Impression Healthcare appoints two globally renowned medical experts for cannabis medicines projects

Impression Healthcare (ASX: IHL) has bolstered its Medical Advisory Board by appointing two leading medical experts possessing extensive expertise within two key market niches currently being explored by the company – namely, traumatic brain injuries (TBI) and periodontal disease.

Dr Ron Jithoo and Dr Simon Hinckfuss are key opinion leaders in their respective fields and will take up their posts as soon as next week.

Both doctors have agreed to work with Impression for an initial term of two years in which they will assist with all facets of the TBI and periodontitis clinical trials currently being progressed by Impression.

The company is on course to conduct four clinical trials into obstructive sleep apnoea, TBI, temporomandibular joint dysfunction (TMJ) and periodontitis with its two new hires expected to provide instrumental support to ensure it can execute the research it needs to, in order to become commercially successful.

Drs Jithoo and Hinckfuss will be responsible for procuring funding grants, assisting with product development, presenting research findings at conferences and clinical meetings, as well as assisting with research documentation.

Neurosurgeon boost

Dr Jithoo is a leading neurosurgeon, currently consulting at the Alfred Hospital in Melbourne, Victoria. He is also a research fellow at the Australian National Trauma Research Institute (NTRI), a TBI researcher and a clinician.

Before joining Impression, Dr Jithoo was deputy chair of Neurosciences at Epworth Hospital, former Acting Head of Neurosurgery at the Alfred Hospital and a reviewer for the Journal of Clinical Neuroscience.

Periodontics expertise

Dr Hinckfuss is a high-profile specialist periodontist, focusing on the management of periodontitis, cosmetic periodontal plastic surgery and the surgical placement of dental implants. He is a Doctor of Clinical Dentistry in Prosthodontics as well as having specialist training in periodontics, including extensive surgical training in implant dentistry.

One of the primary reasons why Impression chose to headhunt Dr Hinckfuss is his extensive and wide-ranging experience.

In addition to running his own specialist periodontology practice in Melbourne’s prestigious Collins St, Dr Hinckfuss regularly lectures at educational institutions around the world and is the first and only dentist in Australia to be dual registered with the Dental Board of Australia as a specialist in the fields of both prosthodontics and periodontology.

Given his illustrious career, including roles as a senior clinician, educator, gingivitis researcher and TV celebrity dentist, “he is uniquely positioned to lead the design and testing of the INCANNEX cannabinoid toothpaste and mouthwash clinical assets,” according to Impression.

Another recent addition to Impression’s growing list of highly qualified personnel – Dr Sud Agarwal – said that “as key opinion leaders within their craft groups, the significant authority and gravitas they hold will underpin our strategy to deliver unique, IP-defendable products to the marketplace”.

Chief medical officer appointment

Dr Agarwal joined Impression as its new chief medical officer and a non-executive director just last month.

As a leading figure in the medicinal cannabis industry, Dr Agarwal is considered “one of the most influential people in the medicinal cannabis sector”, as evidenced by being a recent keynote speaker with Cannvalate at the World Cannabis Congress held in New Brunswick, Canada, and serving as an advisor to multiple public and private sector organisations on medicinal cannabis.

The medicinal cannabis industry is a high-growth market niche currently flourishing in Australia. Dr Agarwal was recruited to carry out current and future clinical trial programs, establish defendable intellectual property and to execute a successful commercialisation strategy.

To progress both its medicinal cannabis and oral devices manufacturing businesses, Impression is putting in place the personnel it needs to make commercial progress both in Australia and globally.

One of Impression’s key partners (and a company where Dr Agarwal currently serves as chief executive officer), Cannvalate has been working with Impression for a number of months. The two companies are collaborating to develop four unique medicinal cannabis products which are expected to be clinically validated via Cannvalate’s Medicinal Cannabis Research Collaboration.

With two additions to its advisory board now completed, Impression has also announced that it is in discussions to make further additions by recruiting “other key opinion leaders relevant to Impression’s Sleep Apnoea and TMJ Disorder medicinal cannabis development activities”.