The obesity epidemic is still bursting at the seams. In fact, according to Medical News Today, the issue contributes to more than five million global deaths every year. In addition, according to the World Health Organization, obesity has tripled since 1975. More than 1.9 billion adults were overweight, as of 2016, with more than 650 million considered obese. Plus, more than 340 million children were considered overweight in 2016.
Fortunately, companies like NeonMind Biosciences (CSE:NEON)(OTCQB:NMDBF) believe psychedelics drugs, like psilocybin could be key to significantly reducing obesity statistics. Other companies to watch include Cybin Inc. (NEO:CYBN)(NYSE:CYBN), Mind Medicine Inc. (NEO:MMED)(NASDAQ:MNMD), ATAI Life Sciences (NASDAQ:ATAI), and Pasithea Therapeutics Corp. (NASDAQ:KTTA).
In its pharmaceutical division, NeonMind has two distinct psilocybin drug development programs targeting obesity. NeonMind’s lead candidate, NEO-001, employs psilocybin as an agonist at the serotonin 5- HT2A receptor, which is involved in the hallucinogenic effect of psychedelics. The Company’s second drug candidate, NEO-002, employs low-dose psilocybin as an agonist at the 5-HT2C receptor, which controls appetite.