Bill > SB77

This bill establishes a new framework within Kentucky law for researching ibogaine, a compound derived from the Tabernanthe iboga plant, for potential therapeutic uses. It defines "department" as the Department of Agriculture and "drug developer" as an entity involved in drug development that has existing agreements with other states to conduct clinical trials for ibogaine and aims for U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval. A dedicated "ibogaine research and intellectual property fund" will be created and administered by the Department of Agriculture to facilitate a public-private partnership with a drug developer. This partnership will focus on clinical trials for treating opioid use disorder, co-occurring substance use disorders, or other neurological or mental health conditions where ibogaine shows promise. The bill appropriates $21 million from the opioid abatement trust fund to this research fund over fiscal years 2026-2027 and 2027-2028. Before contracting, the drug developer must submit detailed plans for FDA approval, clinical trial design, participant recruitment, and after-care, along with financial disclosures and proof of existing multi-state agreements. The contract will require the drug developer to match the Commonwealth's investment, use in-state resources for trials, report progress quarterly, and develop a plan for accessible treatment in Kentucky post-FDA approval, including provisions for uninsured and low-income individuals. Crucially, the contract will also ensure Kentucky receives a proportional share of proceeds from any intellectual property generated, which will be deposited back into the research fund. The fund's expenditures are restricted to programs benefiting at-risk populations with conditions treatable by ibogaine.