logo-loader

MindMed expanding R&D presence in Europe with Dr Miri Halperin Wernli leading the charge

Published: 16:01 13 Aug 2020 BST

MindMed - MindMed expanding R&D presence in Europe with Dr Miri Halperin Wernli leading the charge
Dr Wernli will focus on Project Lucy, the LSD experiential therapy program for anxiety disorders administered by a therapist

Mind Medicine (MindMed) Inc (NEO:MMED) (OTCQB:MMEDF) is expanding its presence in Europe by opening an operating subsidiary in Switzerland, and has appointed Dr Miri Halperin Wernli as president to direct the firm’s clinical development strategy.

The New York City-based neuro-pharmaceutical company developing psychedelic medicines, said Dr Wernli will be expanding the clinical and scientific team in Europe. Her immediate leadership responsibilities center around the company's LSD microdosing program and Project Lucy, the LSD experiential therapy program for anxiety disorders.

Dr Wernli will also help implement R&D collaborations in Europe which include the company's partnership with the University Hospital Basel's Liechti Lab.

READ: MindMed seeks to harvest the power of psychedelics to treat mental health disorders

In a statement, Dr Wernli said: "I am very excited to help scale MindMed's R&D as we seek to prove to governments and society that psychedelic inspired medicines and therapies can play a vital role in addressing the growing global mental health and addiction crisis.”

She added: “I passionately believe psychedelic inspired medicines and therapies have immense potential to redefine society's approach to mental health. Many mental health disorders appear to be interconnected which presents a unique opportunity to MindMed to innovate and create novel treatment paradigms for various severe and chronic mental health conditions which have poor and unsatisfactory therapeutic offerings at present."

Dr Wernli is a senior pharma and biomedical executive with over 30 years of strategic and operational leadership and a deep understanding of drug development in heavy regulated environments.

Dr Halperin Wernli has held senior positions in product development, R&D and strategic marketing in Switzerland and the US at companies like Merck & Co (NYSE:MRK), Sharp & Dohme, Roche Holdings AG (OTCMKTS:RHHBY) and Actelion Pharmaceuticals. In addition, Dr Wernli has clinical experience in child and adult psychiatry in hospital settings in Switzerland and Canada. She previously co-founded and led Creso Pharma, an Australian listed medical cannabis company with operations in Europe and Canada.

MindMed co-founder and co-CEO JR Rahn said Dr Wernli brings “a wealth of experience,” and leadership to the company’s approach for patients. “Her expertise will help us to continue to pioneer the fast-growing psychedelic inspired medicine market."

Contact the author Uttara Choudhury at uttara@proactiveinvestors.com

Follow her on Twitter: @UttaraProactive

Ariana Resources updates resource and reserve; realises long-term strategy

Joining Jonathan Jackson in the Proactive studio is Ariana Resources PLC (AIM:AAU) managing director Kerim Sener, who sits down to discuss the latest resource and reserve update for the Zenit Mining Operations in Western Türkiye. The update encompasses the Kiziltepe and Tavsan sectors, operated...

4 hours, 42 minutes ago