Blog · 2026-09-06 · 10 min
Mash 2023 IUPHAR Review: Ibogaine’s History, Research Pathway & Clinical Development
Mash 2023 Pharmacol Res IUPHAR review: ibogaine’s NIDA-era research history and development pathway—oral≠IV; no cures; QTc; Schedule I; COI noted.
Definition
Definition: Deborah C. Mash (2023) published the IUPHAR-invited review *Ibogaine – A legacy within the current renaissance of psychedelic therapy* in *Pharmacological Research* (190:106620; doi: 10.1016/j.phrs.2022.106620; PMID 36907284). Within 2016–2026 peer-reviewed sources, this is a strong historical + clinical-development perspective covering ethnobotanical use, Lotsof-era self-help claims, the NIDA-era U.S. research pathway, ibogaine→noribogaine metabolism, animal predictive validity, open-label detoxification observations, and the place of ibogaine/noribogaine amid contemporary psychedelic drug development—including mention of regulatory approval for human testing in a Phase 1/2a context. Context: Dedicated peer-reviewed histories of NIDA’s ibogaine work are sparse; Mash’s IUPHAR review is the best citable historical clinical perspective bridging the NIDA-era U.S. research history and modern development. It is a review, not an RCT, not a cure claim, and not psychoactive IV ibogaine infusion proof. Much cited clinical work remains oral. Ibogaine is U.S. Schedule I and not approved for any indication. QTc risk remains central. Author COI: inventor/CEO roles related to noribogaine development are disclosed in the paper—readers should weigh that.
Short answer
Mash’s 2023 IUPHAR Pharmacological Research review recounts ibogaine’s ethnobotanical and clinical-development legacy, noribogaine metabolism, and open-label detox signals within today’s psychedelic renaissance. A historical review is not a pivotal efficacy trial and not psychoactive IV ibogaine infusion proof. Schedule I; not approved for any indication; cardiac screening still required.
Why this paper matters
People search “NIDA ibogaine history” and “ibogaine trials 1990s.” This article offers a verified peer-reviewed historical clinical perspective (Mash 2023) rather than blog folklore, while refusing cure language. Next steps: /safety-and-screening → /apply. Pair with Mash 2018 open-label series (/blog/mash-2018-ibogaine-detox-frontiers), Glue noribogaine Phase 1 (/blog/glue-2016-noribogaine-phase1, /blog/glue-2015-noribogaine-healthy-volunteers), and trial-landscape pages (/blog/not-losing-momentum-ibogaine-trials-2025, /blog/texas-ibogaine-clinical-trials).
What the review covers
| Feature | Accurate description |
|---|---|
| Citation | Mash D.C. Ibogaine – A legacy within the current renaissance of psychedelic therapy. *Pharmacol Res*. 2023;190:106620. doi **10.1016/j.phrs.2022.106620**. PMID **36907284** |
| Type | IUPHAR-invited **narrative review** / historical clinical perspective |
| Historical arc | African ethnobotany → 1960s self-help interruption claims → modern unregulated treatment estimates → open-label pilots → contemporary psychedelic development landscape |
| PK theme | Rapid demethylation to long-acting **noribogaine** |
| Science themes | Multi-target CNS pharmacology; animal model predictive validity |
| Regulatory theme | Notes pathway toward human testing / Phase 1/2a framing in development narrative |
| COI | Author discloses patents/company roles related to noribogaine—read critically |
| What it is not | Double-blind pivotal OUD RCT; regulatory approval; psychoactive IV infusion proof; cure claim |
Methods (plain language)
Invited reviews synthesize decades of literature and lived research history. They are strongest for timeline literacy and weakest when marketers treat review prose as new efficacy data.
Key takeaways (no hype)
- Ibogaine’s modern addiction story begins with mid-20th-century anecdotal “interruption” claims, not with a completed Phase 3 program.
- NIDA-supported animal work and 1990s U.S. human-study attempts are part of the pathway lore; stalled funding/safety concerns historically slowed U.S. clinical progress.
- Noribogaine’s long half-life is both a therapeutic hypothesis and a cardiac-risk timing issue (delayed events).
- Open-label detox observations are encouraging to advocates and still insufficient for approval-level causal claims.
- “Renaissance” framing means *renewed R&D interest*, not legal over-the-counter status in the United States.
Honest reading: Legacy reviews explain why research continues. They do not erase Schedule I or QTc physics.
NIDA-era research history: what can accurately be said
| Say this | Avoid this |
|---|---|
| “U.S. research interest dates to NIDA-era evaluations and stalled programs.” | “NIDA approved ibogaine as medicine.” |
| “IND/clinical testing clearances are not marketing approval.” | “The government says ibogaine is safe and effective.” |
| “Noribogaine is a distinct development candidate.” | “Noribogaine is the same as IV ibogaine infusion.” |
Route honesty & entity clarity
Mash’s clinical observations and development narrative center on oral ibogaine/noribogaine product concepts. They do not establish physician-supervised psychoactive IV ibogaine infusion efficacy (/blog/ibogaine-oral-vs-iv; /what-is-ibogaine-infusion; /blog/noribogaine-trials-vs-iv-infusion).
