HHS pumps up to $25M into ibogaine, other psychotropic drugs on Veteran’s Day

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services announced up to $25 million in investments targeting psychotropic compounds, with a particular focus on the psychedelic substance ibogaine. ARPA-H is allocating up to $4.9 million over five years for investigational medicines addressing PTSD, with subsequent awards slated for substance use disorders. Meanwhile, the National Institute of Mental Health is launching a $20 million funding opportunity for a research network examining treatments like ketamine, psilocybin, and esketamine.

Ibogaine has been a central focus of the Trump administration, supported by an executive order in April aimed at accelerating psychedelic therapies. Researchers note that ibogaine operates through a complex matrix pharmacology rather than a single target. While proponents highlight promising anecdotal and preliminary findings, the compound is also associated with neurotoxic and cardiotoxic risks, with published literature recording 33 deaths following its use as of 2022.