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Adrienne Rivlin, a partner at L.E.K.'s Healthcare practice in London, brings over a decade of expertise in advising pharmaceutical, biotech, and healthcare organisations. Passionate about improving healthcare accessibility, affordability, and mental health, she is a leading advocate in the field. With a strong academic background from the University of Oxford, Adrienne is a thought leader shaping the evolving landscape of mental health treatment, embracing science and innovation for a brighter future. Connect with Adrienne
Adrienne Rivlin
Expert
In the News:
Investment in the psychedelic drug therapy sector has experienced a surge in recent years. This influx of funding is expected to drive innovation and accelerate the availability of psychedelic treatments.
Promising Breakthroughs
“We've been spending time recently helping our clients explore the service delivery infrastructure requirements for psychedelic drug therapy. We need to think through very carefully how to deliver these types of drugs, and possible psychotherapy as well, in a safe and effective way for patients.”
Infrastructure & Delivery Innovation
“We've had some very significant readouts of big phase three trials that have really started to show us what the potential impact of these therapies could be, from psilocybin or magic mushrooms for the treatment of major depression through to the use of MDMA drug therapy or ecstasy for the treatment of PTSD.”
Promising Breakthroughs
“Even before the COVID pandemic, we knew that we had a burgeoning mental health crisis. The COVID pandemic has accelerated that and for many patients around the world, the current treatments and therapies that they have access to are simply suboptimal.”
Psychedelic Revolution
Future Therapies
Overview
Psychedelic Revolution
Psychedelic psychiatry is on the verge of transforming the mental health landscape by reimagining treatment approaches. The integration of virtual reality and digital therapy, along with supply chain considerations, will play a significant role.
As mental health assumes an increasingly prominent role in the healthcare system, we help organisations address a range of key issues, creating value for our provider clients and across the investment landscape. We help clients with their commercial and growth strategy, supporting them in growing sectors such as psychedelic drugs. Our approach helps organisations consistently make better decisions, deliver improved business performance and create greater shareholder returns.
How L.E.K. Can Help
Our Approach
$1,588M
$617M
$62M
$65M
2017
2019
2020
2021
Due to the highly regulated nature of psychedelics, developing the necessary standard and volume of infrastructure will be critical to a successful launch. In the next five to 10 years, as psychedelic assets move to commercialisation, thousands of therapists and clinics will require training to deliver psychedelic-assisted therapies.
Infrastructure and Delivery Innovation
Consequently, mental illness remains implicated in the deaths of thousands of individuals each year and is responsible for massive human suffering and economic productivity loss. Poor mental health costs the world economy over $2.5 trillion per year in reduced productivity, a figure projected to rise to $6 trillion by 2030.
Psychedelic Psychiatry
Discover the frontier of mental healthcare innovation
According to the WHO, 1 in 8 people globally live with a mental health disorder; depression and anxiety are the most prevalent.
ANXIETY
POST-TRAUMATIC STRESS DISORDER (PTSD)
ADDICTION
DEPRESSION
$2.5tn
In 2010
By 2030
$6tn
These investments, as well as continued private placements and venture capital fundraising, demonstrate continued investor confidence, in even the earliest-stage psychedelics companies. Drug development continues to account for the majority of funding, with around 80% of funding in both 2021 and 2022.
Psychedelics appear to act quickly, have long-lasting effects (especially for depression) and are well-tolerated. In 2017 the FDA designated MDMA a ‘breakthrough’ therapy for PTSD and in 2018 further named two psilocybin-based drugs as having demonstrated ‘breakthrough’ qualities making licensing approval likely as early as 2023.
MDMA
Psilocybin
Go to Our Latest Thinking
Major breakthroughs in the field of psychedelic assisted therapy have brought mental health to the brink of a revolution. But bringing these therapies to market is no small endeavor.
"...We could have a mental health revolution in therapies on our hands."
- Adrienne Rivlin
$13M
$555M
2022
2018
Investment in psychedelics
80%
Funding from 2021 and 2022
Number of therapists required to deliver psychedelic therapy
Number of clinics required to deliver psychedelic therapy
11.6k
2.4k
9.2k
1.7k
0.4k
2.1k
15
0
4
0
Across the U.S., UK and EU4, 23.2k therapists and 4.2k clinics will be required to deliver psychedelic therapy across these six indications.
