Oxford Cannabinoid
Technologies Holdings plc
("OCT" or the
"Company")
Directorate
Changes
Oxford Cannabinoid Technologies
Holdings plc (LSE:OCTP), the biotech company developing
prescription cannabinoid medicines, announces the following Board
changes.
Bishrut Mukherjee, Non-Executive
Director, has notified the board of his intention to step down from
his role in order to focus on other business interests. Bishrut has
served the Company for over five years, since joining OCT in
January 2019.
Richard Hathaway, Non-Executive
Director, has also notified the board of his intention to step down
from his role in order to be able to devote more time to his other
duties and responsibilities as Corporate Development Director at
Imperial Brands plc ("Imperial"). Richard joined the board of OCT
in February 2022 as a representative of Imperial Brands Ventures
Limited, a wholly owned subsidiary of Imperial. Imperial remains a
significant and supportive shareholder of the Company and Richard
will continue in his role as shareholder liaison.
Bishrut and Richard will leave the
Company on 31 March 2024.
Clarissa Sowemimo-Coker, Chief Executive Officer of OCT,
said:
"On behalf of everyone at OCT, I would like to thank Bishrut
and Richard for their invaluable support and counsel over recent
years which the Company has greatly benefited from. Bishrut has
been with us since pre-IPO and we are grateful to him for his
contribution to OCT's journey during which time we have transformed
into a clinical stage biotech company. Richard has represented the
voice of our shareholder, Imperial Brands, as well as providing
strategic advice and support as the Company and the team have grown
over the last two years. My colleagues and I wish Bishrut and
Richard all the best with their future
endeavours."
Bishrut Mukherjee, Non-Executive Director of OCT,
said:
"It has been a privilege to serve as a Non-Executive Director
of OCT from the Company's earliest stages. Since 2019, I have seen
it achieve significant milestones including its IPO on the London
Stock Exchange, its expansion into oncology, its commencement of
Phase I Clinical Trials for Programme 1, our recent fundraising,
and, now, its upcoming Phase I Clinical Trial for Programme 2.
After five years I feel that now is the right time to step back. I
wish the Company all the best and will watch with great interest
its future progress."
Richard Hathaway, Non-Executive Director of OCT,
said:
"I
have very much enjoyed my time serving on the board of OCT as part
of a team of energetic, clever and collegiate colleagues, and
remain warmly supportive of the Company and its mission. I want to
take this opportunity to wish the Company continued success in its
rapidly growing programmes of work designed to harness the
therapeutic power of cannabinoids to help millions of people living
with debilitating conditions."
The Directors of the Company accept
responsibility for the content of this announcement.
Enquiries:
Oxford Cannabinoid Technologies Holdings plc
|
+44 (0)20 3034 2820
|
Clarissa Sowemimo-Coker
(CEO)
|
clarissa@oxcantech.com
|
|
|
Cairn Financial Advisers LLP
|
|
Emily Staples
|
+44 (0)20 7213 0897
|
Jo Turner
|
+44 (0) 20 7213 0885
|
|
|
Axis Capital Markets Limited
|
|
Richard Hutchison
|
+44 (0)20 3026 0320
|
|
|
Acuitas Communications
|
020 3745 0293 / 07799
767676
|
Simon Nayyar
|
simon.nayyar@acuitascomms.com
|
Arthur Dingemans
|
arthur.dingemans@acuitascomms.com
|
About Oxford Cannabinoid
Technologies Holdings Plc:
OCT is the holding company
of Oxford Cannabinoid
Technologies Ltd and OCT Victoria Pty Ltd (together the
"Group"), a pharmaceutical
Group developing prescription cannabinoid medicines initially
targeting the US$ multi-billion global pain market.
OCT currently has a portfolio of
four drug development programmes. Its lead compound, OCT461201,
will initially target neuropathic and visceral pain (including
irritable bowel syndrome ("IBS") and chemotherapy induced
peripheral neuropathy ("CIPN"). The global market for CIPN alone
is currently forecast to reach US$1.17bn by 2028.
OCT's drug development pipeline
comprises both natural and synthetic compounds, and includes
compounds targeting trigeminal neuralgia, a severe type of face
pain, and cannabinoid derivatives targeting pain and
potentially other therapeutic areas. Having established an
exclusive licence agreement with Canopy Growth Corporation for
their entire pharmaceutical cannabinoid derivative library, OCT now
has a portfolio of almost five hundred derivatives and intellectual
property rights including fourteen patent families and associated
research data.
OCT has a clearly defined path to
commercialisation, revenues and growth. The Group is developing
drug candidates through clinical trials to gain regulatory approval
(FDA/MHRA/EMA) that will enable medical professionals to prescribe
them with confidence. OCT's portfolio aims to balance risk, value
and time to market, whilst ensuring market exclusivity around all
its key activities.