Peru Grants Coca Research Rights to Magdalena Biosciences

Jaguar Health, Inc. has announced a significant agreement enabling research into coca plants for mental health treatments. Authorized by Peru's National Institute of Agrarian Innovation (INIA), the agreement allows Magdalena Biosciences, a joint venture between Jaguar and Filament Health, to explore medicinal applications of coca species Erythroxylum coca and Erythroxylum novogranatense. This initiative seeks to develop FDA-approved, plant-based psychoactive drugs for mental health and central nervous system (CNS) issues.

Dr. Steven King from Jaguar praised the collaboration with Peruvian entities, emphasizing the fair sharing of benefits under the Convention on Biological Diversity. The project aims to harness coca's traditional uses, potentially offering therapeutic benefits over chemically synthesized drugs. The collaboration is supported by Peruvian partners, advancing the exploration of coca leaf's potential in modern medicine.