Emyria Ltd: So crazy it might just work – psychedelic drugs to treat mental health
Emyria Ltd Managing Director Dr Michael Winlo on 3AW & 4BC Bulls N' Bears Report
Listen to ASX-listed Emyria Ltd Managing Director Dr Michael Winlo talk to Matt Birney on the Bulls N’ Bears Report about Emyria’s research and development of “party drug” MDMA to tackle the $219b a year mental health market.
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RADIO INTERVIEW - TRANSCRIPT
Matt Birney - Welcome to Bulls N' Bears brought to you today by biotech company, Emyria Limited
Matt Birney - ASX code: EMD
Matt Birney - I'm Matt Birney and I'm joined now by the Managing Director of Emyria, Dr Michael Winlo
Matt Birney - Hi Mike
Michael Winlo - Hi Matt, how are you?
Matt Birney - I'm good. Okay so, as I understand it Emyria is seeking to mix psychedelic drug development with a clinical care model to address depression and post-traumatic stress disorder. I know you haven't got a drug available yet, you're still under development, but tell me what evidence is there to support the theory that drugs like MDMA, typically an illegal party drug I think, might eventually be effective in treating mental health?
Michael Winlo - Yeah well there's some terrific research being concluded in the United States right now looking at MDMA-assisted therapy for post-traumatic stress disorder, who made a phase three trials are showing some terrific results for patients with difficult to treat disease. Similar trials are being done with psilocybin for treatment resistant depression are all pointing to the promise of these treatments.
Matt Birney - Okay so I understand you're undertaking your own trial of the drug MDMA to treat post-traumatic stress disorder. What stage is it at?
Michael Winlo - Yeah it's important to see if these results that have been shown overseas can translate to Australia we have ethics approval trained team staff ready to go so we're just waiting on drug supply to commence dosing.
Matt Birney - Okay well tell me about drug supply, where do you get MDMA from? Do you need approval for it? I guess it's hard to get hold of right?
Michael Winlo - It is very difficult to get hold of. We've got the strategic approvals to import it, we've looked around the world for the patient ready material we have some secured, and just waiting for it to arrive in the country.
Matt Birney - Now I note Emyria just acquired an organisation known as the Pax Centre, PAX. What is it? How much did you pay for it? What does it bring to the table for you?
Michael Winlo - Yeah Pax Centre's remarkable group of individuals, all focused on the treatment of psychological trauma. Psychiatrist/mental health/nurse counselors broadens our clinical footprint. We paid 1.7 million, most of that in stock, small cash components and we're ready to provide these studies.
Matt Birney - How big is the mental health market? Have you got any numbers on it?
Michael Winlo - Yeah just looking at post-traumatic stress disorder alone, in Australia, estimated about 1 million Australians suffering PTSD in the last 12 months. I think half of those may be eligible for MDMA-assisted therapy, globally the market's 219 billion dollars.
Matt Birney - And very quickly, what's the next bit of news flow for the company?
Michael Winlo - Yeah, look, to get our patients started on the trial, we then hope to engage payers to make this treatment affordable then we'll scale up from there.
Matt Birney - Michael Winlo from Emyria Limited
Matt Birney - Thanks for joining me on Bulls N' Bears and remember we're only here to give you information, not advice, which you should of course seek independently.
Matt Birney - I'm Matt Birney and this is Bulls N' Bears
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