FDA grants three priority vouchers to psychedelics

 Following up on President Donald Trump's April 18th executive order, the US FDA has issued three more Commissioner's National Priority Vouchers, all to companies working on psychedelics.

The announcement from FDA, which dropped Friday afternoon, doesn't name the three recipients, but Endpoints has identified them as Compass Pathways, Transcend Therapeutics (currently being acquired by Otsuka Therapeutics) and the Usona Institute. At press time, only Compass Pathways has confirmed its participation, issuing a press release. All three companies have previously received Breakthrough Therapy Designations from the agency.

“Under President Trump’s leadership, we are accelerating the research, approval, and responsible access to promising mental health treatments—including psychedelic therapies like ibogaine—to confront our nation’s mental health crisis head-on, especially for our veterans,” HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. said in a statement. “The FDA will prioritise therapies with Breakthrough Therapy designation, where early evidence shows meaningful improvement over existing options for serious mental illness.”

Compass Pathways, which is in the midst of two ongoing Phase 3 trials of its synthetic psilocybin COMP360, is perhaps the least surprising recipient, as it's widely considered to be the closest psychedelics company to market. 

“We are honoured and grateful to be selected for the CNPV which is a clear validation of both the urgent unmet need facing millions of people living with treatment resistant depression and the innovative science of COMP360,” Kabir Nath, CEO of Compass Pathways, said in a statement. “As the most advanced company in the classic psychedelics field, Compass has generated positive data from two large, well controlled Phase 3 clinical trials. Based on the strength of our data, the FDA granted us a rolling NDA submission and review. Importantly, while the CNPV may provide process efficiencies and accelerated review timelines, an NDA submission must still meet FDA’s established standards of clinical evidence, scientific rigour, and regulatory compliance. We are confident we meet these standards.”

When pharmaphorum spoke with Compass Pathways Chief Patient Officer Steve Levine for a recent feature, he mentioned the company's longstanding positive relationship with the agency.

"Some of the turnover in FDA leadership and other changes within FDA notwithstanding, the psychiatry division, which is the division that we work with, has remained intact over the years," he said. "The people we meet with today are the same people we were meeting with a few years ago. We have a very good relationship with the psychiatry division. They've been very responsive, very supportive. So again, whatever other noise or chaos there may be out there, we feel very good about the relationship that we have with the psychiatry division."

Levine said the company will have its Phase 3 data in by early Q3 and could begin a commercial launch as early as the end of the year.

Transcend Therapeutics just recently announced an acquisition by Otsuka Therapeutics centred on the company's methylone-based drug candidate for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). That candidate, TSND-201, is also the recipient of the voucher. It is currently in Phase 3 studies.

The Usona Institute, a medical research organisation based in Wisconsin, is also in the midst of a Phase 3 trial, investigating chemically synthesised psylocybin in patients with major depressive disorder, similar to Compass Pathways but without its particular focus on treatment-resistant depression.

In addition to the three NPVs, the FDA also announced the approval of an IND submission for DemeRx, which is investigating noribogaine, an ibogaine derivative, for alcohol use disorder. Ibogaine was a particular focus of the President's executive order.

https://pharmaphorum.com/news/fda-grants-three-priority-vouchers-psychedelics

15 chemical spraying drones stolen in NJ as FBI investigates

Someone stole 15 giant agricultural drones in New Jersey — and experts fear a “nightmare scenario” if they end up in the hands of terrorists.

The fleet of Ceres Air C31 drones, which are about the size of an ATV, were ripped off March 24 by a bogus delivery driver who duped shipping and logistics company CAC International in Harrison, according to The High Side substack.

The four-armed flyers can carry and spray up to 40 gallons of liquid chemicals, such as fertilizers and pesticides, and unleash the payload over a 15-acre span in just seven minutes.

The Ceres Air C31 drones that were stolen in Harrison, NJ, can spray up to 40 gallons of chemical liquid over a 15 mile span in just 7 minutes.Ceres Air

Experts worried that the farm tools could become weapons if they ended up in the hands of nefarious actors, The High Tide reported.Ceres Air

The FBI is concerned the chemical-spraying drones could be used to disperse biological or chemical weapons, the report claimed.

“This was one of the most highly sophisticated thefts [the FBI] have seen in a long time, which is the main thing that has them so spooked,” a person who was briefed on the case told the outlet.

Retired FBI agent Steve Lazarus speculated that the drones could be easily weaponized.

“Even common chemicals, used improperly, can be a public safety danger. Throw in the internet recipes for biological and chemical weapons that anyone with a Tor browser has access to, and this is a potential nightmare scenario,” Lazarus told The High Side.

“The bureau is freaked out for a good reason,” Lazarus said. “These aren’t hobby drones with cameras. They’re industrial sprayers designed to carry and disperse significant amounts of liquid quickly and with precision.”

“What makes the thefts concerning isn’t just the equipment itself, it’s how easy they are to use once someone has them,” he said. 

