Zappy Zapolin: Advocate for Psychedelic Therapies and Research
The TDR Three Key Takeaways regarding Psychedelic therapies and Zappy Zapolin:
- Zappy Zapolin uses documentaries to advocate for psychedelic medicine’s benefits.
- Insurance companies’ interest could accelerate psychedelic therapies’ adoption, Zappy says.
- Zappy predicts significant industry shifts with upcoming FDA approvals.
In psychedelic therapy and research, few voices are as influential and insightful as Zappy Zapolin’s. Known as the “Psychedelic Concierge to the Stars,” Zappy has become a figure in the movement to integrate psychedelic and plant-based compounds into mainstream healthcare.
Zappy’s contributions to the psychedelic renaissance are perhaps best exemplified by his acclaimed documentary, “The Reality of Truth,” featuring famous figures such as Deepak Chopra, Ram Dass, Bruce Lipton, Michelle Rodriguez, and Marianne Williamson. The success of this documentary was followed up with “Lamar Odom: Reborn,”, which chronicles the recovery journey of former NBA star Lamar Odom. These documentaries not only highlight individual transformation but also serve as a powerful advocacy tool for the broader acceptance of psychedelic therapies.
Beyond filmmaking, Zappy has launched initiatives to promote psychedelic legalization and responsible use, including founding The Mind Army and The Ketamine Fund, which provides free treatments to veterans. He also founded KetaMD and Psycheceutical, Inc. to develop advanced psychedelic treatments and integrate them into mainstream healthcare.
In an interview on the “Trade to Black” podcast, Zappy provided invaluable insights into the current state and future prospects of psychedelic research. He emphasized the significant financial investments flowing into the sector, citing companies like MindMed, which raised $175 million from their Phase 2 LSD trials, and Cybin, poised to start a Phase 3 trial for DMT with $150 million in raised capital. These figures underscore the growing confidence among strategic biotech investors.
Zappy is particularly optimistic about the upcoming FDA approval for psychedelics, specifically the ruling on Lykos Therapeutics’ MDMA therapy protocol. He predicts that FDA approval could catalyze a major surge in industry growth, potentially elevating Lykos to a billion-dollar valuation. “The writing’s on the wall,” Zappy remarked, highlighting the overwhelming demand for MDMA therapy as indicated by the VA’s undersecretary of health. “When you compare it to that, I think there’s absolutely no risk in the world with MDMA for these veterans who came back from the war. We owe that to them.”
Despite the positive outlook, Zappy acknowledged the challenges posed by skepticism and misinformation. He dismissed concerns from reports questioning the credibility of psychedelic trials, stressing that the therapeutic benefits of MDMA therapy for PTSD treatment with psychedelics are well-documented. “The demand is going to be overwhelming because these therapies work,” he asserted, advocating for a focus on patient outcomes over bureaucratic hurdles. “We have to seize that opportunity. Ketamine breaks suicidal ideation. We’ve got to jump on that.”
An intriguing aspect of our discussion was the role of insurance companies in the psychedelic space. According to Zappy, major insurers like UnitedHealthcare and Kaiser are already exploring the cost-effectiveness of psychedelic therapies compared to traditional treatments. This interest from insurers could accelerate the adoption of psychedelics, as they recognize the potential for substantial cost savings and better patient outcomes. “The big boss, the people buying all their pharmaceuticals, those guys are absolutely saying right now, we want these psychedelic medicines as soon as possible.”
The potential FDA approval for Lykos Therapeutics’ MDMA therapy protocol could mark a historic moment for the industry. Zappy predicts that this milestone could propel Lykos to a billion-dollar valuation, drawing parallels to the explosive growth seen in other medical breakthroughs. He advised investors to consider early positions in leading psychedelic companies, as the industry is poised for significant expansion. “Put these things away for the next year, three years, five years, and you’re going to see that you wind up owning some of the future biotech companies that are out there.”
Zappy envisions a future where psychedelic therapies move from clinical settings to personalized, home-based treatments. As public awareness and acceptance grow, he believes these therapies will become integral to addressing mental health issues, addiction, and chronic pain. Reflecting on the broader impact, Zappy stated, “When we look back 50 or 100 years from now, people are going to say, yeah, at the turn of that millennia, people went back to nature and it saved the human race from extinction.” Highlighting the industry’s potential, he added, “This is a trillion-dollar industry. And like I said, if you’re an investor watching, just get yourself either into some of these companies where we’ve listed like MindMed or Cybin and, you know, put your bets down.” Want to be updated on all things Psychedelic, Cannabis, AI, and Crypto? Subscribe to our Daily Baked in Newsletter!
