Oxford Cannabinoid Technologies Holdings plc, the pharmaceutical company developing prescription cannabinoid medicines targeting the US$ multi-billion pain market is pleased to announce the formation of its Scientific Advisory Board (“SAB”).
With the Company’s current focus on the treatment of neuropathic pain conditions, the composition of the SAB will initially comprise Professor Robert Dworkin, Professor Anthony Dickenson, and Doctor Giorgio Lambru, together a team of innovators and clinicians with an emphasis on linking pre-clinical research, clinical trials and the care of patients.
The SAB will work closely with OCTP’s Chief Scientific Officer, Doctor Valentino Parravicini, to provide scientific guidance on the Company’s strategy and overall approach to clinical trials. Its initial focus will be to advise on the design of the Company’s upcoming phase 1 clinical trials for OCT130401 and OCT461201, anticipated in Q4 2022 and Q1 2023 respectively, to help OCTP best address the needs of patients. The SAB will also help to shape the Company’s approach as it looks beyond phase 1, to phase 2 clinical trials, in patients affected by debilitating pain conditions.
Professor Robert Dworkin, who has been a consultant to the Company since November 2021, is a Professor in the departments of Anesthesiology and Perioperative Medicine, Neurology, and Psychiatry at the University of Rochester Medical Center School of Medicine and Dentistry, New York State. He is also a Director of ACTTION (Analgesic, Anesthetic, and Addiction Clinical Trial Translations, Innovations, Opportunities, and Networks) a public-private partnership with the United States Food and Drug Administration. Professor Dworkin’s major research interests are the methodologic aspects of analgesic clinical trials and the treatment and prevention of chronic neuropathic and musculoskeletal pain. Through ongoing studies he is evaluating the research designs and methods, clinical outcome assessments, and statistical analyses used in clinical trials of treatments for acute and chronic pain.
Doctor Giorgio Lambru, who has been a consultant to the Company since February 2022, is a Consultant Neurologist at Guy’s & St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust, London, and Honorary Senior Lecturer at King’s College London. Dr Lambru is an expert in headache and facial pain conditions, including neuropathic pain and general neurology conditions. He has authored a number of scientific publications on these conditions and has a clinic dedicated to complex headache and facial pain disorders.
Professor Anthony Dickenson, who has been a consultant to the Company since May 2021, is Emeritus Professor of Neuropharmacology at University College, London. Professor Dickenson’s research is focused on understanding the mechanisms of pain including how pain can be controlled in both normal and patho-physiological conditions and how to translate basic science to patients. He is an Honorary Member of the British Pain Society, a member of the council of the International Association for the Study of Pain, was a founding member of the London Pain Consortium (Welcome Trust), and is involved in many advisory boards.
The formation of the SAB underpins the next stage of the Company’s development and highlights its commitment to grow a best-in-class network of partners – scientific, academic and commercial.
OCTP Chief Scientific Officer, Doctor Valentino Parravicini said:
“Our research ethos is to develop breakthrough therapies for debilitating pain conditions with significant as yet unmet medical needs. We are honoured and delighted to formalise our relationships with Professors Robert Dworkin and Anthony Dickenson and Doctor Giorgio Lambru as our SAB, whose combined experience and advice in developing our drug candidates will, we are sure, be invaluable.”
The Directors of the Company accept responsibility for the content of this announcement.