NeonMind
Strengthens its Specialty Clinics Advisory Board with Appointment
of Mood Disorders and Ketamine Expert Dr. Gustavo Vazquez, MD,
PhD.
Company
Continues to Expand Its Scientific Expertise with Noted Expert
in
Utilizing
Ketamine for Treatment Resistant Depression
Vancouver,
B.C. – September 22, 2021 -- InvestorsHub NewsWire -- NeonMind
Biosciences Inc. (CSE:
NEON)
(OTCQB:
NMDBF)
(FRA:
6UF)
("NeonMind''
or the "Company"),
an integrated drug development and wellness company focused on the
potential therapeutic uses of psilocybin for treating obesity and
weight management conditions, announced today that it has appointed
Dr. Gustavo Vazquez, MD, PhD, a Professor of Psychiatry at Queen's
University in Kingston, Ontario, and a noted expert in mood
disorders and ketamine utilization, to its Specialty Clinics
Advisory Board.
In his role on NeonMind's
Specialty Clinics Advisory board, Dr. Vazquez will leverage his
considerable expertise in organizing and managing ketamine clinics
to support NeonMind as it develops its company-branded, specialty
clinics network to increase patient access to evidence-backed
effective treatments including ketamine.
Dr. Vazquez is a global expert in
utilizing ketamine for the treatment of mood disorders. He started
his career in 1996 in Argentina and was first appointed as
Assistant Professor of Clinical Psychiatry at the University of
Buenos Aires and then as Associate Professor at the University of
Palermo in 1998. In 2002, he became Professor of Neuroscience and
through his expertise, founded and directed the Department of
Neuroscience and the Research Center on Neuroscience and Clinical
Neuropsychology in 2011.
He was appointed Professor of
Psychiatry at Queen's University in 2016 and is currently working
at the Mood Disorders Research and Treatment Service at Providence
Care where he is the clinical lead of the Ketamine Clinic which has
provided over 400 treatments since inception. Based on his success
in treating patients, he has also published a seminal book,
"Ketamine for Treatment-Resistant Depression: Neurobiology and
Applications". His current research is focused on the study of the
clinical features, neurocognitive characteristics and
pharmacological treatments of unipolar depression and bipolar
disorders.
He is actively involved in the
Canadian Network for Mood and Anxiety Treatments (CANMAT) and the
Canadian Biomarker Integration Network for Depression (CAN-BIND) as
both a co-author of their guidelines and as a researcher. Over the
course of his career, he has published over 140 different articles
in leading international peer reviewed journals, three books (on
Neuroscience, Affective Disorders and Ketamine), twenty-two book
chapters and has presented his work and research in several
international meetings and congresses around the world. He holds
research grants from multiple funding agencies, covering studies in
clinical treatments in depression, bipolar disorder, and other
mental disorders and has conducted clinical trials studying the
uses of ketamine, esketamine and neurostimulation for mood
disorders. He is a Fellow and active member of the Royal College of
Physicians of Canada and has won numerous awards in leading
psychiatric societies and defended a PhD in Psychiatry and
Neuroscience.
"It is an honor to have Dr.
Vazquez join our Specialty Clinics Advisory Board. His research on
ketamine for mood disorders and treatment resistant depression is
highly regarded in the medical community. His depth of knowledge
and experience leading clinical operations at Providence Care's
Ketamine Clinic will be invaluable in supporting the development
and launch of NeonMind's specialty clinics network in bringing
innovative treatments to patients and communities in need," said
Robert Tessarolo, President & CEO of NeonMind.
On ketamine as a treatment option
for mood disorders, Dr. Vazquez said, "The clinical response we are
seeing with ketamine treatment is unprecedented. This is truly a
transformational treatment when administered to the appropriate
patient following our treatment protocols and we are seeing robust
effectiveness and our program experience deems it to be a safe
treatment. From a healthcare perspective, it is important and
valuable to find ways to enhance access to these treatments
including access in the community. I look forward to working with
NeonMind in developing their network of interventional psychiatry
clinics."
About
NeonMind Biosciences Inc.
NeonMind operates two divisions:
(i) a pharmaceutical division engaged in drug development of
psychedelic compounds with two lead psilocybin-based drug
candidates targeting obesity; and (ii) a medical services division
focused on launching specialty mental health clinics that integrate
psychedelic therapeutics into traditional psychotherapy
settings.
In its pharmaceutical division,
NeonMind has two distinct psilocybin drug development programs
targeting obesity. NeonMind's lead candidate, NEO-001, employs
psilocybin as an agonist at the serotonin 5- HT2A receptor, which
is involved in the hallucinogenic effect of psychedelics. The
Company's second drug candidate, NEO-002, employs low-dose
psilocybin as an agonist at the 5-HT2C receptor, which controls
appetite.
NeonMind established a medical
services division with the goal of launching NeonMind-branded
specialty mental health clinics in Canada that incorporate
evidence-backed innovative treatments to address a variety of
mental health needs. 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:
KCSA Strategic
Communications
Scott
Eckstein/Tim Regan
neonmind@kcsa.com
Tel: 212-896-1210
Media
Inquiries:
KCSA Strategic
Communications
Annie
Graf
neonmind@kcsa.com
Tel: 786-390-2644
The Canadian
Securities Exchange has not reviewed, approved nor disapproved the
contents of this news release.
Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements
Certain statements contained in this press release constitute
forward-looking information. These statements relate to future
events or NeonMind's future performance. The use of any of the
words "could", "expect", "believe", "will", "projected",
"estimated" and similar expressions and statements relating to
matters that are not historical facts are intended to identify
forward-looking information and are based on NeonMind's current
belief or assumptions as to the outcome and timing of such future
events. Actual future results may differ materially. In particular,
NeonMind's drug development plans, its ability to retain key
personnel, and its expectation as to the development of its
intellectual property and other steps in its preclinical and
clinical drug development constitute forward-looking information.
Actual results and developments may differ materially from those
contemplated by forward-looking information. Readers are cautioned
not to place undue reliance on forward-looking information. The
statements made in this press release are made as of the date
hereof. NeonMind disclaims any intention or obligation to publicly
update or revise any forward-looking information, whether as a
result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as
may be expressly required by applicable securities laws.