’m pleased to be supporting Emyria and the clinicians of the Pax Centre develop leading programs for their patients."
Over the next few months, Sessa will collaborate with Emyria to refine unique KAT protocols for the Pax Centre, encompassing therapeutic models and standardised operating procedures.
This will also involve training clinicians in the administration and monitoring of ketamine.
Sessa will also support Emyria with quality assurance and overall program evaluation efforts related to its broader psychedelic-assisted therapy programs to ensure high standards of quality.
Scalable program
Emyria has more than 20 clinicians trained to provide KAT and expects to quickly launch a unique and scalable program to deliver timely and innovative care to those awaiting effective treatment.
The company expects to register its first patients at the end of the third quarter.
"With our launch of ketamine-assisted therapy at the Pax Centre, and the invaluable expertise of Dr Ben Sessa, Emyria is demonstrating its commitment to lead in the delivery and development of promising emerging mental health treatments,” Emyria chief executive officer Dr Michael Winlo said.
“The KAT offering will sit alongside our MDMA and psilocybin-assisted therapy programs and we believe the robust data we will gather with every patient will allow us to refine and enhance these protocols to help set new standards in care."
Ketamine for depression
Recent Australian research has unveiled the potential of ketamine as a viable treatment for severe and treatment-resistant depression.
The results of these studies showcase a significant proportion of participants achieving remission or substantial reductions in depressive symptoms following a month-long regimen of ketamine injections.
However, the therapeutic effects appear to diminish after discontinuation, highlighting the potential need for sustained or intermittent treatment to maintain its antidepressant impact.
With a growing understanding of the importance of a comprehensive therapeutic framework for ketamine administration, emerging trials underscore the critical role of structured psychological therapy alongside ketamine treatment to enhance its durability.