Core Insights - atai Life Sciences has been awarded a multi-year grant worth up to $11.4 million by the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) to support the development of non-hallucinogenic 5-HT2A/2C receptor agonists for opioid use disorder (OUD) [1][2][9] Company Overview - atai Life Sciences is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on developing effective mental health treatments, including psychedelic-based therapies for conditions such as treatment-resistant depression and social anxiety disorder [5] - The company is advancing a drug discovery program aimed at identifying novel, non-hallucinogenic 5-HT2A receptor agonists for treatment-resistant depression [5] Industry Context - OUD affects approximately 16 million people globally and incurs costs exceeding $750 billion annually, with over 120,000 opioid-related deaths occurring each year [3] - The grant highlights the urgent need for innovative and evidence-based treatment options for OUD, reflecting the ongoing crisis's impact on individuals and communities [2][3] Research and Development Focus - The grant will fund the optimization and early-stage development of atai's 5-HT2A/2C agonist program, which aims to create compounds that modulate serotonin receptors involved in addiction while minimizing hallucinogenic effects [2][3] - The funding will support lead optimization, proof-of-concept studies, and necessary toxicology and manufacturing work to file an Investigational New Drug (IND) application [2] Future Plans - If early-stage development milestones are achieved, atai plans to advance the program into a first-in-human Phase 1 study [2] - The company is committed to developing safer, polypharmacologic treatments for mental health conditions, including substance use disorders, anxiety, and depression [4]