Emyria Ltd (ASX:EMD), a data-backed drug development and care delivery company, has engaged world-leading neuropharmacologist Dr Mat Martin-Iverson to advise over the screening and expansion for its MDMA-analogue program.
Dr Martin-Iverson, the former head of psychopharmacology at UWA, has more than 35 years of experience studying and researching the effects of amphetamines and other psychostimulants.
In the new role, he will help evaluate a library of novel MDMA-analogues recently optioned to Emyria exclusively and help advise in the creation of new compounds to expand the library.
“Treatments for neurological disorders”
Emyria managing director, Dr Michael Winlo, said: “We are delighted to be working closely with Dr Martin-Iverson as we evaluate and expand our unique library of MDMA-analogues.
“We believe Dr Martin-Iverson's unique expertise and deep knowledge of amphetamines will help us identify promising compounds, as well as to design new ones, to develop promising novel psychedelics and new treatments for neurological disorders.”
Focus on dopamine-related effects
Dr Martin-Iverson has authored more than 160 publications with a particular focus on dopamine-related effects including its role in drug addiction, schizophrenia, Parkinson’s disease, attention and motivation.
Apart from a distinguished career in academia, he was also the consultant pharmacologist to the Statewide Department of Neurophysiology and a member of the WA psychotropic advisory committee to the chief psychiatrist and Western Australian Therapeutics Advisory Group (WATAG).
Dr Martin-Iverson said: “I’m excited to work with Emyria and Dr Matt Piggott’s team at UWA, to screen and expand this library of unique compounds that have the potential to become new treatments for patients in need.”
Forward plan
Emyria recently secured exclusive rights to a library of more than 100 novel MDMA analogues from the University of Western Australia creating a unique drug discovery pipeline for Emyria.
The library of compounds was developed by a highly regarded research group led by medicinal chemist Dr Matt Piggott, whose team have been developing MDMA analogues and exploring their therapeutic potential for more than 10 years.
As part of the initial phase of work, Emyria will screen and expand the existing library to identify families of patentable compounds with the greatest promise as new psychedelic-assisted therapies and treatments for other neurological disorders.
In addition, Emyria will lead the global patent strategy, already underway, as well as further clinical development and commercialisation of this under-explored research space.
Furthermore, the program has the potential to result in the commercialisation of multiple, novel, CNS-active compounds to help treat patients with major unmet needs.
- Ephrems Joseph