Formulating And Delivering Psychedelics: A CDMO's View On The Possibilities Of Psychedelics

Psychedelic medicines are rapidly re‑emerging as one of the most promising—and technically challenging—frontiers in mental‑health treatment. Once hindered by decades of regulatory restrictions, compounds like psilocybin, MDMA, LSD, and esketamine are now being studied in rigorously designed clinical programmes exploring their ability to address conditions such as treatment‑resistant depression, PTSD, and anxiety.

As research expands, the development pathway for psychedelics is revealing complex formulation and manufacturing hurdles. Many molecules are highly potent, unstable, and difficult to dose accurately, requiring sophisticated containment strategies and precise delivery technologies. Meanwhile, the clinical environment itself demands specialised protocols, extended patient monitoring, and carefully guided therapeutic sessions.

Despite these challenges, early data suggest that psychedelics may offer sustained improvements after only a few sessions—an unprecedented shift from traditional antidepressants. With only Spravato currently approved, the field continues to push toward safe, scalable, and regulatory‑ready psychedelic therapies.