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Boston's Morning Newsletter
'One in a series of bumps': FDA says more research necessary before approving MDMA therapy
Editor's Note: This is an excerpt from WBUR's daily morning newsletter, WBUR Today. If you like what you read and want it in your inbox, sign up here.
Yesterday's closing ceremony in Paris marked the end of yet another record-breaking, memory-making Summer Games. Team USA took home a total of 126 medals this year (nine of which were awarded to athletes from Massachusetts, in case you were wondering).
Let's get to the news:
Back to the lab: The Food and Drug Administration has ordered further study — and an additional clinical trial — to show the safety and efficacy of Lykos Therapeutics’ MDMA-based therapy as a treatment for post-traumatic stress disorder. The ruling is another setback for Lykos and its parent organization, the Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies (MAPS), who have spent decades trying to bring midomafetamine capsules and psychedelic-assisted therapy to market.
- Rick Doblin, president and founder of MAPS, told WBUR’s Paul Connearney there is a tremendous need for new treatments for PTSD. A 2021 study co-authored by Doblin found MDMA, also known as molly or ecstasy, could lessen the symptoms of PTSD when paired with therapy, but it’s still categorized as a Schedule 1 drug by the federal government. The FDA’s decision to decline the drug’s use is “one in a series of bumps in the road we’ll need to figure out how to address,” Doblin said.
- Go deeper: Research on psychedelics is growing in the commonwealth — literally. In this greenhouse on top of Massachusetts General Hospital, plants with psychedelic properties (and a history of criminalization) are being grown and studied for their chemical makeup and therapeutic potential.
Making it official: The Boston Parks Commission will vote this morning at 10 a.m. on a final plan to demolish and redevelop White Stadium in Franklin Park.
- Plans for White Stadium have been embroiled in debate — from disagreements over land ownership and lawsuits, to calls from advocates over environmental and community impacts. At the end of last month, the renovation and design concept for the new stadium had been approved, but the vote on the demolition plan was delayed. What’s different going into this vote? The project has garnered the support of the Franklin Park Coalition, a grassroots group that had previously voiced concerns about the project.
- Remind me… The new stadium will become the home of Boston’s National Women’s Soccer League team. The state-of-the-art facility would also be the new home turf for Boston Public School students. Mayor Michelle Wu has said the stadium would be available for community use 90% of the time.
- What’s next: If today’s vote goes through, the City of Boston is expected to begin demolition in the fall.
What it means to be a parent: For the first time in 40 years, the state’s laws on parentage have received an update. This afternoon, Gov. Maura Healey will attend a formal signing ceremony for the Parentage Act, which expands protections for parents who use reproductive methods, like in-vitro fertilization, surrogacy or assisted reproduction to start their families.
- What to know: The bill has been championed by LGBTQ+ activists in Massachusetts for years. The law also updates the vocabulary used to discuss parentage, referring to a child whose parents are not married as a “nonmarital child” rather than a “child born out of wedlock.” The bipartisan effort passed through the Massachusetts legislature a little over a week ago.
Let the games begin: It’s not the Olympics, but the competition will be fierce as young Bostonians take to the tennis courts at the Carter Playground today for the Mayor’s Cup Tennis Tournament. Over the course of four days, kids ranging from 8 to 18 will compete in singles and doubles matches for the title of “Boston’s Best.”
- Damian Margardo, the tournament’s program manager, says the annual competition is a good opportunity for young people in the city to try a sport they may not usually play. Though registration is closed, locals of all ages are welcome to come cheer on the players from Monday through Thursday at 709 Columbus Ave. in Boston.
P.S. — Healey will be live on Radio Boston today at 11 a.m. Get involved in the conversation by texting your questions for the governor to 617-766-0382. Click here for more information.
