August 2026 - Taskforce Speaks at FDA Meeting on Ketamine Repurposing

In 2025 and 2026, our team formally applied to meet with both the FDA and the VA to discuss ketamine's potential for expanded access and insurance coverage. Despite repeated outreach, the VA did not respond to any of our letters or calls.

The FDA initially declined our meeting request, but subsequently invited us to participate in the Reagan-Udall Foundation's meeting on drug repurposing in August 2026. We were granted a 2.5-minute window during the public comment session to present our position.

Our founder, Kimberly Juroviesky, spoke during this session, as did Dr. Nicolas Grundman of Ember Health in New York, a physician who volunteers with the Taskforce. Several other doctors and scientists at the meeting addressed ketamine as well, and it emerged as the most frequently discussed medicine at the meeting in the context of drug repurposing and insurance coverage.

The FDA indicated that drug repurposing is a relatively new concept and, while a regulatory pathway exists for it, the specific process for how it will be implemented is still being worked out internally.