BetterLife Pharma Inc (CSE:BETR, OTCQB:BETRF)., a biotech company focused on the development of cutting-edge treatments for mental disorders, revealed that it has obtained its first set of neurological receptor binding data on its lead compound, 2-bromo-LSD (TD-0148A).
The Vancouver-based company said the data was generated by Eurofins Discovery. TD-0148A is a second-generation Lysergic Acid Diethylamide (LSD) derivative molecule that BetterLife believes will mimic the projected therapeutic potential of LSD without causing undesirable psychoactive dissociative side effects, such as hallucinations.
The receptor binding data show binding of TD-0148A to neurological receptors which are known to play key roles in neuropsychiatric disorders.
READ: BetterLife Pharma applies for patent protection for new 2-bromo-LSD compositions, including TD-0148A
“Significant TD-0148A binding was seen to receptors such as 5-hydroxytryptamine (serotonin) receptors (5-HT1A, 5-HT2A, 5-HT2B, and 5-HT2C), alpha-adrenergic receptors (alpha-1A, -2A, -2B, and -2C), beta-adrenergic receptors (beta-1, and -2), and dopamine receptors (D1 and D2S),” said the company.
In contrast, there is none-to-limited binding to receptors such as 5-HT3, GABA-A1, and NMDA receptors, added the company. Additional preclinical studies are underway to further determine the functional outcome of the TD-0148A binding at these receptors where possible, and “outcomes include agonism, antagonism, mixed or no effect,” said the company.
The TD-0148A receptor binding studies are being conducted by Eurofins Discovery at its advanced facilities at Eurofins Cerep, DiscoverX, and Panlabs.
"We are pleased to be partnering with Eurofins Discovery and the global Eurofins Discovery team for these TD-0148A primary and safety pharmacology studies as part of TD-0148A’s investigational new drug application (IND) enabling preclinical data package,” BetterLife CEO Ahmad Doroudian said in a statement.
“TD-0148A is a potential novel new therapy to treat debilitating psychiatric and neurological disorders with high unmet need, such as depression, post-traumatic stress disorder and cluster headaches. As the lead compound in BetterLife’s neuro-psychiatric pipeline, and protected by several BetterLife owned patents (granted and provisional), BetterLife is fully focused to bring TD-0148A to US IND and the clinic as soon as possible," he added.
Separately, BetterLife also announced the appointment of David Melles as Investor Relations Manager.
“We are very pleased to welcome David Melles to our team. His experience in the investor relations field will be extremely valuable to BetterLife’s progress,” said Doroudian.
An experienced investor relations professional, Melles comes to BetterLife with an extensive track record of financial market understanding, global business know-how, and thorough research capabilities. He has delivered optimized marketing strategies in both North America and Japan. “His financial market experience, from sell-side to buy-side, will be a great complement to the existing team,” said the company.
BetterLife Pharma is primarily focused on developing and commercializing two compounds, TD-0148A and TD-010, to treat neuropsychiatric and neurological disorders.
Contact the author Uttara Choudhury at uttara@proactiveinvestors.com
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