FDA grants quick review for 3 psychedelic drug trials

FIRST ON NBC NEWSHealth newsHealth newsFDA grants quick review for 3 psychedelic drug trialsFDA commissioner Marty Makary told NBC News that the first psychedelic drug could be approved in the U.S. as soon as this summer.Listen to this article with a free account00:0000:00 The FDA will prioritize review of three psychedelic drugs, the latest move by the Trump administration to increase access to such treatments. Sarah Silbiger / Getty Images fileShareAdd NBC News to GoogleApril 24, 2026, 9:00 AM EDTBy Erika EdwardsThe Food and Drug Administration on Friday granted a quick review of three experimental psychedelic drugs meant to treat major depression and post-traumatic stress disorder. It’s the latest move by the Trump administration signaling a shift in policy toward treatments that also give users a high — coming a day after the Justice Department said it would ease restrictions on state-licensed medical marijuana. Subscribe to read this story ad-free Get unlimited access to ad-free articles and exclusive content.The administration declined to say which pharmaceutical companies have been issued priority vouchers for what’s usually a lengthy, months-long FDA review. Two of the companies are expected to submit applications for psilocybin to treat either major depression or depression that is resistant to standard treatments. Another unnamed company has been investigating a drug called methylone, which is similar to MDMA, for PTSD. In a press release Friday, FDA commissioner Marty Makary said the medications “have the potential to address the nation’s mental health crisis, including conditions like treatment resistant depression, alcoholism and other serious mental health and substance abuse conditions.” On Monday, Makary told NBC News that with the accelerated application process, the FDA could potentially approve the first psychedelic drug by the end of summer.The FDA’s priority voucher program began in June 2025. It’s intended as an effort to speed up the review pr...