QUEBEC--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Devonian Health Group Inc. (“Devonian” or the “Corporation”) (TSXv: GSD), a clinical stage botanical pharmaceutical corporation focused on developing a unique portfolio of botanical prescription drugs and cosmeceutical products, announced today that it has formed a Clinical Dermatology Advisory Board comprised of Canadian Key Opinion Leaders. The objective of the Clinical Dermatology Advisory Board is to provide clinical, scientific, research and strategic guidance to the Corporation as it continues to advance its pharmaceutical cannabis product development.
The appointees are Drs Sam Hanna, MD, FAAD, DABD; Ian Landells, MD, FRCPC; Jaggi Rao, MD, FRCPC; and Jerry Tann, MD, FRCPC.
“We are honored to welcome these Canadian Key Opinion Leaders to our newly established Clinical Dermatology Advisory Board. The expertise they bring to our team will be instrumental in guiding us through the development of cannabinoids-based pharmaceutical drugs within our ongoing dermatology drug development program,” said Dr. André P. Boulet, PhD., President & CEO of Devonian.
“We believe that cannabinoids-based products could be developed under the US-Food and Administration’s Botanical Drug Regulation1. Under this regulation, plant active ingredients, like those in cannabinoids-based products, benefit of the combined effects of the components called the "entourage effects". Devonian’s core strategy is to develop drugs, including those based on cannabinoids, within the Botanical Drug Regulatory pathway,” added Dr. Boulet.
Sam HANNA, MD, FAAD, DABD
Dr. Hanna trained in medicine and completed specialty training and board certification in the US before returning home to Canada. As the clinic director of a large single specialty dermatology group in downtown Toronto, Dr. Hanna enjoys his "blended" dermatology practice combining Aesthetic, Medical and Investigational Dermatology.
Dr. Hanna is past secretary of the Canadian Dermatology Association's Board of Directors and sits on the CDA Membership and Awards Committee as well as the Pharmacy & Therapeutics committee. He is the immediate past President of the Toronto Dermatological society. He is a member of the Dermatology Association of Ontario and of the American Academy of Dermatology. Dr. Hanna Received the CDA President's Cup award for volunteerism in Dermatology in 2016. His research interest is in cosmetic dermatology, psoriasis, atopic dermatitis, acne and rosacea.
Ian D. R. LANDELLS, MD, FRCPC
Dr. Ian Landells graduated from Memorial University of Newfoundland Medical School in 1988. Practiced two years Family Medicine in St. John’s, NL, then went on to study Paediatric Medicine at Memorial University, and Dermatology at the University of British Columbia. He graduated from University of British Columbia in 1995 and went on to do a fellowship training in Paediatric Dermatology at Northwestern University and Children’s Memorial Hospital in Chicago, IL, USA. Dr. Landells practiced Adult and Paediatric Dermatology in St. John’s, NL since 1996. He is currently Division Chief Dermatology at Eastern Health, Clinical Associate Professor, Disciplines of Medicine and Paediatrics-Faculty of Medicine, Memorial University of Newfoundland, and Medical Director Dermatology at Nexus Clinical Research, St. John’s, NL. Dr Landells was President (2010-2011) and Past Vice-President, Secretary and Regional Director of the Canadian Dermatology Association. He also was President (2003-2004) of the Atlantic Provinces Dermatology Association. He is a member of the Editorial Boards of the International Journal of Dermatology, the Journal of Cutaneous Medicine and Surgery, Dermatology Times of Canada, Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology and Latin American Journal of Psoriasis and Psoriatic Arthritis. He has participated in over 100 clinical trials.
Jaggi RAO, MD, FRCPC
Dr. Jaggi Rao is a double board certified dermatologist (Canada and USA) and a certified cosmetic surgeon. In 1995, he received a Bachelor of Science (BSc) degree with high distinction from the University of Toronto, followed by his Doctorate of Medicine (MD) from McMaster University in 1998. He then completed his 5-year specialty training in dermatology at the University of Alberta. This was followed by the completion of an accredited fellowship with the American Academy of Cosmetic Surgery in Southern California. Dr. Rao is a full Clinical Professor of Medicine and served as the Program Director for the Dermatology Residency Training Program at the University of Alberta from 2009 to 2014. Dr. Rao has won several accolades for writing, presentations, research and teaching, including the Canadian Dermatology Association’s Teacher of the Year Award. In 2011, he was the recipient of Avenue Magazine’s Top 40 under 40 Award. He has authored over 50 scientific papers and textbook chapters and has been an invited speaker for over 500 lectures worldwide to physicians, other professionals, industry and the general public. Dr. Rao is a popular instructor for a number of dermatology-related courses and educational projects. He continues to lend his expertise as a consultant to various organizations including the government (such as the Canadian Standards Association), medical device and pharmaceutical industry, healthcare provision businesses, and professional sports teams.
