IGC Pharma Secures Psilocybin License, Targets Depression and Anxiety in Dementia
On April 9, 2026, IGC Pharma gained Colombian authorization to synthesize and develop psilocybin at its Bogotá facility under FNE oversight, joining a limited cohort with regulated capabilities. This enables psilocybin therapy evaluation for depression and anxiety in dementia while its Phase 2 CALMA agitation trial reaches 80% enrollment.
1. Authorization Details
On April 9, 2026, the Fondo Nacional de Estupefacientes granted IGC Pharma permission to synthesize, formulate and develop psilocybin at its Bogotá facility, positioning the company among a limited number of organizations with regulated capabilities in Colombia.
2. Psilocybin Research Plans
The authorization allows IGC Pharma to investigate psilocybin’s potential in treating neuropsychiatric symptoms associated with dementia, specifically focusing on depression and anxiety in Alzheimer’s patients, which affect roughly 80% of that population.
3. Strategic Implications
This capital-efficient research platform offers early-stage flexibility and cost advantages compared to traditional drug development, potentially giving IGC a competitive edge as global interest in novel neuropsychiatric therapies expands.
4. CALMA Trial Update
Meanwhile, the company’s lead candidate IGC-AD1 is advancing through the Phase 2 CALMA trial for agitation in Alzheimer’s dementia, having achieved approximately 80% patient enrollment and moving toward data readout.