History of Pharmacy and Pharmaceuticals
October 1, 2023
Shahin Shams, Amanda Rose Pratt, Sisi Li et al.
4 citations
The resurgence of mainstream psychedelic research has led to capitalist interest in patenting to exclude competitors, with some exploiting the process to monopolize well-established knowledge through overly broad claims. Historical psychedelic prior art—evidence that something claimed is already known—is critical for preventing such patents, but because some prior art exists in nontraditional forms, patent examiners may miss it, resulting in erroneously granted patents. Organizations and activists introduce historical prior art directly to the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, while the online library Porta Sophia curates archival prior art for examiners and innovators. Ensuring an equitable landscape is essential for research and protecting vulnerable communities with cultural ties to psychedelics.
Journal of studies on alcohol and drugs
September 1, 2024
Sisi Li, Taylor Kurtzweil, Shahin Shams et al.
3 citations
Efforts to patent psychedelic compounds for addiction treatment risk privatizing public knowledge and raising costs. The nonprofit Porta Sophia has identified 170 patent documents covering psychedelic addiction therapies, many of which could restrict research and access if granted. Patent examiners must reject false claims, but prior knowledge about psychedelics is often hard to find, leading to overreaching patents. As the FDA approaches key decisions, stakeholders must use available tools to determine prior knowledge and maintain an ethical patent landscape to ensure access to these potential treatments.
Psychedelics
April 25, 2026
Juliet Meccia, David Casimir, Sisi Li et al.
Over the past 25 years, informal and underground use of 5-MeO-DMT has generated substantial, though underrecognized, knowledge about its potential to alleviate depressive symptoms. Traditional drug development, with structured trials and regulatory milestones, rarely incorporates findings from these alternative routes. Legal and regulatory barriers have delayed formal clinical investigation, while public channels and Indigenous knowledge have driven grassroots support and anecdotal evidence of therapeutic benefit. The article identifies critical communication gaps hindering integration of 5-MeO-DMT into mainstream psychiatry and advocates for transparent data-sharing models that incorporate existing informal knowledge.