Ketamine One Expands to Veteran-Centric Markets in Canada
The Preface
In 2019, Health Canada approved the NeuroCatch Platform, a medical device developed by HealthTech Connex that measures cognitive brain functions.
- NeuroCatch is currently in use at the Integrated Rehab and Performance clinic in Victoria, BC.
- The clinic was recently acquired by KetamineOne Capital. It caters uniquely to patients from the Canadian Armed Forces, Royal Canadian Mounted Police, and various first responder organizations in Canada.
- The platform provides healthcare practitioners with measurements of the brain’s auditory sensation, basic attention, and cognitive processing.
- This provides insight for neurological conditions that include brain injury, dementia, neurological diseases, PTSD, and more.
Enter KetamineOne Capital
Vancouver-based KetamineOne Capital Limited (OTC: KONEF), formally known as Myconic Capital Corp, is focused on consolidating the highly fragmented industry of medical clinics in North America.
- The company’s network includes 16 clinics across North America.
- They possess 23-years of experience in pharmaceuticals, cannabis, and psychedelic medicine.
- A recent addition of KGK Science as their contract research division has placed the company at the forefront of premium clinical research.
Ketamine One is now using the innovative NeuroCatch platform to expand and provide better mental health services to injured veterans across the continent.
Scientists in Ireland Turn to Ketamine to Fight Depression
Researchers at Trinity College and St. Patrick’s Mental Hospital in Dublin, Ireland, have begun clinical trials to fight severe depression with the help of ketamine therapy.
The situation
- The WHO officially considers depression as the global leading cause of “disability.”
- More than 200,000 people in Ireland experience a depressive episode each year. Around 6,000 of them require acute care.
- About 30% of people with severe depression have proved resistant to existing treatments. It can also take several weeks for effects to begin working.
A different approach
The new trial will investigate the impact of low-dose ketamine infusions, twice a week, as an add-on treatment to improve patient symptoms. Ketamine works differently from SSRIs, and may help to change neuroplasticity in patients.
- Ketamine is normally used as an anesthetic, however it can have antidepressant effects at low doses.
- The drug provides rapid-onset effects, improving symptoms of depression within just 1 hour of a single infusion. With peak benefits of this new approach occur within just 24 hours.
The study will also analyze the hypothesis that ketamine treatments could significantly reduce healthcare costs, while improving quality of life for patients.
Big Merger Smells Like Success
After making his exits from Canopy Growth in 2019 and Vireo Health in 2020, psychedelics and cannabis veteran Bruce Linton will now join ‘The HighBrid Lab.’
- This confirmation is subject to the closing of a pending merger between Ontario-based Red Light Holland Corp. (OTC: TRUFF) and Creso Pharma (ASX: CPH).
- The union of these 2 companies will be called ‘The HighBrid Lab.’
- Bruce Linton said he will hold the title of Chairman of the Board at The HighBrid Lab.
Several parts to a greater whole
- Red Light Holland is engaged in the production, growth and sale of premium ‘magic truffles.’
- Creso Pharma develops and commercializes cannabis/hemp-based products and treatments for human/animal health in Europe, the Middle East, and the Asia Pacific.
- Linton is the Founder of Canopy Growth Corp. and served as Chairman/CEO from 2013-2019. He has contributed to over 16 rounds of financing and 31 acquisitions; and raised $6 billion in capital.
Solving the Puzzle of Pain with MDMA
A new acquisition will be the first to focus on the ‘psychosocial’ puzzle of chronic pain, using MDMA-based medicines.
- Global Wellness Strategies (OTC: PNNRF) will acquire Shanti Therapeutics Pty Ltd, a subsidiary of Cannvalate Pty Ltd, including all of its assets focused on MDMA-based drug development.
- This new team will conduct clinical research on an IP-protected novel drug.
Chronic pain is big business
- The global market for chronic pain treatment is forecast to progress at an annual rate of 6.5% from 2020 to 2030, and generate revenue of $151.7 billion by 2030.
- To-date, there are no psychedelic drugs approved as pain killers.
- Chronic Pain has a ‘psychosocial’ component which is not fully addressed by any existing analgesics, such as asprin and naproxen.
The key players
- Global Wellness Strategies, formerly known as Redfund Capital Corp, provides companies with financial, operational, and management assistance.
- Their focus is on assisting global wellness, psilocybin, mycology, hemp/CBD, and healthcare-related companies.
- Australia-based Cannvalate holds licenses to import and supply ‘schedule 8 poisons’ that include MDMA and psilocybin.
- They own a large patent portfolio of novel cannabinoid and psychedelic drugs, acquired from several years of clinical trials at a major Australian university.
An Appetite for Psychedelics
Venture capitalists are growing hungry for what the world of psychedelics has to offer.
- Chicago-based Palo Santo, a psychedelic investment firm, launched its first fund with an initial capital of $35 million and is comprised of 20 active companies.
- The firm is targeting early-stage, high-growth opportunities within biopharma, drug development, digital therapeutics, healthcare services, and tech enabled solutions.
A long list of solid partners
With the launch of this diversified venture fund, Palo Santo is showing that it is focused on tackling the global mental health crisis by investing in innovative psychedelic-based and adjacent therapies. So far they’ve funded and partnered with many big players in the psychedelics industry, including most notably:
- Atai Life Sciences (NASDAQ: ATAI)
- Field Trip Health (OTC: FTRPF)
- Bright Minds Biosciences (OTC: BMBIF)
- Gilgamesh Pharmaceuticals
- Bexson Biomedical
- Diamond Therapeutics (NASDAQ: BDTX)
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