Background

Ibogaine (12-methoxyibogamine) is an alkaloid found in several plants. It is a controlled substance in many countries due to its psychedelic properties.In the US ibogaine is a Schedule I (CI) substance  belonging in the same category as LSD; delta9-tetrahydro-cannabinol (THC), heroin and psilocybin, among others. Ibogaine is a tryptamine. Its action is complex. It is affecting several different neurotransmitters at the same time having affinities for N-methyl-d-aspartate (NMDA), kappa-opioid, sigma, and nicotine receptors. 

Purpose

Ibogaine’s unique and complex pharmacological properties, including binding on receptors sites as an agonist (hallucinogenic) and antagonist (anti addictive).These properties support its promising use in treating alcohol use disorders and some CNS conditions.

Preclinical studies demonstrated that ibogaine reduces self-administration of both cocaine and morphine in laboratory animals, and attenuates the symptoms of morphine withdrawal. This data encourages health authorities to support several clinical studies of ibogaine in the US and some other countries 

Clinical trials

The use of pharmaceutical (cGMP grade) Ibogaine in research is hindered by the scarcity of the natural product (protected plant Tabernanthe iboga) and also by its CI controlled status in most countries of the world. In some cases non-GMP grade (“grey market”) Ibogaine is used for preclinical and Phase I & II clinical trials. However, for NDA and Phase III trials, the use of cGMP material remains mandatory. Therefore, it is of great importance of using cGMP Ibogaine from the earliest possible stage of drug development. 

CORYN Pharmaceuticals, which specializes on natural alkaloids, is one of a few companies which established cGMP manufacturing of ibogaine. Coryn offers both the base and the HCl salt of ibogaine to the duly licensed research organizations and laboratories to support drug product development and clinical trials according to the FDA standards.