Graft Polymer (UK) PLC (LSE:GPL) chairman Dennis Purcell told Proactive's Stephen Gunnion that the proposed strategic acquisition of Awakn Life Sciences will help build an integrated mental health-focused entity. He sees this as essential for attracting investment dollars and addressing a significant unmet need in the healthcare sector.
Purcell, who has extensive experience in life sciences, emphasised the urgent need for innovation in mental health treatments, particularly after the challenges posed by the pandemic. He expressed optimism about the potential of neuropsychiatric treatments like those for alcohol use disorder and PTSD, pointing to promising results from mid-stage clinical trials. "The field of mental health needs new treatments, new modalities, because it's such a significant problem," he stated.