Clinically, Dr. Rao has been a practicing dermatologist for over 10 years, and is the founder of the Rao Dermatology Centre, a popular medical & cosmetic derma surgery facility in the heart of Edmonton, Alberta. He has developed several innovative treatment protocols and techniques that have been adopted by other healthcare professionals. Dr. Rao is the creator and visionary behind ConsultDERM™, Canada’s largest teledermatology service, which uses modern technologies to allow healthcare providers gain timely access, regardless of distance or location, to dermatology assistance for patients with skin-related problems. Dr. Rao continues to volunteer with Doctors Without Borders (MSF) and the Canadian Physicians for Aid & Relief (CPAR).
Jerry Tan MD FRCPC Dermatology
Dr. Tan trained in internal medicine at the University of Toronto and in dermatology at University of British Columbia and University of Michigan. He has a general dermatology and aesthetic practice in Windsor Ontario Canada since 1991 and conducts research with Windsor Clinical Research, a clinical trials site in dermatology. Areas of research include acne, rosacea, hidradenitis suppurativa. Additional interests include dermatology outcome measurements and aesthetic dermatology including scar correction. He is the chair of the working group on clinical practice guidelines of the Canadian Dermatology Association and co-chair of the rosacea international consensus group (ROSCO) and the acne core outcomes network (ACORN).
About Devonian
Devonian Health Group Inc. is a late stage botanical pharmaceutical corporation with novel therapeutic approaches to targeting unmet medical needs. Devonian's core strategy is to develop prescription botanical drugs from plant materials and algae for the treatment of inflammatory-autoimmune diseases including but not limited to ulcerative colitis and atopic dermatitis. Based on a foundation of over 15 years of research, Devonian’s focus is further supported by a US-FDA set of regulatory guidelines favouring a more efficient drug development pathway for prescription botanical drug products over those of traditional prescription medicines. Devonian is also involved in the development of high-value cosmeceutical products leveraging the same proprietary approach employed with their pharmaceutical offerings. Devonian Health Group Inc. was incorporated in 2015 and is headquartered in Québec, Canada where it owns a state-of-the art extraction facility with full traceability ‘from the seed to the pill’. Acquired in 2018, Altius Healthcare Inc., its commercialization partner, brings opportunities for further diversification and growth potential. Devonian is traded publicly on the TSXV Exchange (TSXv:GSD).
For more information, visit www.groupedevonian.com.
References
- Botanical Drug Development, Guidance for Industry. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Food and Drug Administration, Center for Drug Evaluation and Research (CDER), December 2016.
Forward Looking Statements
This press release contains forward-looking statements about Devonian’s objectives, strategies and businesses that involve risks and uncertainties. These statements are “forward-looking” because they are based on our current expectations about the markets we operate in and on various estimates and assumptions. Actual events or results may differ materially from those anticipated in these forward-looking statements if known or unknown risks affect our business, or if our estimates or assumptions turn out to be inaccurate. Such risks and assumptions include, but are not limited to, Devonian’s ability to develop, manufacture, and successfully commercialize value-added pharmaceutical and dermo-cosmeceutical products, the availability of funds and resources to pursue R&D projects, the successful and timely completion of clinical studies, the ability of Devonian to take advantage of business opportunities in the pharmaceutical and dermo-cosmeceutical industries, uncertainties related to the regulatory process and general changes in economic conditions. You will find a more detailed assessment of the risks that could cause actual events or results to materially differ from our current expectations in Devonian’s prospectus dated April 21st, 2017 under the heading “Risk Factors” related to Devonian’s business. As a result, we cannot guarantee that any forward-looking statement will materialize. We assume no obligation to update any forward-looking statement even if new information becomes available, as a result of future events or for any other reason, unless required by applicable securities laws and regulations.
Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.