All-in on psychedelics as medicine

A zealous teetotaler has become an unlikely champion for psychedelic drugs: German financier Christian Angermayer is investing heavily in efforts to push psychedelic drugs, including psilocybin (derived from magic mushrooms), through the regulatory pathway so they might achieve approval for conditions like treatment-resistant depression. Psychedelics are in the midst of a renaissance these days — and interest in studying and approving these drugs is exploding.

Angermayer, notably, made his first millions on a biotech that ultimately become Cambridge-based RNAi therapeutics company Alnylam. He’s since explored various other sectors — cryptocurrency, banking, even Hollywood — before doubling down on psychedelia.