Numinus Bioscience’s developments include harvesting its first flush of Psilocybe mushrooms at its Health Canada licensed facility.
VANCOUVER, BC, Oct. 22, 2020 – Numinus Wellness Inc. (“Numinus” or the “Company”) (TSXV: NUMI), a company creating an ecosystem of health solutions centred on developing and supporting the safe, evidence-based, accessible use of psychedelic-assisted psychotherapies, has harvested the first legal flush of Psilocybe mushrooms in Canada by a public company under its Health Canada-issued Controlled Drugs and Substances Dealer’s Licence. This development coincides with other recent developments by Numinus Bioscience, the Company’s 7,000 square foot analytics and research laboratory, which is focused on handling various psychedelic substances and developing analytical methods and formulations for the evolving psychedelics space.
“The first harvest of legally grown Psilocybe mushrooms is a significant milestone for the whole industry” said Michael Tan, Chief Operating Officer. “Now, we can progress with research and development of standardized cultivation, extraction, and testing methods and exploring product formulations to support safe, evidence-based, accessible psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy, as well as build a sequenced spore library.”
Dennis McKenna, renowned ethnopharmacologist, Co-founder of the Heffter Research Institute, Founder of the McKenna Academy of Natural Philosophy, and member of Numinus’ General Advisory Council, adds, “While there is a place for synthetic psilocybin in clinical practice, well- characterized and standardized extracts of natural forms of psilocybin i.e., mushrooms, cultivated and processed under stringent quality control protocols, are the wave of the future as therapeutic psilocybin gains acceptance. Given a choice, many people would prefer the option to use natural psilocybin. Mushrooms have been used in traditional medicine for literally thousands of years, and hence, they are just that much closer to these ancient traditions.
Natural mushroom extracts are also likely to be far more affordable compared to synthetic psilocybin, and that is an important consideration when it comes to ensuring accessibility to this medicine which can be so beneficial to many people. Cost should not be a barrier to access these medicines, and the use of mushroom extracts will help ensure those who need them most can benefit from psilocybin therapies.”
Numinus Bioscience is establishing itself at the forefront of analytical testing for psychedelic substances, as a centre of excellence for psychedelic product research and development, and as an ancillary for psychedelic therapy clinical trials. Health Canada licences, scientific expertise, and state-of-the-art technologies facilitate ongoing innovation, while revenue from high-throughput contract cannabis testing is reinvested to further its psychedelic initiatives.
In addition to today’s announcement, Numinus includes in its recent developments an amendment application to its Health Canada-issued Controlled Drugs and Substances Licence. The current licence permits testing, import and export, storage and distribution of MDMA, Psilocybin, Psilocin, DMT, and Mescaline as well as the undertaking of novel mycological research initiatives. The amendment will additionally permit the sale of Psilocybe mushroom fruiting bodies and extract for clinical research protocols and the development of standardized testing for additional psychedelic substances.
Numinus is also proud to announce the recent appointment of Sharan Sidhu, regulatory expert and policy advisor for restrictive high growth industries, as Science Officer and General Manager. Sidhu brings extensive experience as a hub between academia, industry, and governing directorates to align research objectives with regulatory compliance. She has been a key strategist for research roadmaps, core initiatives, the development of IP, and the development of compliance requirements including LIMS, GLP/GMP, GACP, and ISO Standards.
“Sharan’s experience and leadership are already proving instrumental in establishing Numinus Bioscience as a centre of excellence and major industry player in the delivery of safe, evidence- based, accessible psychedelic-psychotherapy,” said Payton Nyquvest, CEO, Founder, and Chairman. “We are honoured to have her join us on our mission.”
Sidhu is leading an accomplished scientific research team including Dr Bernd O. Keller, PhD (Advanced Analytical Methods), Dr Kristina Grotzinger, PhD (Phytochemistry), and Judit Varga, MSc (Advanced Microbiology Methods).
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ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF NUMINUS WELLNESS INC.
Payton Nyquvest
President, Chief Executive Officer and Chair
About Numinus
Numinus is a Vancouver-based health care company creating an ecosystem of health solutions centred around developing and supporting the safe, evidence-based, accessible use of psychedelic-assisted therapies. Numinus’ ecosystem units include Numinus Bioscience, Numinus R&D, and Numinus Health. Each unit is undertaking distinct, synergistic initiatives to hasten legal, for-profit psychedelic-assisted therapy models and position Numinus as a trusted industry leader for the eventual regulated rollout of these therapies.
Numinus Bioscience includes a 7,000 square foot research and testing laboratory as well as numerous Health Canada licences (through its wholly-owned subsidiary Salvation Botanicals) including a cannabis testing licence used for sustainable B2B revenue to support the company’s psychedelic efforts. The company holds a Dealer’s Licence which allows it to import, export, possess, and test MDMA, psilocybin, psilocin, DMT and mescaline as well as a licence to produce and extract psilocybin from mushrooms. These licences allow Numinus to support the growing number of studies on the potential benefits of psychedelic-assisted psychotherapies through research projects, product development, and the supply and distribution of these substances.
Numinus R&D is embarking on implementation science and leveraging established relationships for partnerships to host studies, develop medical and therapeutic protocols, and influence regulatory approval.
Numinus Health is dedicated to delivering therapies that enhance and supplement existing options for people wanting lasting physical, mental and emotional health — centred around safe, evidence-based accessible psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy.
Learn more at numinus.ca, and follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
Forward Looking Statements
This news release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of applicable securities laws. All statements that are not historical facts, including without limitation, statements regarding future estimates, plans, programs, forecasts, projections, objectives, assumptions, expectations or beliefs of future performance, are “forward-looking statements.” Forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of words such as “plans”, “expects” or “does not expect”, “is expected”, “estimates”, “intends”, “anticipates” or “does not anticipate”, or “believes”, or variations of such words and phrases or statements that certain actions, events or results “may”, “could”, “would”, “might” or “will” be taken, occur or be achieved. Such forward- looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual results, events or developments to be materially different from any future results, events or developments expressed or implied by such forward looking statements. Such risks and uncertainties include, among others, dependence on obtaining and maintaining regulatory approvals, including acquiring and renewing federal, provincial, municipal, local or other licences and any inability to obtain all necessary governmental approvals licences and permits to operate and expand the Company’s facilities; regulatory or political change such as changes in applicable laws and regulations, including federal and provincial legalization, due to inconsistent public opinion, perception of the medical-use and adult-use marijuana industry, bureaucratic delays or inefficiencies or any other reasons; any other factors or developments which may hinder market growth; the Company’s limited operating history and lack of historical profits; reliance on management; the Company’s requirements for additional financing, and the effect of capital market conditions and other factors on capital availability; competition, including from more established or better financed competitors; and the need to secure and maintain corporate alliances and partnerships, including with research and development institutions, customers and suppliers. These factors should be considered carefully, and readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on such forward-looking statements. Although the Company has attempted to identify important risk factors that could cause actual actions, events or results to differ materially from those described in forward-looking statements, there may be other risk factors that cause actions, events or results to differ from those anticipated, estimated or intended. There can be no assurance that forward-looking statements will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in forward-looking statements. The Company has no obligation to update any forward-looking statement, even if new information becomes available as a result of future events, new information or for any other reason except as required by law.
SOURCE Numinus Wellness Inc.
For further information:
Dana Harvey, VP Communications and Investor Relations dana@numinus.ca
