Filament Health uses natural sources for the raw materials employed throughout our botanical drug development platform. When sourcing these materials for research and development, our team works diligently to ensure that we partner with ethical suppliers, protect local biodiversity, and comply with both local law and international agreements, such as the Nagoya Protocol and the Convention on Biological Diversity.
We are committed to supporting ethical and sustainable practices throughout our business. We collaborate with companies and communities that share our values, including responsible access to genetic resources and benefit sharing.
Our natural drug development process does not produce any harmful chemical byproducts or residues. Filament’s drug candidates are naturally extracted from plants and fungi rather than synthetically created.
The Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) is an international agreement aimed at conserving biodiversity, ensuring the sustainable use of natural resources, and promoting fair sharing of benefits from genetic resources. Adopted in 1992, it seeks to protect ecosystems and support global efforts toward sustainable development while respecting the rights of Indigenous communities. The Nagoya Protocol on Access to Genetic Resources and the Fair and Equitable Sharing of Benefits is a supplementary agreement to the CBD, which creates greater clarity and legal certainty for both suppliers and companies accessing genetic resources (plants, animals, or micro-organisms). The Nagoya Protocol operationalizes predictable access and the fair sharing of benefits derived from genetic resources, thereby contributing to biodiversity conservation and sustainable use. It has been ratified by 142 countries around the world and was officially adopted by Canada on August 9th, 2023.
Filament’s botanical psychedelic drug candidates are derived from natural raw materials, many of which have a history of traditional use in cultures around the world. We recognize the importance of acknowledging traditional knowledge, obtaining prior informed consent, and practicing reciprocity in our work. These principles are reflected in our efforts to develop sustainable sources of supply for natural resources to ensure their conservation and long-term availability.
We have taken significant steps towards ensuring Nagoya compliance for the raw materials that we work with. In May 2023, we announced that we completed the first ever Nagoya-compliant import of iboga root from Gabon to our research and development facility in Metro Vancouver. Iboga is a shrub native to Central Africa that contains ibogaine, a psychoactive compound. Traditionally used for ritual and ceremonial practices, ibogaine shows promise for treating mental health conditions like substance use disorders. Filament is developing a total alkaloid iboga extract from the imported raw material.
In September 2023, we announced the import of coca leaf from Peru to our R&D facility for research by Magdalena Biosciences, our joint venture with Jaguar Health. The import was completed with the authorization of the Peruvian Health Authority and acquired from the Empresa Nacional de la Coca (ENAC), the only company in Peru authorized to collect, distribute, and export coca leaf. Magdalena seeks to obtain the Internationally Recognized Certificate of Compliance (IRCC) over the coming months to ensure full Nagoya compliance. The coca leaf imported from Peru is being used for initial research into ADHD in adults and other neuropsychiatric indications.
Filament is also working with specialized organizations in Brazil to ensure responsible access to the plants of the traditional ayahuasca brew. These organizations are guiding the process of accessing genetic resources in compliance with the Nagoya Protocol and Law 13.123 of May 20, 2015, which regulates access to genetic heritage and the protection of traditional knowledge of Brazilian Indigenous communities.
Traditional knowledge about psilocybin-containing mushrooms traces back to Indigenous peoples, including those of Mesoamerica, particularly the Aztecs, who used mushrooms in spiritual ceremonies and healing practices. Filament has not yet obtained prior informed consent for the work conducted with psilocybin, as our mushrooms are cultivated by our in-house mycologist. As we continue the clinical development of our drug candidates, we recognize the importance of engaging with specialized organizations to seek consent for accessing the traditional knowledge surrounding these mushrooms, and we are in the early stages of this process.
Filament’s ethical approach to raw material sourcing is an essential part of our corporate social responsibility program. Obtaining prior informed consent is a complex, years-long process as the Nagoya Protocol is not yet fully operationalized in many regions. Despite these challenges, our team is dedicated to achieving full Nagoya compliance for all raw materials used in our botanical drug candidates. We believe firmly that not only will this dedication set us apart in our industry, but that it will help to build sustainable, accessible, and equitable access to important genetic and cultural resources around the world, without which these resources are at risk of extinction.
Filament Health acknowledges that our research and development facility is located on the unceded traditional territories of the Coast Salish Nations of xwməθkwəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish), and səl̓ilwətaɁɬ (Tsleil-Waututh).