Each Ceres Air C31 costs about $58,000 — putting the total haul at roughly $870,000 — and dwarfs any consumer drone, with the 500-pound machines being more akin to flying heavy farm machinery.

The FBI refused to comment on any investigation. The Harrison Police Department, Ceres, and CAC International did not return requests for comments.

https://nypost.com/2026/04/25/us-news/15-chemical-spraying-drones-stolen-in-nj-as-fbi-investigates-possible-nightmare-scenario-report/

Araghchi conveys Iran's terms for US to Pakistani officials

 Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi conveyed Iran's terms for the United States to Pakistani officials who serve as mediators in the peace talks, Iran's Tasnim News Agency confirmed on Saturday, citing its foreign policy group.

The outlet confirmed that Araghchi spoke to the Commander of Pakistan's army, Asim Munir. He thanked his hosts in Islamabad for their "valuable efforts" to establish peace in West Asia. Munir told Araghchi that Pakistan is ready to mediate until "the result is achieved."

https://breakingthenews.net/Article/Araghchi-conveys-Iran's-terms-to-Pakistani-officials/66149137

EU Ministers Fail To Suspend EU-Israeli Cooperation Agreement; Germany Calls 'Inappropriate'

 Via Remix News,

A move to end the EU-Israel Association Agreement has been struck down, led by objections from Germany, Austria, and Italy. The accord, in existence since 2000, has served as the framework for EU-Israeli relations pertaining to both trade and foreign policy, with a key pillar being Israel’s access to the markets of EU member states.

13 October 2025, Berlin: The flags of Israel, the EU and Germany fly in front of the Berlin House of Representatives. Following the release of the hostages held in Gaza, the House of Representatives also raised the flag of Israel as a sign of solidarity with the state of Israel and its people. Photo: Jens Kalaene/dpa (Photo by Jens Kalaene/picture alliance via Getty Images)

Last week, Spain, Ireland and Slovenia wrote a letter to the EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs Kaja Kallas, citing Israel’s decisions by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, as well as laws passed by its parliament and actions taken by its military.

It cited, most recently, the death penalty approved by the Israeli parliament as evidence of “systematic persecution, oppression, violence and discrimination exerted against the Palestinian population.”

“In such a grave situation, we call on the European Union to uphold its moral and political responsibility, and to defend the very core values that have underpinned the European project since its foundation,” they wrote.

Going even further, the letter highlighted that Israel has essentially broken its agreement with the European Union. “Not only a grave violation of fundamental human rights, but also a step backwards in Israel’s commitment to democratic principles, as underlined by your March 31 statement, and therefore a violation of Article 2 of the EU-Israel Association Agreement.”

Spain has cited Article 2 for more than two years to take action against Israel and attempt to invalidate the agreement.

“Bold and immediate action is required, and all actions must remain on the table. The European Union can no longer remain on the sidelines,” the letter concluded.

However, the ministers gathered at the  Foreign Affairs Council meeting in Luxembourg ultimately rejected the proposal.

German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul called any move to suspend the agreement “inappropriate,” reports Politico, joined by his Austrian counterpart in a push for “critical, constructive dialogue.” 

Before the meeting, Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani told reporters that “There are neither the numerical nor the political conditions” for such a measure to be taken.  

A partial suspension requiring majority approval would also not have passed, given Italy and Germany’s objections. According to Politico, Kallas did raise the possibility of targeted measures that do not dismantle the wider trade agreement and do not require unanimity, with Tajani reportedly supporting her on this. “I believe it is better to sanction individually those responsible, I am thinking of violent settlers,” he stated.

https://www.zerohedge.com/political/eu-ministers-fail-suspend-eu-israeli-cooperation-agreement-germany-calls-inappropriate

Global Inflation Scare: China Exporters Up Prices As Iran War Spurs Ethane Shortage, Plastic Crunch

 Chinese exporters are finally passing on the pain - right as they're experiencing a major shortage of a key industrial material. After years of cutting prices amid overcapacity and cutthroat competition, manufacturers are now raising prices on everything from swimsuits and ski suits to medical syringes and air conditioners. The culprit: the Iran war’s energy shock, which has sent oil-linked input costs skyrocketing and is now rippling straight through to global store shelves.

Customs data compiled by Trade Data Monitor and analyzed by Bloomberg reveal sharp year-on-year price jumps in March across more than a dozen categories of household goods - the first sustained reversal in a disinflationary trend that had helped keep a lid on inflation from the U.S. to Europe for nearly three years.

"I held off raising prices for as long as I could in March, but in the end I had no choice," said Pang Ling, sales manager at a Shanghai-based medical catheter maker. "I panicked watching plastic costs climb almost every single day."

