The latest Business updates from the science industry
by Heather Hobbs Initiative Aims to Bring Psychedelic Medicines to Clinical Stage
Under an R&D partnership Beckley Psytech, dedicated to addressing neurological and psychiatric disorders through psychedelic medicine, will jointly fund continuing development of Lophora ApS’ pipeline of proprietary NCEs for treatment-resistant depression, and other potential indications such as anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder and substance abuse. Oxford-based Beckley Psytech has also appointed Dr Laura Trespidi (pictured) as Chief Development Offi cer (CDO).
Founded in 2018 by University of Copenhagen’s Medicinal Chemistry Professor, Jesper Kristensen, Lophora, which has previously secured funding from the BioInovation Institute (Novo Nordisk Foundation) in Denmark, continues to characterise its lead candidates, aiming to initiate clinical trials in 2023.
Cosmo Feilding Mellen, CEO, Beckley Psytech, UK said that the partnership represented a signifi cant milestone for the company through access to NCEs that could be taken into Phase 1 studies while deepening experience in the psychedelic drug development space. “Beckley Psytech has been working diligently to build a fi rst-class drug development capability. This partnership is hugely exciting for us as we look to develop a portfolio of clinical assets that provide solutions to the devastating effect of psychiatric and neurological disorders.”
Jesper Langgaard Kristensen, CSO, Lophora added that building on more than a decade’s worth of academic drug discovery, had
unlocked the door to a countless array of new compounds that could serve as starting points for novel psychedelic medicines. “We share Beckley Psytech’s vision of developing psychedelic compounds to address the signifi cant unmet need in psychiatric and neurological disorders and we look forward to enriching the pipeline with medicines that will make a difference.”
Joining Beckley Psytech’s leadership team, Laura Trespidi brings more than 30 years’ of experience across clinical product development and manufacturing of investigational medicines coupled with strategic management. Having played a pivotal role in over 40 fi rst-in-human clinical trials and pre-clinical trials, she has contributed to four New Drug Applications (NDA) and market approvals and over 40 Investigational New Drug (IND) applications.
With a PhD in Pharmaceutical Science from the University of Milan, Italy and MSc in Medicinal Chemistry and Biochemistry from the University of North Carolina, US, in 2008 Dr Trespidi received an MBA from the Open University Business School, UK. She is a published author and a member of several scientifi c societies and associations.
More information online:
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Appointment Marks Clear Strategy for Future Growth
As Chief Sales Offi cer (CSO) his responsibilities will be in consolidation of customer-oriented activities in international sales and key account management, plant engineering projects, e-commerce and inside sales, as well as service and product management. He will also assume responsibility for the company’s distribution companies in the management team.
The appointment is regarded as an important measure of Lauda’s Drive250 strategy project, geared to positioning the company’s future as a modern, agile industrial company with clear growth strategy, comprehensible structure and a signifi cant reduction in the complexity of processes and products.
From left to right: The President and CEO, Dr Gunther Wobser, Dr Marc Stricker, Dr Mario Englert and Dr Ralf Hermann. (Credit: Christoph Weiß/
lauda.de)
Reinforcing the management of its successful family-owned temperature control equipment and systems company, Lauda Dr R. Wobser GmbH has appointed Dr Ralf Hermann as Managing Director to steer its strategic development together with the President and CEO, Dr Gunther Wobser, Dr Marc Stricker (COO) and Dr Mario Englert (CFO).
Previously with Eppendorf AG (Hamburg) where he became a member of the management board, Dr Hermann joined Lauda in 2017 as general manager for the constant temperature equipment division, the service division and the management of its distribution companies.
“Dr Ralf Hermann has managed Lauda’s largest business unit with great professionalism for a long time and has played a decisive role in shaping our market success in recent years. As Managing Director for Sales, Service and Product Management, he will drive forward the further development of our product portfolio, international sales and business development,” said President and CEO, Dr Gunther Wobser.
Dr Hermann added: “I’m looking forward to the new challenge and the opportunity to play a key role in the implementation of our Drive250 strategy project. The new structure and the process optimisations already underway will help us achieve our ambitious growth targets.”
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Agreement Increases Hormonal Therapies Reach Across EU
Pharmaceutical organisation Diurnal Group has extended its agreement with Er-Kim for the distribution and marketing of its encapsulated hydrocortisone granules targeting chronic endocrine (hormonal) diseases, in Greece, Cyprus and Malta. The combined market opportunity for these three countries has been estimated to be approximately €7 million in paediatric adrenal insuffi ciency (AI) and adult congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH). Er-Kim already holds distribution and marketing rights for supplying these products to Turkey, Romania and Bulgaria.
Diurnal’s licensed preparation of hydrocortisone, Alkindi®, approved in the UK, the European Economic Area, Israel, Australia, Switzerland and the US, is specifi cally designed for use in children suffering from AI, including the related CAH.
The company’s Efmody® is a modifi ed-release preparation of
hydrocortisone for the treatment of patients with CAH, a rare condition caused by a genetic defi ciency of adrenal enzymes. In May 2021, this was granted marketing authorisation in the European Union and was launched by the Company in Germany, Austria and the UK during September that year.
Richard Bungay, Interim Chief Executive Offi cer and Chief Financial Offi cer of Diurnal, commented: “Following this latest agreement with Er-Kim, we are pleased that the Company’s commercial footprint now reaches 70% of the European Union population.”
Cem Zorlular, Chairman and Chief Executive Offi cer of Er-Kim, said: “We are pleased to expand our collaboration with Diurnal after a year of working relentlessly to execute on our shared vision of addressing unmet rare endocrine conditions in Turkey, Romania and Bulgaria. We are very excited to have the opportunity to now provide market access to much needed paediatric and adult cortisol defi ciency treatments in Greece, Malta, Cyprus.”
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ilmt.co/PL/KyDe 57959pr@reply-direct.com
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