Curated News
By: NewsRamp Editorial Staff
October 22, 2025
BetterLife Pharma Taps Former Cybin CEO to Advance Non-Hallucinogenic LSD Treatment
TLDR
- BetterLife Pharma gains strategic advantage by appointing Doug Drysdale, a proven biotech leader who grew companies to $500M revenue and $800M enterprise value.
- BetterLife Pharma appointed Doug Drysdale as Corporate Advisor to advance BETR-001's development for cluster headache and migraine using his experience from molecule inception to Phase 3 trials.
- BetterLife's development of non-hallucinogenic BETR-001 could provide safe, self-administered treatment for debilitating neurological disorders like cluster headaches and migraines.
- BetterLife Pharma is developing BETR-001, a patented non-hallucinogenic LSD derivative that showed meaningful reduction in cluster headache frequency in previous clinical studies.
Impact - Why it Matters
This development matters because it represents a significant advancement in neurological treatment options that could revolutionize how we approach debilitating conditions like cluster headaches and migraines. Cluster headaches are considered one of the most painful conditions known to medicine, often called 'suicide headaches' due to their severity, and current treatments provide limited relief for many sufferers. The non-hallucinogenic nature of BETR-001 removes the stigma and regulatory barriers associated with traditional psychedelic compounds, potentially making effective treatment more accessible. For the millions worldwide who suffer from treatment-resistant migraines and cluster headaches, this could mean a new class of effective medications that don't carry the psychoactive effects that have limited broader acceptance of psychedelic-based therapies. The appointment of an experienced pharmaceutical executive like Drysdale suggests serious commercial potential and could accelerate the development timeline for bringing this innovative treatment to patients in need.
Summary
BetterLife Pharma Inc., an emerging biotechnology company trading on the CSE, OTCQB, and Frankfurt exchanges, has made a strategic move by appointing Doug Drysdale as Corporate Advisor. Drysdale brings an impressive track record from his previous role as CEO of Cybin Inc., where he successfully guided the company from molecule inception to Phase 3 trials in just three years. His extensive experience includes transforming multiple pharmaceutical companies, including growing Alvogen from startup to $500 million in revenues across 35 countries and dramatically increasing Pernix Therapeutics' enterprise value from $80 million to $800 million. This appointment signals BetterLife's serious commitment to advancing their flagship product BETR-001 beyond its psychiatric applications.
The core focus of Drysdale's advisory role will be developing BETR-001 for non-psychiatric indications, particularly cluster headache and migraine treatment. BETR-001 represents a groundbreaking approach as a patented stereoisomer of 2-bromo-LSD that is non-hallucinogenic and non-controlled, meaning it can potentially be self-administered without the regulatory hurdles associated with traditional psychedelic compounds. Previous research, including the Karst et al study published in Cephalgia 2010 available through PubMed, has shown that earlier forms of 2-bromo-LSD demonstrated meaningful reduction in cluster headache frequency while remaining safe and tolerable in human subjects. BetterLife's synthesis patent eliminates significant regulatory barriers, while their pending composition and method of use patent could provide protection until approximately 2042.
Dr. Ahmad Doroudian, BetterLife's CEO, expressed excitement about welcoming Drysdale to their advisory team, highlighting his 35 years of experience and proven ability to deliver successful transactions across various markets and indications. The company's strategic direction now includes developing BETR-001 not only for cluster headache and migraine but also for neuropathic pain, expanding the potential therapeutic applications of this innovative compound. BetterLife also maintains additional assets including a drug candidate for viral infections, though the company is seeking strategic alternatives for its further development. Investors and stakeholders can find additional information through the company's website and investor relations contacts.
Source Statement
This curated news summary relied on content disributed by NewMediaWire. Read the original source here, BetterLife Pharma Taps Former Cybin CEO to Advance Non-Hallucinogenic LSD Treatment
