NeonMind Engages Pharma Executive Philippe Martin to Advance its
Psilocybin Drug Candidates for Obesity
Vancouver,
B.C. - March 9, 2021: NeonMind Biosciences Inc. (CSE:
NEON) (OTC:
NMDBF) (FRA:
6UF)
("NeonMind")
is pleased to announce that on March 4, 2020 NeonMind engaged
Philippe Martin as a drug development consultant.
Mr. Martin has 20
years of biotechnology and pharmaceutical industry experience
developing and commercializing innovative therapies in the
fields of
immunology, oncology and neurology. NeonMind has engaged Mr.
Martin to advise on drug development programs and recommend
critical resources for execution, as well as review and evaluate
potential drug development paths to advance NeonMind's two
psilocybin
drug development programs.
NeonMind's first
drug candidate aims to use synthetic psilocybin to enhance a
patient's ability to alter behaviours that cause weight loss
through psychedelic-assisted cognitive therapy. The second
drug candidate offers low dose synthetic
psilocybin as a treatment to suppress appetite.
"Philippe's
proven ability to successfully bring innovative and
transformational therapies to market make him an excellent addition
to the NeonMind drug development team," says
Robert
Tessarolo, NeonMind's President and CEO. "Philippe will help us
navigate the many decisions we need to make to advance synthetic
psilocybin through the rigorous drug development process towards
becoming an approved medical therapy."
Philippe Martin
is currently the Chief of Clinical
Development & Operations at BioAtla, Inc., a
San Diego-based biotech company that develops novel therapies with
improved therapeutic index that have the potential to revolutionize
cancer treatment. Prior to working at
BioAtla,
Mr. Martin worked at Celgene for almost 10
years. At Celgene, his leadership role expanded from
Executive Director, Project Leadership where he led the development
and commercialization of the blockbuster drug OTEZLA, to Corporate
Vice President where he oversaw the development and
operations of the inflammation and immunology franchise.
Prior to his tenure at Celgene, Mr. Martin held multiple positions
at Schering-Plough (acquired by Merck) where he managed the
anti-TNF alpha collaboration with Johnson & Johnson which
included the
worldwide development, approval, and commercialization of REMICADE
and SIMPONI. Prior to Schering-Plough, Mr. Martin held
multiple positions at Aventis & Solvay focusing primarily on
Business Development and Sales & Marketing. Mr. Martin received
his MS degree in Organic Chemistry from the PARIS VI University in
France and Master's degree in Business Management from E.M. Lyon
business school in Lyon, France.
About NeonMind Biosciences Inc.
NeonMind has two
distinct psilocybin drug development programs
targeting obesity. NeonMind's first drug candidate aims to use
synthetic psilocybin to enhance a patient's ability to adopt
behaviours that cause weight loss through psychedelic-assisted
cognitive therapy. The second drug candidate offers low dose synthetic
psilocybin as a treatment to suppress appetite.
NeonMind's first
drug candidate employs psilocybin as an agonist to the serotonin
receptor 5- HT2A, which is involved in the hallucinogenic effect of
psychedelics, and the second drug candidate employs
psilocybin as an agonist to the 5-HT2C receptor, which
controls appetite.
NeonMind has an
intellectual property portfolio which includes uses of psychedelic
compounds for the treatment of compulsive eating disorder, obesity
and related complications, to aid
in weight loss, reduce food cravings, decrease food intake and to
alter diet. NeonMind has filed 10 US provisional patent
applications for psychedelic compounds, of which 2 have been
converted to PCT applications, with potential rights in 152 countries.
NeonMind's first PCT patent application covering the administration
of psilocybin and its analogs to treat obesity and compulsive
eating disorder has a priority date of December 4, 2019. The
anticipated patent protection expiry of these pending patents is
2041.
For more
information on NeonMind, go to
www.NeonMindBiosciences.com.
Rob
Tessarolo, President & Chief Executive Officer, NeonMind
Biosciences Inc.
rob@neonmind.com
Tel: 416-750-3101
Investor
Relations:
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Financial Communications Inc.
Melanie
Barbeau
mbarbeau@renmarkfinancial.com
Tel: 416-644-2020 or
212-812-7680
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