BetterLife Pharma Inc (CSE:BETR, OTCQB:BETRF) said that one of its scientific collaborators, Dr Argel Aguilar-Valles from Carleton University’s Department of Neuroscience, will make a presentation on the anti-depressant activity of the company’s lead compound, its proprietary 2-bromo-LSD (BETR-001), at the four-day American College of Neuropsychopharmacology (ACNP) annual conference in Phoenix, Arizona starting on December 4, 2022.
The Vancouver, British Columbia-based biotech’s BETR-001 is a non-hallucinogenic Lysergic Acid Diethylamide (LSD) derivative molecule.
According to BetterLife, Dr Aguilar-Valles will present preclinical data supporting the acute and long-term anti-depressant activity of BETR-001 monotherapy in animal models. “The data shows that BETR-001 promotes structural neuroplasticity in brain neurons and this effect is partly mediated by the activation of 5-HT2A receptor,” said the company.
READ: BetterLife Pharma files comprehensive patent for BETR-001 and other LSD derivatives
In a statement, BetterLife CEO Dr Ahmad Doroudian said: “BETR-001 is a uniquely positioned LSD derivative with the potential to be as effective as LSD in various neuropsychiatric and neurological disorders without the burden of being hallucinogenic.”
“Because of its non-hallucinogenic nature, BETR-001 will not have all the LSD requirements of administration in specialized clinics under special treatment protocols. The LSD-controlled substance has regulatory issues which impact manufacturing, distribution, and patient access, and the overall associated high treatment costs for all these parameters.”
BetterLife’s synthesis patent for BETR-001 eliminates regulatory hurdles and its pending patent for composition and method of use covers the treatment of depression, cluster headaches, post-traumatic stress disorder, and other neuropsychiatric and neurological disorders.
“BETR-001 is protected by BetterLife’s composition, method-of-use, synthesis, and formulation patents both issued and provisional,” said Dr Doroudian.
Betterlife said that BETR-001’s preclinical and IND-enabling studies are being completed.
“We hope to file its investigational new drug application (IND) and begin human trials by mid-2023,” said Dr Doroudian.
BetterLife Pharma is primarily focused on developing and commercializing two compounds, BETR-001 and BETR-002, to treat neuropsychiatric and neurological disorders. BETR-002, which is in preclinical and IND-enabling studies, is based on honokiol and the company’s pending method of use and formulations patent covers the treatment of anxiety-related disorders, including benzodiazepine dependency.
Contact the author Uttara Choudhury at uttara@proactiveinvestors.com
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