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Galveston Today
By the People, for the People
Texas Launches Ibogaine Clinical Trials After Drug Companies Fail to Meet Funding Requirements
State will fully fund its own psychedelic research program after private partners couldn't meet criteria.
Apr. 1, 2026 at 1:11pm
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Texas is launching a $50 million state-funded research program to study the psychedelic drug ibogaine for treating addiction, PTSD, and other conditions. The move comes after multiple drug companies failed to meet the state's requirements to receive funding and partner on the project.
Why it matters
Texas is taking a bold step to advance psychedelic research, an area that has shown promise but faces regulatory hurdles. The state's decision to go it alone on ibogaine trials could set an example for other states looking to invest in this emerging field of medicine.
The details
Texas Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick and House Speaker Dustin Burrows announced the new research program, saying the state will fully fund the $50 million initiative after drug companies were unable to meet the state's criteria. To qualify for the funding, companies had to provide a plan for FDA approval, establish a corporate presence in Texas, match the $50 million in state funds, and commit to sharing 20% of future drug sales revenue with the state.
- Last year, Texas passed Senate Bill 2308 to create a consortium for ibogaine research and clinical trials.
- In 2026, Texas Health and Human Services selected UTHealth Houston and the University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston to lead a two-year ibogaine research trial.
The players
Dan Patrick
The Republican Lieutenant Governor of Texas.
Dustin Burrows
The Republican Speaker of the Texas House of Representatives.
Katharine Neill Harris
A drug policy fellow at Rice University's Baker Institute for Public Policy.
Bryan Hubbard
The chief executive officer of Americans for Ibogaine.
Melina Kibbe
The president of UTHealth Houston.
What they’re saying
“We intend to fully fund this program.”
— Dan Patrick, Lieutenant Governor of Texas
“As we speak we are seeing bills passed in Mississippi, West Virginia, Oklahoma, Tennessee and Missouri that would join these states together in researching ibogaine, something far more significant than one private developer. Texas is what makes this joiner possible.”
— Bryan Hubbard, Chief Executive Officer of Americans for Ibogaine
“This landmark clinical trial reflects our unwavering commitment to advancing research that improves lives and delivers the highest standards of care.”
— Melina Kibbe, President of UTHealth Houston
What’s next
The state will work with UTHealth Houston, the University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston, and other research institutions to conduct the ibogaine clinical trials over the next two years.
The takeaway
Texas is taking a bold step to advance psychedelic research and make ibogaine available as a potential treatment for addiction, PTSD, and other conditions. The state's willingness to fully fund the trials without private partners sets an example for other states looking to invest in this emerging field of medicine.