“There is a pressing need to radically reimagine and reconfigure the patient journey to allow patients to benefit fully from the potential that it appears psychedelics with or without psychotherapy can deliver.”
- Adrienne Rivlin
The world of psychedelics is buzzing with investment, but it's far from a smooth ride. Join us for an insightful episode delving into the hurdles facing the development of psychedelic drugs for mental healthcare. We'll dive into the intricacies of clinical trial design, production challenges, and the path to commercialization. Participants in this episode are Adrienne Rivlin and Andre Valente, partners in L.E.K. Consulting’s London Office, and guest Tom McDonald, from Clerkenwell Health.
Podcast
$499M
2023
Button
The Psychedelic Revolution
Featuring psychedelics expert and
L.E.K. Consulting partner, Adrienne Rivlin
Transforming Mental Health
- Adrienne Rivlin
Psychedelic Psychiatry: A Revolution Set to Transform Our Mental Health?
Remarkable recent successes in psychedelic clinical trials may soon offer hope for patients, particularly MDMA for PTSD and psilocybin for depression and anxiety.
The increasing burden of mental illness has long been recognised as a serious and worsening world-wide problem, recently further exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Investment Surge in Psychedelics for Treatment of Mental Health Conditions
L.E.K. Consulting examines the exciting possibilities for a revolutionised patient journey in mental health, overcoming many of the existing challenges in today’s care pathway.
Mind-Altering Metamorphosis: Transforming the Patient Journey in Mental Health
Mental and Behavioral Health
Mental and Behavioral Health
Mental and Behavioral Health
Psychedelics looks set to become the next major innovation in mental healthcare. This can be seen in the increasing number of successful clinical trials, ‘breakthrough’ regulatory designations, inward capital investment and evolving academic and public sentiment. However, some challenges remain.
Investing in Psychedelics: Opportunities and Challenges
Webinar
Latest thinking
Coping With Capacity Constraints
Mental and Behavioral Health
In the next five to 10 years, as psychedelic assets move to commercialisation, thousands of therapists and clinics will require training to deliver psychedelic-assisted therapies.
A Test of Resilience: Looking Forward to Psychedelics Funding in 2023
Mental and Behavioral Health
Despite the overall market slowdown, the psychedelics sector proved resilient in 2022... Challenges in funding availability, cash burn and clinical trial practicalities will follow the sector into 2023.
Trip or No Trip? The Diverging Development of Psychedelic Drugs for Mental Health
Drug Development
Over 50 clinical trials using psychedelic compounds to treat mental health conditions are ongoing... Is the ‘trip’ associated with psychedelics central to the brain’s rewiring?
View webinar
Coping With Capacity Constraints
Mental and Behavioral Health
In the next five to 10 years, as psychedelic assets move to commercialisation, thousands of therapists and clinics will require training to deliver psychedelic-assisted therapies.
Psychedelics and Psychotherapy: A Treatment Paradigm for the Future?
Mental and Behavioral Health
There are a number of ways in which companies developing psychedelics can address the challenges for their successful commercialisation posed by psychotherapy infrastructure requirements.
Exploring the Psychedelics Landscape: Looking Ahead to Funding in 2024
Drug Development
The outlook for the psychedelics sector which proved to be prescient: 2023 was a resilient year for psychedelics despite a challenging funding environment.
Ex-US commercialisation considerations and requirements
Our client is a leading psychedelics company with a novel psychedelics asset who wanted to understand which countries to commercialise in after the US. We assisted them by developing a framework to analyse this rigorously, and conducting research to prioritise countries from a long list of potential markets. Our client now has a good view of the number of geographies and requirements to commercialise successfully.
Despite the overall market slowdown, the psychedelics sector proved resilient in 2022... Challenges in funding availability, cash burn and clinical trial practicalities will follow the sector into 2023.
We worked together with the management team of this leading psychedelics company to prepare for the commercialisation of their asset indicated for depression. Our approach involved understanding the likely key components for commercialisation that would be different to a standard launch. This client continues to be well-prepared to launch their asset in the near future.