Products reliant on rubber, plastic, and oil-derived chemicals were hit hardest. Syringes saw prices surge as much as 20%. Synthetic-fiber goods - including swimsuits, women’s trousers, and ski suits - rose in the low- to mid-single digits as polyester and fiber suppliers hiked prices daily. Home appliances faced a double squeeze from higher metals and semiconductor costs. Even as some sectors like toys cut prices under weak demand, the broader picture is clear: the era of ultra-cheap Chinese goods is ending.

The numbers tell the story. China’s export prices had been falling steadily since May 2023, shaving an estimated 0.3–0.5 percentage points off headline inflation in advanced economies, according to Capital Economics. That buffer is now vanishing. Bloomberg Economics says above-3% inflation in 2026 is "back in play" across the euro area, U.S., and U.K. - a dramatic reversal from pre-war forecasts of cooling prices. Goldman Sachs expects overall Chinese export prices to turn positive as soon as March data, due out around April 25.

A 10% rise in oil costs typically lifts Chinese export prices by about 50 basis points over the following year, with the peak impact hitting four to five months later, Goldman estimates. The full effect hasn’t hit consumers yet - many March shipments were ordered weeks or months earlier - but the pipeline is filling with higher costs.

The Ethane Shock: Why Plastic Prices Are Set to Soar

Nowhere is the pressure more acute - or more politically explosive - than in plastics.

As we noted earlier this week, China is facing a severe ethane shortage that is about to supercharge costs across the entire plastics supply chain. Ethane, a natural gas liquid, is the primary feedstock for producing ethylene, the essential building block for plastics used in everything from medical catheters and syringes to clothing fibers, packaging, and consumer goods.

For years, China relied heavily on naphtha and liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) from the Middle East. In February, just before the war, more than 50% of China’s naphtha imports and over 40% of its LPG purchases came from Persian Gulf nations. That supply line has now been severed for as long as the Strait of Hormuz remains blocked. China holds massive strategic petroleum reserves - 1.5 billion barrels of crude - but it has virtually no stockpiles of naphtha or ethane. Its petrochemical industry is suddenly, dangerously exposed.

The International Energy Agency warned last week that “petrochemical feedstocks display the most immediate effects of the war by far,” with Asian supply chains thrown into “disarray.” Naphtha-fed crackers still account for 57% of China’s ethylene capacity, compared with just 16% for ethane-based units.

Desperate for alternatives, Chinese petrochemical producers are turning to the United States in record volumes. Shipments of U.S. ethane are expected to hit an all-time high of 800,000 tons in April - roughly 60% above the monthly average - according to Chinese consultant JLC. Some crackers can switch to ethane, helping offset the naphtha and LPG shortfall.

But this lifeline comes at a steep and rising price. Ethane has become the preferred feedstock because it is cheaper and more stable than crude-linked naphtha right now - profits from ethane-based ethylene were tenfold those of naphtha as of April 15, JLC data show. New capacity, including Wanhua Chemical Group’s ethane unit and Sinopec Ineos’s multi-feed cracker, has also boosted demand.

A tanker docked at liquid petroleum gas-ethane storage tanks. Photographer: Nathan Laine/Bloomberg

The result? Polyvinyl chloride (PVC) - Pang’s key input - surged as much as 80% in March from pre-war levels and remains about 50% higher even after a partial pullback. With naphtha alternatives cut off and ethane imports surging, plastic resin and downstream product prices are poised to climb sharply in the coming months. Competition and weak domestic demand may limit how much Chinese firms can pass on, but the input-cost pressure is now structural, not temporary.

The timing adds a geopolitical layer. China’s buying spree comes just weeks before President Donald Trump’s planned mid-May visit to Beijing. U.S. energy exports are expected to feature prominently in talks — especially if the Iran conflict drags on. One year ago, during the height of U.S.-China tariff tensions, analysts openly debated the mutual dependencies: America’s need for Chinese rare earths versus China’s near-total reliance on U.S. ethane for its plastics industry

https://www.zerohedge.com/economics/global-inflation-scare-chinese-exporters-hike-prices-iran-war-triggers-ethane-shortage

India likely to hand over stake in Iran’s Chabahar port- Business Insider

 

India is likely to divest its stake in Iran’s Chabahar port to a local entity ahead of the expiry of a US sanctions waiver, Business Insider reported, citing people familiar with the matter.

The report said the move would allow operations at the strategic port to continue while avoiding sanctions risks, with the possibility of transferring control back to India once restrictions are lifted.

Chabahar is seen as key to India’s access to Afghanistan and Central Asia, bypassing Pakistan.

https://www.iranintl.com/en/liveblog/202604194357

Shipping slows in Hormuz after Iran seizures, tracker shows

 

Vessel-tracking data showed traffic through the Strait of Hormuz fell after Iran seized two ships on Wednesday, tightening its grip on the key waterway, Reuters reported.

Fewer vessels moved through the strait in the past day than usual, according to Reuters data, as security risks rose.

https://www.iranintl.com/en/liveblog/202604194357