PharmaDrug Inc (CSE:BUZZ) (OTCPINK:LMLLF) has appointed world-renowned chemist and neuroscientist Dr Steven Barker to the company's newly formed scientific advisory board for psychedelic pharmaceuticals.
In a statement Monday, the company said Dr Barker will lead the research and development initiatives of N,N-Dimethyltryptamine (DMT) for mental health, neurological, and inflammatory disorders.
He has been actively involved in the research of psychedelics, with a primary focus on DMT since 1976 and appeared in the 2010 documentary "DMT: The Spirit Molecule," which was hosted by actor and commentator Joe Rogan, the company noted.
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Dr Barker also is professor emeritus at Louisiana State University in the Department of Comparative Biomedical Sciences at the School of Veterinary Medicine. He held the Everett D. Besch Distinguished Professor award between 2000 and 2006 for his research into the Neurochemistry of hallucinogens, which he continues today in collaboration with academic research institutions.
"I am very excited to join PharmaDrug to lead their research initiatives in unlocking the potential of DMT as a pharmaceutical for various mental health, neurological and inflammatory disorders," Dr Barker said.
"I have been involved in the research with DMT for over 40 years and my belief in DMT's potential still holds to this day and even after retirement from LSU, I continue to be involved in both the mechanistic and clinical research of DMT with leading academic research institutions across the world."
PharmaDrug CEO Daniel Cohen added: "We are quickly laying the groundwork in building a foundation that will enable us to focus our research efforts with DMT and partnering with leading research institutions to achieve our objectives in advancing the clinical development of DMT as a pharmaceutical for unmet medical needs."
DMT, the 'spirit molecule'
DMT, also referred to as the "spirit molecule" due to the intense psychedelic experience similar to lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD) or psilocybin, is a hallucinogenic tryptamine drug that occurs naturally in plants and animals.
In scientific studies at lower doses, DMT was shown to have mood-elevating and calming properties and it is now being evaluated to treat depression and other neuropsychiatric disorders, PharmaDrug said.
The company's psychedelic pharmaceutical strategy will focus on DMT by expanding its product pipeline through pre-clinical and clinical research and licensing, forming research collaborations with academic institutions and industry, broadening its intellectual property portfolio with unique formulations, novel uses and delivery systems, and adding medical and clinical experts to its scientific advisory board.
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