Ep. 256, Chapter 4: Unique Challenges Of Psychedelic Development With Srinivas Rao

24:06 – 29:45

While Dr. Srinivas Rao views psychedelics as simply another class of pharmacological compounds, they carry cultural baggage that can complicate drug development. He acknowledges the stigma around substances like psilocybin and MDMA among some physicians and patients, especially those wary of their histories as illicit drugs. To address this, atai focuses on rigorous science, novel compounds with shorter durations to reduce patient anxiety, and physician education to shift perceptions over time.