Not a One Trick Pony: Revive Therapeutics COO Derrick Welsh Shares Antigua Updates
It’s been a few months since we’ve caught up with Derrick Welsh, the Chief Operating Officer of Psilocin Pharma, a division of Revive Theraputics (CSE: RVV OTC: RVVTF). There’s been lots of exciting news for the company since then. We’re pleased to have Welsh back with us to discuss recent news about a collaboration between Revive Therapeutics and University of Health Sciences Antigua (UHSA) as they pioneer clinical research using psychedelics.
Here’s some highlights from the interview.
UHSA to utilize Revive Therapeutics’ novel psychedelic-assisted therapies and tech
For those who may have missed the news, the quick recap on last month’s press release is that UHSA will develop a psychedelic treatment center in Antigua and Barbuda using Revive Therapeutics’ novel formulations and intellectual property exclusively.
Welsh says that the beauty part of the work that was done by Revive in Wisconsin is that it is very easy to transfer the technology. The tannin-chitosan platform is patented and ready to be used in one of several forms. For the Antigua project, Welsh says that UHSA and Revive will be using hydrogel because it’s simple to make, the ingredients are easy to source, and it’s easy to do it on a Generally Recognized As Safe (GRAS) level. It can be given to patients in doses determined by the physicians participating in the clinic.
UHSA a great place to develop a future program for physicians says Welsh
The Antigua project started with Welsh and Michael bouncing emails to the university and asking how they can make an impact, he says. “The way we can make an impact is providing great technology that can be utilized as well as developing future programs for physicians.”
UHSA is a school of medicine, he says, and he describes the institution as the Harvard of the Caribbean. Many world-renowned doctors and nurses have graduated from their program over decades now. The doctors working with the institution there are frequently dual-qualified and able to also work in the US or Canada, doctors meet the necessary requirements to write board exams in North America, and there are international students from all over the world.
Antigua psychedelic clinic will be “one of the few run by doctors” – and Revive will benefit from the research that comes of it
Welsh says, “We hear about psychedelic therapy in other parts of the world, but where’s the doctor running it? Who are the people helping these individuals? Where’s the data?” Welsh says that the clinic collaboration between UHSA and Revive in Antigua will be different because it will be one of the few run by physicians and people who are becoming physicians.
Through this opportunity in Antigua, the company will have the opportunity to submit papers and collect data that furthers Revive Therapeutics’ programs, says Welsh. That’s one big thing for investors to get excited about, although he says Revive has also made significant milestones in CBD, orphan drug designations, and the Bucillamine project too.
“Our stock, you know, it’s the best of both worlds. If you’re not a fan of psychedelics but you like the covid angle, we have a covid angle and it’s a very strong one,” he says.
