NEW YORK and BERLIN, March 11, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — atai Life Sciences (NASDAQ: ATAI) (“atai” or “Company”), a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company aiming to transform the treatment of mental health disorders, today announced that the first patient has been dosed in the Phase 2 Elumina trial of VLS-01, atai’s proprietary oral transmucosal film formulation of N,N-Dimethyltryptamine (DMT) applied to the buccal surface, in people suffering from treatment-resistant depression (TRD).
“Dosing the first patient in the Phase 2 Elumina trial of VLS-01 marks a significant milestone in our commitment to transforming the treatment landscape for mental health disorders,” stated Kevin Craig, M.D., Chief Medical Officer of atai. “Millions worldwide struggle with treatment-resistant depression, often left with few or no viable options. With VLS-01, we see the potential to offer rapid, robust, and durable antidepressant effects that could provide meaningful relief where existing treatments fall short. This trial brings us one step closer to delivering a new and innovative solution to those people who need it most.”
Elumina is a Phase 2, multi-center, double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled, clinical trial to assess the efficacy, safety and tolerability of repeated doses of VLS-01 (NCT06524830). The trial consists of two treatment periods. In the first treatment period, approximately 142 patients will be randomized 1:1 to receive a 120mg dose of VLS-01 or placebo on Day 1, followed by a second dose of the same intervention at Week 2. The primary endpoint is the change from Baseline in Montgomery-Asberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS) total score at Week 4. The last double-blind assessment visit will be at Week 14. The first treatment period will provide 12 weeks of blinded durability data following two doses of VLS-01 administered in a placebo-controlled fashion. Topline results from the first treatment period are anticipated in the first quarter of 2026.
The second treatment period starts at Week 14 and will explore the response to two different dose levels of VLS-01. Patients will be randomized 1:1 to receive a third dose of either 60mg or 120mg of VLS-01. Final safety and efficacy assessment will be conducted two weeks after administration of the third dose.
About VLS-01 (buccal film DMT)
VLS-01 is a proprietary oral transmucosal film formulation of N,N-Dimethyltryptamine (DMT) applied to the buccal surface, being developed for the treatment of people suffering from treatment-resistant depression (TRD). Pharmacologically, VLS-01 is a partial to full agonist of the 5-HT1/2/6/7 receptors and is being developed to potentially offer rapid, robust, and durable efficacy with a favorable safety profile. VLS-01 is designed to fit within the established two-hour interventional psychiatry treatment paradigm, positioning it for integration into existing care models. atai is enrolling patients into Elumina, the Phase 2, multi-center, double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled, trial to assess the efficacy, safety and tolerability of VLS-01 in people suffering from TRD. Topline results from the first treatment period of the Phase 2 Elumina trial are anticipated in the first quarter of 2026.
About atai Life Sciences
atai is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company aiming to transform the treatment of mental health disorders. The Company was founded in response to the significant unmet need and lack of innovation in the mental health treatment landscape. atai is dedicated to developing novel, evidence-based therapeutics to treat depression, anxiety and other mental health disorders. atai’s vision is to heal mental health disorders so that everyone, everywhere can live a more fulfilled life. For more information, please visit www.atai.life.