Cardiac safety context
Any historical glow must sit beside modern QT datasets and fatality reviews (/blog/knuijver-2021-ibogaine-qtc-safety, /blog/corkery-ibogaine-fatalities, /blog/ona-2022-ibogaine-adverse-events-review).
Limits and COI literacy
| Limit | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Narrative review | Selective emphasis possible |
| Author development roles | COI disclosed—readers should triangulate with independent AE/QT papers |
| Open-label citations | Shared biases of the underlying literature |
| Fast-changing 2024–2026 trial news | Pair with registry/landscape articles for currency |
What this does NOT prove for IV ibogaine infusion
| Claim | Status |
|---|---|
| “IUPHAR review = approval” | **False** |
| “History proves IV infusion” | **False** |
| Useful pathway literacy? | **Yes—with labels + COI note** |
Timeline anchors readers expect (keep non-mythic)
Timeline points commonly paired with Mash’s account (verify details against primary sources when publishing medical-review pass):
- Mid-20th-century interruption anecdotes (Lotsof-era lore).
- 1990s U.S. human study attempts and NIDA preclinical investment themes.
- Mid-1990s NIDA review meetings and subsequent funding/safety stall narratives.
- Growth of non-U.S. clinic observational literature (Mash/Brown/Noller/Malcolm lines).
- 2010s–2020s noribogaine Phase 1 work and renewed psychedelic investment.
- 2024–2026 veteran TBI MISTIC visibility and state/federal research-funding politics (/blog/texas-ibogaine-clinical-trials, /blog/stanford-ibogaine-mistic).
None of these bullets convert Schedule I into approved therapy. They explain *why search results are crowded*.
How this article should interlink
| Reader intent | Send them |
|---|---|
| “Show me human detox numbers” | /blog/mash-2018-ibogaine-detox-frontiers, /blog/brown-alper-2018-ibogaine-oud |
| “Show me QT risk” | /blog/knuijver-2021-ibogaine-qtc-safety |
| “Show me deaths” | /blog/corkery-ibogaine-fatalities |
| “Show me noribogaine trials” | /blog/glue-2016-noribogaine-phase1, /blog/noribogaine-trials-vs-iv-infusion |
| “I want supervised IV questions” | /safety-and-screening → /apply |
Next steps
History lesson finished? Translate curiosity into screening discipline: /safety-and-screening → /apply for supervised IV ibogaine infusion questions.
FAQ
Is there a peer-reviewed NIDA history paper 2016–2026? A dedicated NIDA-only history monograph is sparse; Mash 2023 IUPHAR review is the verified historical clinical perspective used here (doi **10.1016/j.phrs.2022.106620**).
What does Mash 2023 cover? Ethnobotany, addiction-interruption lore, noribogaine metabolism, animal models, open-label signals, and psychedelic-renaissance development framing.
Is this an efficacy RCT? No—invited review.
Does it prove psychoactive IV ibogaine infusion? No.
Why mention conflict of interest? The author discloses noribogaine-related patents/company roles; independent cardiac/AE sources should be read alongside.
Is ibogaine approved for medical use? No. Schedule I; not approved for any indication.
Is IND clearance the same as approval? No.
Where should screening start? /safety-and-screening, then /apply if appropriate.
Sources (selected)
- Mash D.C. *Pharmacol Res*. 2023;190:106620. doi: 10.1016/j.phrs.2022.106620. PMID: 36907284.
- Mash D.C. et al. *Front Pharmacol*. 2018. doi: 10.3389/fphar.2018.00529.
- Glue P. et al. *Clin Pharmacol Drug Dev*. 2016. doi: 10.1002/cpdd.254.
- Corkery J.M. *Prog Brain Res*. 2018. doi: 10.1016/bs.pbr.2018.08.005.
- 21 CFR 1308.11 — ibogaine Schedule I (United States).
Medical disclaimer
Educational research synopsis only—not medical, psychiatric, or legal advice, and not a guarantee of outcomes. Ibogaine can prolong the QTc interval and has been associated with serious cardiac events including torsades de pointes and death in some contexts. Ibogaine is Schedule I in the United States and is not approved for any indication. Our IV ibogaine programs in Mexico and Gabon are not approved U.S. clinics. Next steps: /safety-and-screening, then /apply.
Mash 2023 is a historical/clinical-development review with disclosed COI—not a pivotal RCT, not a cure claim, and not psychoactive IV ibogaine efficacy proof.