STAT+: FDA to speed up review of three psychedelics as mental health treatments

STAT PlusBiotech FDA to speed up review of three psychedelics as mental health treatments Compass, Usona, Transcend benefit from Trump’s embrace of psychedelics Manage alerts for this article Email this article Share this article By Elaine Chen, Damian Garde, and Daniel PayneApril 24, 2026 Elaine Chen[email protected]Elaine Chen covers biotech, co-writes The Readout newsletter, and co-hosts STAT’s weekly biotech podcast, The Readout Loud. You can reach Elaine on Signal at elaineywchen.70.Damian Garde[email protected]Damian Garde is a reporter at large, live and feature journalism, covering the global drug industry and contributing to STAT’s industry-leading events.Daniel Payne[email protected]Daniel Payne reports on how the health industry and Washington influence and impact each other. He joined STAT in 2025 after covering health care at POLITICO.

You can reach Daniel on Signal at danielp.100. The Food and Drug Administration will accelerate its review of psychedelic drugs developed by Compass Pathways, the Usona Institute, and Transcend Therapeutics for mental health disorders, as part of the Trump administration’s plan to boost access to the controversial yet promising medications. The agency will grant priority review vouchers specifically to Compass’ psilocybin product for treatment-resistant depression, Usona’s similar medicine for major depressive disorder, and an MDMA-like treatment for post-traumatic stress disorder from Transcend.

Advertisement The FDA identified the medications receiving the vouchers, but not the companies developing them. Compass, Usona, and Transcend confirmed they received vouchers. STAT+ Exclusive Story Already have an account?

Log in This article is exclusive to STAT+ subscribers Unlock this article — plus daily coverage and analysis of the biotech sector — by subscribing to STAT+. Already have an account? Log in Monthly $39 Totals $468 per year $39/month Get Started Totals $468 per year Starter $30 for 3 months, then $399/year $30 for 3 months Get Started Then $399/year Annual $399 Save 15% $399/year Get Started Save 15% 11+ Users Custom Savings start at 25%!

Request A Quote Request A Quote Savings start at 25%! 2-10 Users $300 Annually per user $300/year Get Started $300 Annually per user View All Plans To read the rest of this story subscribe to STAT+. Subscribe Log In addiction, biotechnology, drug development, FDA, HHS, Mental Health, Pharmaceuticals, Policy, research, STAT+ Submit a correction requestReprints Elaine Chen National Biotech Reporter Elaine Chen covers biotech, co-writes The Readout newsletter, and co-hosts STAT’s weekly biotech podcast, The Readout Loud.

You can reach Elaine on Signal at elaineywchen.70. Damian Garde Reporter at Large, Live and Feature Journalism Damian Garde is a reporter at large, live and feature journalism, covering the global drug industry and contributing to STAT’s industry-leading events. Daniel Payne Washington Correspondent Daniel Payne reports on how the health industry and Washington influence and impact each other.

He joined STAT in 2025 after covering health care at POLITICO. You can reach Daniel on Signal at danielp.100. Newsletter Your morning rundown of the science, politics, and money driving biotech today Recommended The Readout April 24, 2026 STAT Plus: Sanofi MS drug gets positive review in Europe following FDA Biotech April 23, 2026 STAT Plus: Trump celebrates closing first round of drug pricing deals, promises more ahead Advertisement The Readout April 23, 2026 STAT Plus: Sanofi research priorities in flux as new CEO logs in D.C.

Diagnosis April 23, 2026 STAT Plus: RFK Jr. backs off some MAHA issues Adam's Biotech Scorecard April 23, 2026 STAT Plus: Can Erasca be biotech’s next big thing? We’ll see Subscriber Picks