Americans for Ibogaine Welcomes New Federal Investments in Ibogaine Research and Mental Health Treatment

AUSTIN, TEXAS, November 13th, 2026, FinanceWire

HHS announces new ARPA-H funding for ibogaine development and a $20 million mental health research initiative as Americans for Ibogaine calls for continued federal coordination and accountability.

Americans for Ibogaine (AFI) welcomes today's announcement by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) of new federal investments supporting ibogaine research and the development of emerging mental health treatments. The announcement represents another step toward establishing a regulated pathway for investigating ibogaine's potential to address post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), substance use disorders, and other serious mental health conditions affecting American veterans and civilians.

During a November 12 press conference, HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., joined by Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) leadership, announced an initial commitment of up to $4.9 million over five years through the Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health (ARPA-H). Dr. Mehmet Oz, Administrator of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), also participated in the event, alongside leadership from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), underscoring the coordination among federal agencies involved in advancing ibogaine research. The funding will support the scientific, regulatory, and manufacturing groundwork necessary to investigate ibogaine as a potential treatment for PTSD and other serious mental illnesses.

The announcement also included a separate $20 million funding opportunity through the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) to establish a research network focused on rapid-acting psychotropic treatments, including ketamine, esketamine, psilocybin, and other emerging therapeutic approaches.

For Americans for Ibogaine, the announcements mark continued progress in a broader effort to move ibogaine research from policy discussions into coordinated federal action.

"We are grateful to Secretary Kennedy, President Trump, and the leadership at HHS for keeping their promises and continuing to align federal agencies around this important initiative," said W. Bryan Hubbard, CEO of Americans for Ibogaine. "The continued coordination between HHS, the VA, ARPA-H, and other federal partners is essential to moving mental health treatment forward in America. Our responsibility now is to ensure these commitments produce meaningful progress for the veterans and families who have waited far too long for new treatment options."

The ARPA-H initiative includes research teams led by the Mark Cuban Cost Plus Drug Company, PBC, which will work to establish the regulatory, clinical, chemical, and engineering foundation for a domestically manufactured ibogaine hydrochloride product intended for potential PTSD treatment.

Separately, Beond, Inc., an organization with experience providing ibogaine treatment in Mexico, will contribute clinical data to support the evaluation of ibogaine's safety, dosing, potential effectiveness, and durability of outcomes. These efforts are intended to help establish the evidence and regulatory groundwork necessary for future Investigational New Drug (IND) applications and clinical research in the United States.

The initial ARPA-H awards support drug development, manufacturing preparation, and regulatory activities rather than direct patient treatment or newly authorized clinical trials. Additional awards are expected to examine ibogaine's potential applications for substance use disorders, including opioid use disorder.

HHS has also emphasized that research findings will be made publicly available, regardless of whether they demonstrate benefit, no benefit, or harm. This commitment to transparency is particularly important as researchers work to better understand ibogaine's potential therapeutic applications and its documented medical risks, including potentially life-threatening cardiac complications.

The November 12 announcement follows President Donald Trump's April 2026 executive order directing federal agencies to accelerate research into promising psychedelic treatments and strengthen coordination across the federal government. It also builds on ongoing efforts involving HHS, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the VA, and other federal research agencies to establish appropriate scientific and regulatory frameworks.

Americans for Ibogaine has advocated for these developments through public education, legislative engagement, and coalition building, working to elevate the experiences of veterans and individuals affected by addiction and treatment-resistant mental health conditions.

The organization has supported state and federal efforts to expand research, including landmark legislation in Texas establishing a major public investment in ibogaine clinical development. Its advocacy has consistently emphasized the importance of rigorous scientific evaluation, responsible regulation, and the development of treatment options that could eventually become part of the American healthcare system.

AFI views the latest federal announcements as an opportunity to strengthen cooperation among government agencies, researchers, policymakers, and advocates while maintaining accountability for the commitments already made.

Although the new investments represent meaningful progress, significant work remains before ibogaine can be considered for broader clinical use in the United States. Future research must establish whether the treatment can be administered safely and effectively, determine appropriate patient populations, and satisfy FDA requirements.

Americans for Ibogaine intends to remain actively engaged with federal leadership and participating agencies as these initiatives advance, advocating for transparent timelines, continued coordination, and measurable outcomes.

The organization believes that sustained collaboration between federal agencies, private-sector research partners, and patient advocates will be necessary to translate today's commitments into credible scientific evidence and, if supported by that evidence, future treatment options.

For AFI, the announcement is both a recognition of the progress achieved and a reminder of the responsibility that accompanies it. The organization will continue working to ensure that federal commitments are followed by action and that the needs of veterans, families, and Americans facing serious mental health challenges remain central to the national conversation.

About Americans for Ibogaine

Americans for Ibogaine (AFI) is a national nonprofit organization dedicated to advancing ibogaine research, education, advocacy, and policy reform. Through legislative engagement, coalition building, and collaboration with policymakers, researchers, and veterans, AFI works to advance scientific understanding of ibogaine and establish a responsible regulatory framework for its potential use in treating substance use disorders, PTSD, and other serious health conditions.

For more information, visit www.americansforibogaine.org.

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