Lusaris: treating depression with a new version of an old psychotropic

Launched last week with a $60 million series A round led by RA Capital, Lusaris has joined the growing list of companies using psychedelic drugs to treat psychiatric conditions. The biotech is betting a sublingual formulation of the plant hallucinogen 5-MeO-DMT will make it stand out from the pack as a more convenient option for patients with treatment-resistant depression.

The idea that a powerful psychedelic experience can jog a person out of a well-worn neurological rut and offer lasting benefit from conditions such as depression, addiction and post-traumatic stress has been gaining momentum. ...