AbbVie's $1.2B Psychedelic Play Drives 107th Volume Rank Amid $15.8B MDD Market Expansion

On August 27, 2025, AbbVie (ABBV) reported a 0.14% decline in its stock price, with a trading volume of $0.72 billion, ranking 107th in the stock market. The biopharmaceutical giant has entered into a $1.2 billion agreement to acquire bretisilocin, a psychedelic-based antidepressant in Phase 2 trials for major depressive disorder (MDD), from Gilgamesh Pharmaceuticals. The deal includes upfront payments and milestone-based incentives tied to the drug's development progress.

Bretisilocin, a serotonin 5-HT2A receptor agonist, demonstrated a 21.6-point reduction in depression scores after 14 days in a Phase 2a trial, outperforming a low-dose comparator. The compound's shorter psychoactive duration—60–90 minutes—compared to traditional psychedelics may enhance patient compliance and therapeutic practicality. Analysts highlight its favorable safety profile and potential to address treatment gaps in MDD, a market projected to grow to $15.8 billion by 2035.

AbbVie's acquisition follows a setback in 2024 when its schizophrenia drug emraclidine failed in key trials, prompting a shift toward psychedelic-based therapies. The company has invested over $4 billion in 2025 to bolster its pipeline, including partnerships and acquisitions in neuroscience and obesity. The psychedelic therapeutics market is expanding, with forecasts indicating growth from $3–4 billion in 2025 to $7.8 billion by 2030, driven by regulatory advancements and growing investor interest.

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