The Psychedelic Gold Rush Is Over? Big Pharma, AI, and Psychedelic Research Inside the NHS

Evolving Minds By Pink Elephant

Go inside the REAL business of psychedelic medicine. While everyone talks about investment and FDA headlines, George McBride is on the front lines doing the essential work. The Clerkenwell Health co-founder reveals the untold story of navigating psychedelic clinical trials, Big Pharma’s growing interest, public-private partnerships with the NHS, the future of AI in psychedelic clinical trials, and much more. A candid and insightful look at innovation, regulation, and what it really takes to bring psychedelics to market.
#PsychedelicResearch #ClinicalTrials #DrugDevelopment #MentalHealthInnovation #NHS #PsychedelicStartups #MentalHealthPodcast
In this insightful conversation, George shares:
- His unique journey from aspiring criminal barrister to pioneering psychedelic research.
- What a Clinical Research Organization (CRO) does and why it's essential for the industry.
- Details on Clerkenwell Health's groundbreaking partnership to run trials inside an NHS hospital.
- The difference in stigma between cannabis and psychedelics when dealing with the establishment.
- Why the industry has moved from hype to "stable excitement" and what's next.
- The biggest bottlenecks holding back psychedelic medicine, from talent shortages to diagnostics.
- How big pharma and AI are poised to change the future of mental healthcare.
00:00 Intro
02:57 George's Journey: From Law to the Beckley Foundation
06:06 Why We Started a Psychedelic Research Company
08:52 Personal Motivations: The Gaps in Mental Healthcare
11:54 What is Clerkenwell Health? Explaining the Clinical Trial Model
12:50 A Groundbreaking Partnership with the NHS
19:42 Clinical Trials as a Pathway for Patient Access
24:57 Stigma: Psychedelics vs. Cannabis
30:52 The Reality of Navigating European Health Authorities
35:05 Is Big Pharma About to Enter the Psychedelic Space?
43:33 The Biggest Bottlenecks Facing the Industry
48:37 How AI Will Impact Psychedelic Research & Treatment
50:13 Final Thoughts & How to Collaborate
Whether you're an entrepreneur, therapist, investor, or just curious about the psychedelic renaissance, this episode offers a rare inside look at what it takes to turn promise into approved medicine.
Our guest is George McBride:
https://uk.linkedin.com/in/mcbridegeorge
https://www.clerkenwellhealth.com/
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The Evolving Minds podcast by Pink Elephant, hosted by Jason Najum, is a series of 1-on-1 conversations with star guests who dare to build, scale, or rethink companies, policies, and protocols at the frontier of progressive mental health