Emyria appoints consultant psychiatrist Richard Magtengaard to its medical advisory board

Emyria Ltd (ASX:EMD) has appointed consultant psychiatrist and retired naval officer Richard Magtengaard to its medical advisory board. The appointment will support Emyria’s multiple mental health focussed initiatives targeting unmet needs in mental health. This includes an initial drug development program - EMD-003 - targeting psychological distress and the symptoms of anxiety, depression and stress as well as the development of an evidenced-based psychedelic-assisted therapy program for patients with major mental health concerns partnership with Mind Medicine Australia. Delighted to add our esteemed medical advisory board Emyria’s managing director Michael Winlo said: “We’re delighted to add Magtengaard to our esteemed medical advisory board. “Magtengaard is a highly respected psychiatrist with expertise in mood disorders, chronic pain and PTSD. “Magtengaard has a particular passion for improving care for Australian military veterans and for using technology and innovation to improve care delivery. “Magtengaard’s appointment boosts Emyria’s expertise in mental health as we progress our own drug development, care model design and clinical research into the growing global health concern of mental health.” Richard Magtengaard’s experience Magtengaard is a consultant psychiatrist with nearly 20 years of clinical and administrative experience and has also served for 10 years as a commissioned officer within the Royal Australian Navy, before retiring to complete his medical degree. He is also chair of the medical advisory committee at Marian Centre Hospital and a member of St John Ambulance Expert Advisory Group. He remains an active member of the Australasian Military Medical Association (AMMA) and has developed lasting affiliations with ADF Joint Health Command (JHC), Returned Services League WA (RSLWA), St John Ambulance (SJA), West Australian Police (WAPOL), Department of Fire and Emergency Services (DFES), Australian Federal Police (AFP) and numerous other Ex-Service Organisations (ESOs). Magtengaard is currently the director of the military trauma recovery program across 2 busy sites of care, namely Marian Centre Hospital. The end-to-end drug development program Emyria’s first end-to-end drug development program - EMD-003 is a cannabinoid-based medicine seeking registration as a Schedule 3 medicine with the Therapeutic Goods Administration’s (TGA) Australian Register of Therapeutic Goods (ARTG). The regulations allowing the registration of low-dose CBD as a schedule 3 medicine come into effect on Feb 1st, 2021. The development of EMD-003 is informed by Emyria’s Real-World Evidence (RWE) and backed by unique intellectual property (IP) and the drug will target psychological distress and the symptoms and anxiety, depression and stress. Richard Magtengaard said: “I’m passionate about improving mental health, particularly for those who serve. Tackling the growing challenge of mental health will require new technologies, treatments and data-backed ways of caring for patients. “Emyria is leading some great initiatives in these areas which is why I’m excited to support their mission.”