Champignon Brands Inc (CSE:SHRM) (OTCQB:SHRMF) is opening a third ketamine clinic in Ottawa, it announced Monday.
The new clinic is the first community-based centre in the city that provides ketamine treatment for adults with depression, the Vancouver-based company said in a statement.
Champignon operates two other Canadian Rapid Treatment Centre(s) of Excellence (CRTCE) in Mississauga and Toronto.
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The CRTCE multidisciplinary outpatient clinical research facility – the first of its kind in Canada – specializes in providing breakthrough rapid onset treatments for depression, such as intravenous ketamine and intranasal esketamine, which help patients suffering from several treatment-resistant conditions such as major depressive disorder or bipolar disorder.
"The opening of our first Ottawa CRTCE Clinic provides an opportunity for CRTCE to provide access to new treatments for people who are suffering from depression,” Champignon CEO Roger McIntyre said in a statement. “In addition to providing clinical care, all CRTCE Clinics conduct research that aims to improve the quality of people's lives affected by these common and debilitating disorders in Canada.”
Over 20 clinical trials have demonstrated that ketamine and esketamine have rapid and robust antidepressant effects in patients that have failed to respond to conventional antidepressants, according to Dr Joshua Rosenblat, medical director at the CRTCE.
“During the COVID-19 pandemic, the need for effective treatment has become exponentially critical," Rosenblat said in a statement. "Ketamine treatment for depression is very difficult to access in Canada. This third clinic should allow more people to access treatment."
The two existing CRTCE clinics have administered over 2,500 intravenous ketamine infusions and more than 60 intranasal ketamine treatments in around 30 months of operation, Kevin Kratiuk, Vice President of operations at the CRTCE added.
Champignon Brands is a research-driven company specializing in breakthrough ketamine treatment for depression and other mental health conditions.
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