Havn Life Sciences undertakes one of the first preclinical studies on psilocybin and the immune system
This is one of the first studies to examine how psilocybin affects the immune system and is a required step to file an application with the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), for a Phase 1 clinical study in humans.
December 14, 2020 - Vancouver, BC – Havn Life Sciences Inc. (CSE : HAVN) (FSE : 5NP) (the “Company” or “Havn Life”), a Canadian biotechnology company pursuing standardized extraction of psychoactive compounds, the development of natural healthcare products, is pleased to announce the first preclinical study to focus on the effects of psilocybin on the immune system, in partnership with Dr. Geoffrey Bove, Dr. David Mokler and Susan Chapelle, eMBA.
The Company’s science division, Havn Research, is undertaking a study to determine if a single dose of psilocybin extract can impact the body's inflammatory response and regulate the human immune system.
The Havn Life team will begin this preclinical study in Q1 2021. This study is the first step required to file an application for the development of psilocybin delivery methods that could address inflammatory and immune diseases such as arthritis.
Vic Neufeld, Executive Chairman of Havn Life stated: “We are tremendously excited about the potential to accelerate drug discovery and patient access to psilocybin based compounds. Upon completion of this initial phase, the Havn Life team will have taken the first step on its journey towards market authorization of new medicines. We intend to pursue the filing of an FDA application for psilocybin-based delivery methods, which may ultimately lead to new drug discovery. To date, minimal research has been done on psilocybin and its effects on human immunity, which is an area that has become more and more important.”
Although there is discussion related to the possible effects of psilocybin on inflammation, there has been no research on psilocybin’s impact on the immune system. This will be the one of the first studies to quantify the effects of psilocybin on the immune system and will also compare the differences in how psilocybin affects the immune system between the sexes.
“This is an exciting new application for psilocybin that has not yet been researched. The work is essential to understanding the safety profile of psilocybin and developing medicines to help support human health,” says Susan Chapelle. “The findings could lead to significant discoveries in the treatments of inflammatory diseases that have a profound negative effect on so many, such as pain, neuropathy and arthritis.”
About the Study
The Havn Life study will be conducted in the United States at Dr. Bove’s biomedical centre, in Maine.
The principal researchers will be Doctor Geoffrey Bove, Doctor David Mokler, and Susan Chapelle, EVP of Research and Development at Havn Life, who each have extensive clinical experience in wound healing, pain receptors, psychedelic and pharmacology research. They jointly published a research paper on post-operative adhesions in 2017. The study findings laid the groundwork for further research on mechanical and pharmacologic approaches for post-operative.
Doctor Mokler, is an advisor for Havn Life and has a dual doctorate Pharmacology/Toxicology and Neurosciences from Michigan State University. His research, funded by the National Institute of Mental Health, focuses on the limbic (emotion/behavior) system of the brain, and the role of serotonin in the limbic system.
Susan Chapelle, eMBA is an expert in wound healing and has co-authored 6 publications in peer reviewed journals. She is a noted international Keynote Speaker and industry expert on research, science education, urban transformation, cannabis and psychedelics policy, and technology integrations.
Geoffrey Bove, DC PhD is a career neurobiologist and chiropractor who researches pain mechanisms, especially as related to physical diagnosis and manual therapies. He has been independently funded by the National Institutes of Health and other institutions for 30 years. Previously faculty at Harvard Medical School, Dr. Bove conducts research at his private laboratory, Bove Consulting.
On Behalf of The Board of Directors
Tim Moore
Chief Executive Officer
About Havn Life Sciences Inc.
Havn Life Sciences is a Canadian biotechnology company pursuing standardized extraction of psychoactive compounds, the development of natural healthcare products, and innovative mental health treatment to support brain health and enhance the capabilities of the mind. Learn more at: havnlife.com and follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
Contact:
Investor Relations: ir@havnlife.com 604 687 7130
Media: brittany@exvera.com 778 238 6096
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