Wellbeing Digital Sciences (NEO:MEDI.AQN, OTCQB:KONEF) Inc announced that its wholly-owned subsidiary, KGK Science Inc has been engaged by Lophos Pharmaceuticals Inc to evaluate a path to market for sustainably grown, peyote-derived natural health products (NHPs).
The peyote cactus has legal status in Canada, but mescaline – the drug derived from the plant – remains a Schedule 3 controlled substance.
With a focus on NHPs, potential paths to market will be evaluated based on the safety and sanitary requirements, quality specifications for peyote-derived inputs, and permissible label claims for packaging and sales.
“We are very excited to engage with Lophos. Peyote and mescaline in general are currently underrepresented in the psychedelic medicine sector, given their traditional medicinal uses," Najla Guthrie, president and CEO of KGK said in a statement.
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Lophos is a Canadian biosciences company that specializes in peyote research, cultivation, preservation, and drug development. Through advanced cultivation and harvesting techniques, the company aims to provide its partners with medical-grade inputs and its patients with access to safe and effective mescaline-based therapeutics.
“Lophos is currently exploring the potential benefits of a peyote-derived natural health product with the support of KGK Science. There are challenges to growing peyote, and the 13-year-long natural regrowth cycle is a major threat to the endangered plant," commented Lophos founder and CEO Claire Stawnyczy.
She added: "At Lophos, we are researching accelerated, responsible cultivation techniques for reducing the long growth cycle. The goal is to provide our partners with therapeutic peyote derivatives, grown in a sustainable manner that are beneficial to the plant itself, and respectful integrations of traditional medicinal plants.”
KGK is a leading North American contract research organization based in London, Ontario that primarily provides high-quality clinical research trials with a focus on the nutraceutical, cannabis and emerging psychedelic industries.
Guthrie noted: "Lophos provides a critically important sustainable supply of cacti to the market. We plan to utilize our expertise in natural health products to aid Lophos in bringing to market, innovative and safe products for the Canadian consumer.”
Wellbeing Digital - formerly KetamineOne - is an evidence-based healthcare company focused on innovative clinical solutions, artificial intelligence-powered digital therapeutics and contract research.
Contact the author at jon.hopkins@proactiveinvestors.com