Cybin announces results from study conducted by HI, LLC dba Kernel

Cybin announced key highlights from the completed feasibility study conducted by its partner HI, LLC dba Kernel, evaluating Kernel’s Flow wearable technology to measure ketamine’s psychedelic effect on cerebral cortex hemodynamics. Results from this Cybin-sponsored study are intended to inform the future pathway for this program. "The results from the feasibility study are very promising and provide further insights into the potential of this cutting-edge wearable technology to quantify neural activity and changes in brain biomarkers during the administration of psychedelics. The possibility of using this technology to develop a predictive tool to aid in identifying appropriate candidates for psychedelic-based therapy is also quite exciting, as is the convenience of a portable device, which could lend itself to more widespread use in clinical settings," said Doug Drysdale, Chief Executive Officer of Cybin. "Looking ahead, we remain focused on expanding our scientific understanding of the effects and mechanisms of action of psychedelics on the brain – all with the ultimate goal of developing safe and effective treatments for a range of mental health conditions," concluded Drysdale. Key Findings from the Feasibility Study: Provided important proof-of-principle for Kernel Flow as a portable functional system that provides real-time measurements of blood oxygenation changes in the brain associated with neural activity using Time Domain Near Infrared Spectroscopy. Demonstrated ketamine-induced changes to functional brain biomarkers associated with potential therapeutic effects, including alterations in cortical function associated with psychedelic experiences. Ketamine led to a brain-wide reduction in the fractional amplitude of low frequency fluctuations and a decrease in the global brain connectivity of the prefrontal region compared to saline. A model combining neural and physiological metrics successfully predicted mystical experience scores on Revised Mystical Experience Questionnaire, which has been shown in previous research to mediate reductions in depressive symptomatology. Demonstrated reliable physiological measurements of pulse rate and pulse rate variability extracted from TD-fNIRS recordings that match those obtained from commercial external photoplethysmography sensors, thus rendering the use of external sensors to measure cardiac activity unnecessary in future experiments. Ketamine led to increased PR, decreased PRV, increased absolute concentrations of oxy-hemoglobin and decreased deoxy-hemoglobin concentrations, and elevated electrodermal activity, providing further physiological measures of the effects of the ketamine doses administered in the study.