NeonMind Strengthens its Specialty Clinics Advisory Board with Appointment of Mood Disorders and Ketamine Expert Dr. Gustavo Vazquez, MD, PhD.
NeonMind Strengthens its Specialty Clinics Advisory Board with Appointment of
Mood Disorders and Ketamine Expert Dr. Gustavo Vazquez, MD, PhD.
Company Continues to Expand Its Scientific Expertise with Noted Expert in
Utilizing Ketamine for Treatment Resistant Depression
Vancouver, B.C. – September 22, 2021: NeonMind Biosciences Inc. (CSE: NEON) (OTCQB: NMDBF) (FRA:
6UF) (“NeonMind'' or the “Company”), an integrated drug development and wellness company focused
on the potential therapeutic uses of psiloc ybin for treating obesity and weight management conditions,
announced today that it has appointed Dr. Gustavo Vazquez, MD, PhD, a Professor of Psychiatry at
Queen’s University in Kingston, Ontario, and a noted expert in mood disorders and ketamine utilizat ion,
to its Specialty Clinics Advisory Board.
In his role on NeonMind’s Specialty Clinics Advisory board, Dr. Vazquez will leverage his considerable
expertise in organizing and managing ketamine clinics to support NeonMind as it develops its company -
branded, specialty clinics network to increase patient access to evidence -backed effective treatments
including ketamine.
Dr. Vazquez is a global expert in utilizing ketamine for the treatment of mood disorders. He started his
career in 1996 in Argentina and was first appointed as Assistant Professor of Clinical Psychiatry at the
University of Buenos Aires and then as Associate Professor at the University of Palermo in 1998. In 2002,
he became Professor of Neuroscience and through his expertise, founded a nd directed the Department
of Neuroscience and the Research Center on Neuroscience and Clinical Neuropsychology in 2011.
He was appointed Professor of Psychiatry at Queen’s University in 2016 and is currently working at the
Mood Disorders Research and Tre atment Service at Providence Care where he is the clinical lead of the
Ketamine Clinic which has provided over 400 treatments since inception. Based on his success in treating
patients, he has also published a seminal book, “Ketamine for Treatment -Resistant Depression:
Neurobiology and Applications”. His current research is focused on the study of the clinical features,
neurocognitive characteristics and pharmacological treatments of unipolar depression and bipolar
disorders.
He is actively involved in t he Canadian Network for Mood and Anxiety Treatments (CANMAT) and the
Canadian Biomarker Integration Network for Depression (CAN-BIND) as both a co -author of their
guidelines and as a researcher. Over the course of his career, he has published over 140 different articles
in leading international peer reviewed journals, three books (on Neuroscience, Affective Disorders and
Ketamine), twenty-two book chapters and has presented his work and research in several international
meetings and congresses around the wo rld. He holds research grants from multiple funding agencies,
covering studies in clinical treatments in depression, bipolar disorder, and other mental disorders and has
conducted clinical trials studying the uses of ketamine, esketamine and neurostimulati on for mood
disorders. He is a Fellow and active member of the Royal College of Physicians of Canada and has won
numerous awards in leading psychiatric societies and defended a PhD in Psychiatry and Neuroscience.
“It is an honor to have Dr. Vazquez join our Specialty Clinics Advisory Board. His research on ketamine for
mood disorders and treatment resistant depression is highly regarded in the medical community. His
depth of knowledge and experience leading clinical operations at Providence Care’s Ketamin e Clinic will
be invaluable in supporting the development and launch of NeonMind’s specialty clinics network in
bringing innovative treatments to patients and communities in need,” said Robert Tessarolo, President &
CEO of NeonMind.
On ketamine as a treat ment option for mood disorders, Dr. Vazquez said, “The clinical response we are
seeing with ketamine treatment is unprecedented. This is truly a transformational treatment when
administered to the appropriate patient following our treatment protocols and w e are seeing robust
effectiveness and our program experience deems it to be a safe treatment. From a healthcare perspective,
it is important and valuable to find ways to enhance access to these treatments including access in the
community. I look forward t o working with NeonMind in developing their network of interventional
psychiatry clinics.”
About NeonMind Biosciences Inc.
NeonMind operates two divisions: (i) a pharmaceutical division engaged in drug development of
psychedelic compounds with two lead psilocybin-based drug candidates targeting obesity; and (ii) a
medical services division focused on launching specialty mental health clinics that integrate psychedelic
therapeutics into traditional psychotherapy settings.
In its pharmaceutical divis ion, NeonMind has two distinct psilocybin drug development programs
targeting obesity. NeonMind’s lead candidate, NEO-001, employs psilocybin as an agonist at the serotonin
5- HT2A receptor, which is involved in the hallucinogenic effect of psychedelics. The Company’s second
drug candidate, NEO-002, employs low-dose psilocybin as an agonist at the 5 -HT2C receptor, which
controls appetite.
NeonMind established a medical services division with the goal of launching NeonMind-branded
specialty mental health clinics in Canada that incorporate evidence-backed innovative treatments to
address a variety of mental health needs. For more information on NeonMind, go to
www.NeonMindBiosciences.com
Rob Tessarolo, President & Chief Executive Officer, NeonMind Biosciences Inc.
Tel: 416-750-3101
Investor Relations:
KCSA Strategic Communications
Scott Eckstein/Tim Regan
Tel: 212-896-1210
Media Inquiries:
KCSA Strategic Communications
Annie Graf
Tel: 786-390-2644
The Canadian Securities Exchange has not reviewed, approved nor disapproved the contents of this news
release.
Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements
Certain statements contained in this press release constitute forward-looking information. These
statements relate to future events or NeonMind’s future performance. The use of any of the words "could",
"expect", "believe", "will", "projected", "estimated" and similar expressions and statements relating to
matters that are not historical facts are intended to identify for ward-looking information and are based
on NeonMind’s current belief or assumptions as to the outcome and timing of such future events. Actual
future results may differ materially. In particular, NeonMind’s drug development plans, its ability to retain
key personnel, and its expectation as to the development of its intellectual property and other steps in its
preclinical and clinical drug development constitute forward-looking information. Actual results and
developments may differ materially from those cont emplated by forward -looking information. Readers
are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking information. The statements made in this
press release are made as of the date hereof. NeonMind disclaims any intention or obligation to publicly
update or revise any forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events
or otherwise, except as may be expressly required by applicable securities laws.