Commercialisation preparation for leading psychedelics company
Over 50 clinical trials using psychedelic compounds to treat mental health conditions are ongoing... Is the ‘trip’ associated with psychedelics central to the brain’s rewiring?
L.E.K. worked with a mid-sized biotech to review their psychiatry (including psychedelics) pipeline. We analysed the scientific and technical details of their programmes (Clinical Development Plans) and developed Target Product Profiles to test in discussion with KOLs and drug development experts. As a result of our work, we uncovered several risks in the CDPs and proposed several mitigations which were used to further enhance the chances of success for their R&D.
R&D pipeline review
L.E.K. Consulting examines the exciting possibilities for a revolutionised patient journey in mental health, overcoming many of the existing challenges in today’s care pathway.
Revenue forecasting for a PTSD psychedelics asset
Our client, a biotech company, wanted an in-depth model to forecast the likely revenues of a psychedelics asset in PTSD. We conducted primary and secondary research with a range of stakeholders to build a comprehensive picture of all the key assumptions that would drive revenue, including epidemiology, competition, pricing and willingness to prescribe and accept treatment. Our work was integral to informing our client’s investment strategy.
The increasing burden of mental illness has long been recognised as a serious and worsening world-wide problem, recently further exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Psychedelics landscape and opportunity assessment
Remarkable recent successes in psychedelic clinical trials may soon offer hope for patients, particularly MDMA for PTSD and psilocybin for depression and anxiety.
We assisted a mid-sized global pharmaceutical company to analyse whether or not they should diversify their portfolio and enter the psychedelics space. Our approach involved bespoke primary and secondary research, financial modelling and the development of strategic recommendations. Having reviewed the scientific, clinical and commercial considerations in detail, this company is pursuing an active plan to become more active in the field of psychedelics.
Case Studies
Psychedelics landscape and opportunity assessment
We assisted a mid-sized global pharmaceutical company to analyse whether or not they should diversify their portfolio and enter the psychedelics space. Our approach involved bespoke primary and secondary research, financial modelling and the development of strategic recommendations. Having reviewed the scientific, clinical and commercial considerations in detail, this company is pursuing an active plan to become more active in the field of psychedelics.
Revenue forecasting for a PTSD psychedelics asset
Our client, a biotech company, wanted an in-depth model to forecast the likely revenues of a psychedelics asset in PTSD. We conducted primary and secondary research with a range of stakeholders to build a comprehensive picture of all the key assumptions that would drive revenue, including epidemiology, competition, pricing and willingness to prescribe and accept treatment. Our work was integral to informing our client’s investment strategy.
R&D pipeline review
L.E.K. worked with a mid-sized biotech to review their psychiatry (including psychedelics) pipeline. We analysed the scientific and technical details of their programmes (Clinical Development Plans) and developed Target Product Profiles to test in discussion with KOLs and drug development experts. As a result of our work, we uncovered several risks in the CDPs and proposed several mitigations which were used to further enhance the chances of success for their R&D.
Commercialisation preparation for leading psychedelics company
We worked together with the management team of this leading psychedelics company to prepare for the commercialisation of their asset indicated for depression. Our approach involved understanding the likely key components for commercialisation that would be different to a standard launch. This client continues to be well-prepared to launch their asset in the near future.
Ex-US commercialisation considerations and requirements
Our client is a leading psychedelics company with a novel psychedelics asset who wanted to understand which countries to commercialise in after the US. We assisted them by developing a framework to analyse this rigorously, and conducting research to prioritise countries from a long list of potential markets. Our client now has a good view of the number of geographies and requirements to commercialise successfully.
Exploring the Psychedelics Landscape: Looking Ahead to Funding in 2024
Drug Development
The outlook for the psychedelics sector which proved to be prescient: 2023 was a resilient year for psychedelics despite a challenging funding environment.
Clinical Trial Design Strategies To Address Methodological Challenges in Psychedelics
Mental and Behavioral Health
Strategies designed to overcome methodological challenges in psychedelic clinical trials focus on issues like unintentional unblinding and distinguishing drug effects from psychotherapy.
In Need of an All-Inclusive Trip: Socio-Demographic Diversity in Psychedelic Research
Mental and Behavioral Health
Psychedelic treatments are gaining traction for the treatment of psychiatric disorders, but to what extent can the results be generalised to apply to the wider population?