PharmaTher Collaborates with MediSynergics to Develop Patented Ketamine Formulation for Pain Disorders and to Discover Novel Psychedelic Formulations
PharmaTher Holdings Ltd. (CNSX: PHRM) (OTCMKTS: PHRRF), a clinical-stage psychedelics biotech company, is pleased to announce that it has entered into a collaboration agreement with c, LLC. (“MediSynergics”), a drug discovery company, to develop MediSynergics patented ketamine derivatives for pain and other CNS disorders and to investigate drug discovery and development of next-generation psychedelic derivatives, such as psilocybin, N,N-Dimethyltryptamine (“DMT”), 3,4-Methylenedioxymethamphetamine (“MDMA”) and lysergic acid diethylamide (“LSD”), mescaline, and ibogaine.
PharmaTher and MediSynergics will initially collaborate to advance the research of MediSynergics patented ketamine derivatives as an alternative to opioid medications for pain disorders using predictive preclinical animal models. Efficacy of the patented ketamine derivatives were demonstrated to be comparable or better than ketamine when tested in a murine capsaicin inflammatory pain model. The patented ketamine compounds are derivatives discovered by MediSynergics of which the majority were determined in preclinical in vitro binding affinity studies to not bind to the NMDA receptor, suggesting they may have fewer side effects that have limited ketamine’s use as a pain treatment. In parallel, MediSynergics, out of its research and controlled-substance licensed laboratory, is planning to evaluate novel formulations of psychedelics for clinical development to advance through the FDA regulatory pathway.
MediSynergics was founded over eleven years ago by two former Pfizer drug discovery researchers, Mr. Dennis Godek, M.A., CEO and Mr. Harry R. Howard, M.S., CSO, having extensive experience in CNS and infectious disease therapeutic areas. Since then, MediSynergics has secured 12 patents, two provisional patents in the U.S., and has discovered ketamine derivatives that potentially have changed the pharmacology of ketamine. Mr. Howard, Chief Scientific Officer of MediSynergics, co-discovered the $1 billion atypical antipsychotic drug ziprasidone (Geodon™, Zeldox™) which is used to treat schizophrenia and mania. Mr. Howard also developed expertise in the design of novel compounds to treat CNS disorders including depression and ADHD and is listed as an inventor of 58 U.S. patents issued to Pfizer Inc. and named on 71 U.S. and Worldwide patents.
We are excited to work with MediSynergics in the discovery and development of novel psychedelic derivatives and formulations for pain and CNS disorders. This drug discovery and development collaboration complement our current strategy of finding novel uses and delivery forms of psychedelics by diversifying our product pipeline and building our product lifecycle plans with robust intellectual property and know-how, as well as strengthening our drug discovery and development capabilities with experienced chemists that have FDA drug approvals on their resume. We continue to focus on our core competencies in quickly advancing our ketamine programs to clinical studies and developing our novel microneedle patch for the intradermal delivery of psychedelics. The addition of our drug discovery division focused on novel psychedelic formulations uniquely position us as an up-and-coming player in prescription-based psychedelics for unmet medical needs and partnering opportunities.
Fabio Chianelli, Chief Executive Officer of PharmaTher
Dennis Godek, Chief Executive of MediSynergics, said, “We are extremely pleased to be working with PharmaTher to help advance the development of ketamine derivatives and the future potential of novel psychedelic derivatives and formulations for treating CNS disorders of unmet medical need. The benefits of ketamine for treatment resistant depression are already being realized by patients with FDA approval in 2019. It is hoped that the discovery and development of novel psychedelics and formulations will greatly benefit patients suffering from debilitating neurological illnesses.”
Under the collaboration agreement, PharmaTher and MediSynergics will share the results of the ketamine program and will work toward exclusive licensing of any of the inventions that show potential entering into clinical studies.
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