Novamind Hosts Clinical Trial to Advance Ketamine Therapy for End-of-Life Patients

TORONTO, ON / ACCESSWIRE / February 3, 2022 / Novamind Inc. (CSE:NM | OTCQB:NVMDF | FSE:HN2) ("Novamind" or the "Company"), a leading mental health company specialized in psychedelic medicine, today announced it has been selected by the Ketamine Research Foundation (KRF) to host a phase II clinical trial investigating ketamine-assisted psychotherapy (KAP) for adults with life-threatening illness (the "Conscious Dying/Conscious Living Trial").

The FDA approval of the study's KAP protocol marks a first in the investigation of KAP for end-of-life patients and its potential to serve as a model of care for this difficult-to-treat population. The mental health toll of a terminal illness is well-documented; between 24% to 70% of patients experience depression with significant negative impacts on quality of life.¹ For patients with shortened life expectancy, ketamine may reduce symptoms of depression, anxiety and existential distress, and improve quality of life. Over the course of six weeks, study participants will undergo two KAP sessions at Novamind's Murray, Utah research site under the supervision of clinical experts.

"This study is an important addition to the clinical care and research opportunities for patients within the Psychedelic Palliative Care program that we are building at Novamind," said Dr. Paul Thielking, Chief Scientific Officer and Principal Investigator at Novamind's Murray research site. "I've worked with this population for most of my career and, unfortunately, I've sometimes felt limited in what I can offer my patients to ease their emotional distress. The findings will contribute to the evidence for using KAP with patients who have a life-threatening illness and offer new insights into alternative treatments."

The Conscious Dying/Conscious Living Trial is sponsored by the KRF, a non-profit leader in ketamine research, advocacy and clinical training. Phil Wolfson, MD is the Founder and CEO of KRF and a pioneering practitioner and instructor of KAP. He is also a Principal Investigator for the Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies (MAPS)-sponsored phase II study of MDMA-assisted psychotherapy for individuals with significant anxiety due to life-threatening illnesses.

Dr. Wolfson commented, "Ketamine is still considered a novel treatment option for psychiatric illness and can sometimes be seen as controversial. Now with FDA approval, we're hopeful that this ground-breaking study will demonstrate KAP's potential to relieve distress and serve as a model for practitioners of palliative care, hospice and mental health professionals engaged with those who are facing death, to assist in their attitudes and choices for their remaining time."

To learn more about the Conscious Dying/Conscious Living Trial, please visit this link.

About Novamind
Novamind is a leading mental health company enabling safe access to psychedelic medicine through a network of clinics and clinical research sites. Novamind provides ketamine-assisted psychotherapy and other novel treatments through its network of integrative mental health clinics and operates a full-service contract research organization specialized in clinical trials and evidence-based research for psychedelic medicine. For more information on how Novamind is enhancing mental wellness and guiding people through their entire healing journey, visit novamind.ca.

Contact Information
Yaron Conforti, CEO and Director
Telephone: +1 (647) 953 9512

Samantha DeLenardo, VP, Communications
Email: media@novamind.ca

Investor Relations
Email: IR@novamind.ca

Forward-Looking Statements
This news release contains forward-looking statements. All statements other than statements of historical fact included in this release are forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate and actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from the Company's expectations including the risks detailed from time to time in the Company's public disclosure. The reader is cautioned not to place undue reliance on any forward-looking information. Forward-looking statements contained in this news release are expressly qualified by this cautionary statement. The forward-looking statements contained in this news release are made as of the date of this news release and the Company will update or revise publicly any of the included forward-looking statements as expressly required by applicable laws.

1: J Palliat Med . 2021 May;24(5):767-781. doi: 10.1089/jpm.2020.0659. Epub 2021 Mar 15.

SOURCE: Novamind Inc.