Puerto Rico Governor Jenniffer González-Colón signed Executive Order 2026-037 to explore establishing a Pilot Clinical Research Program for Emerging Therapies across the island. This initiative focuses on assessing the feasibility of clinical trials for novel and restricted compounds, such as ibogaine, psilocybin, and MDMA, to address severe mental health issues, addiction, and neurodegenerative disorders.
To ensure rigorous oversight, the executive order mandates the creation of a specialized Scientific and Regulatory Advisory Committee within the Department of Health. Appointed directly by the governor, this multidisciplinary panel will consist of experts in psychiatry, pharmacology, public health, and bioethics tasked with assessing the clinical, ethical, and logistical framework necessary for trial implementation. The directive also instructs health officials to work alongside the Office of the Puerto Rico Veterans Advocate to create targeted educational programs and explore safe clinical trial opportunities for military veterans.
The administration emphasized that the order strictly establishes a framework for controlled research and does not authorize general clinical use, routine access, or recreational distribution of any investigational substances. By leveraging Puerto Rico’s existing $50 billion pharmaceutical manufacturing infrastructure and academic research institutions, the territory aims to position itself as a central hub for advanced clinical trials and medical innovation.
Dabbin-Dad Newsroom
