GH Research Welcomes White House Executive Order on Mental Illness Treatment
GH Research issued a statement "welcoming" the White House Executive Order, signed on April 18, 2026, to accelerate medical treatments for serious mental illness, including innovative psychedelic medical treatments. The Executive Order directs coordinated federal action to accelerate the development of, and expand patient access to, innovative therapies for serious mental illness. GH Research continues to advance GH001, its proprietary inhaled mebufotenin product candidate, toward initiation of a global pivotal Phase 3 program in treatment-resistant depression in 2026. "We commend the Administration for recognizing the magnitude of the mental health crisis and the urgent need for innovative, evidence-based therapies for patients with serious mental illness. The Executive Order's emphasis on scientific rigor and cross-agency coordination is well aligned with the approach required to deliver practice-changing treatments, and we remain focused on advancing GH001 toward a global pivotal Phase 3 program," said Dr. Velichka Valcheva, Chief Executive Officer of GH Research.
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- Research Acceleration Policy: President Trump's executive order aims to expedite research on psychedelics like psilocybin and MDMA, although it does not alter drug scheduling, reflecting a focus on a medical-first framework that may pave the way for future cannabis rescheduling.
- Positive Market Reaction: Following the signing of the order, psychedelic developers like AtaiBeckley saw stock prices rise approximately 25%, indicating a positive market response to the policy shift and growing investor confidence in the psychedelic sector.
- Safety Concerns: The inclusion of ibogaine in the order raises safety concerns due to its potential cardiac risks, despite its applications being studied for PTSD and addiction, highlighting significant barriers to commercialization.
- Industry Outlook: While the psychedelic industry lacks a commercial market, the rise of clinical-stage developers suggests that the executive order provides crucial support for the legitimacy of psychedelics, potentially fostering broader acceptance of plant-based alternative medicines in the future.
- Stock Surge: Compass Pathways' stock surged significantly after President Trump signed an executive order related to psychedelic drugs, reflecting market optimism regarding the company's future, particularly in mental health applications.
- Policy Impact: The executive order may create a more favorable regulatory environment for the research and development of psychedelics, potentially accelerating Compass Pathways' innovation in new therapies and enhancing its competitive position.
- Investor Confidence: Increased attention on psychedelics has drawn more investors to the sector, benefiting Compass Pathways as it is expected to attract more capital to support its R&D projects.
- Industry Outlook: As the therapeutic potential of psychedelics for mental health issues gains recognition, Compass Pathways is poised to lead in this emerging market, driving long-term growth for the company.
- Market Reaction: Following President Trump's executive order, shares of psychedelic drug developers surged in premarket trading, with Atai Life Sciences up 21%, Definium Therapeutics rising 15%, and Compass Pathways climbing 26%, indicating strong market confidence in the psychedelic sector.
- Executive Order Details: The order directs the FDA to expedite reviews of psychedelic drugs, particularly ibogaine for treating PTSD, depression, and addiction, potentially reducing review times from 6-10 months to just 1-2 months, significantly enhancing the industry's outlook.
- Government Funding Support: Trump announced a $50 million allocation for federal research into ibogaine, providing crucial financial backing for the development of psychedelic drugs and further propelling industry growth.
- Regulatory Risk Mitigation: Analysts noted that the executive order represents a government endorsement of psychedelics, reducing regulatory risks and potentially facilitating legislative efforts to expand access to psychedelic therapies, reflecting bipartisan interest and support in this field.
- Psychedelic Research Advancement: The Trump administration is drafting an executive order indicating a willingness to further investigate the safety and efficacy of ibogaine, a psychedelic used for treating PTSD, which is expected to accelerate clinical research in this area.
- Positive Market Reaction: Following the announcement, stocks of companies like Clearmind Medicine (CMND), Atai Beckley (ATAI), and Cybin (HELP) rose, reflecting market optimism regarding the potential applications of psychedelics in mental health treatment.
- Strait of Hormuz Passage Statement: Iran's Foreign Minister declared that commercial vessels can fully pass through the Strait of Hormuz during the ceasefire in Lebanon, while Trump confirmed normal passage but maintained a naval blockade against Iran, highlighting the complexities of geopolitical tensions in the region.
- AI Model Utilization: The U.S. government is preparing to make Anthropic PBC's AI model Mythos available to major federal agencies despite cybersecurity risks, indicating a balancing act between promoting technological innovation and ensuring data security.
- Government Focus on Ibogaine: The Trump administration plans to closely examine ibogaine's safety and effectiveness, maintaining its Schedule I classification, which indicates a cautious approach to its potential medical applications.
- Research Funding Opening: President Trump is expected to sign an executive order aimed at unlocking federal funding for research into ibogaine's effectiveness for PTSD and traumatic brain injuries, particularly among veterans, signaling a significant policy shift.
- Stock Price Surge: Following the news, shares of Psyence Biomedical (PBM) surged over 141% on Thursday, potentially marking its best trading session, reflecting strong market confidence in the company's natural-derived therapies.
- Market Sentiment Extremely Bullish: On Stocktwits, retail sentiment around PBM stock remained in the 'extremely bullish' territory with message volume spiking, despite the stock having fallen approximately 95% over the past year.
- Clinical Trial Results Published: GH Research PLC has published the Phase 2b trial results of GH001 in JAMA Psychiatry, demonstrating significant efficacy in treatment-resistant depression (TRD) patients, achieving the primary endpoint with a MADRS reduction of 15.5 points from baseline (P<0.0001), indicating GH001's potential to transform current treatment paradigms.
- Efficacy Independence Analysis: A forthcoming article in Psychopharmacology Bulletin highlights that GH001's efficacy is independent of prior antidepressant treatment failures, with Day 8 remission rates ranging from 53.9% to 63.6% among patients with 2 to 5 prior failures, showcasing GH001's unique advantage.
- Long-Term Remission Rate Improvement: At the end of the trial, 6-month remission rates reached 61.5% to 85.7% in the same patient groups, contrasting sharply with the declining remission rates observed in the STAR*D trial with successive treatment failures, suggesting GH001 may offer new hope for patients with extensive treatment histories.
- Advancement of Global Trial Plans: CEO Velichka Valcheva stated that the publication in JAMA Psychiatry provides independent peer-reviewed validation of GH001's Phase 2b findings, supporting the company's efforts to advance GH001 into global pivotal trials, signaling future strategic positioning in the depression treatment landscape.









