Compass Pathways, a startup that uses psychedelics for mental health treatment and has backing from PayPal co-founder and billionaire Peter Thiel, has poached an in-house leader from Novartis International. 

Matthew Owens is slated to take over as general counsel and chief legal officer at Compass on Feb. 1. The London-based company, which has offices in New York and San Francisco, announced Owen’s appointment on Thursday.