An Interview With Alex Cammarano, Director Of Operations At Eastra Health

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Below is our recent interview with Alex Cammarano, Director Of Operations at Eastra Health:

Q: Could you provide our readers with a brief introduction to your company?

A: I’d love to provide some background as to how Eastra Health came into existence.

Last summer I began research on the intersection between psychedelics, FemTech and women’s health. After many years working within the cannabis industry as the Co-Founder of HelloMD, I understood the power of complementary and alternative medicines.

It was clear to me that psychedelics are the next biggest healthcare disruptor of our generation, and based on my experience, and being on the cusp of entering menopause, I started to ask how psychedelics might offer a healthcare solution.

The reality is, when it comes to menopause, there aren’t many good options. In fact, when you talk to women, they are often frustrated with the lack of research-based therapies, or don’t know which medical professional to turn to. It’s a bit of a mystery, and still seems taboo in many regards.

This is the genesis of Eastra Health, me questioning and delving into how psychedelics may support billions of women in the various unique health challenges we face.

Fast forward to this February when I met Jeremy Weate, former CEO of Universal Ibogaine, and Mitchell Osak, a veteran of the cannabis, psychedelic, and pharma industries. We quickly recognized the chemistry between us and decided to form a team. I came to them with my idea for a female-focused psychedelics play and it resonated.

Jeremy, with his background in science and psychedelics was able to do a deep dive into how psychedelics may in fact support women’s physical and mental wellbeing. Mitchell is married to a top OBGYN in Toronto, and was able to leverage his pharmaceutical industry experience and medical network to sanity check the idea and do more in-depth physician & patient research and discovery. We also welcomed Dr. Erica Zelfand to our team, a licensed family physician specializing in functional/integrative healthcare, and who routinely treats menopausal women.

The result is Eastra Health – the world’s first female focused biotech company dedicated to developing psychedelic-derived medicines designed for women. We focus on the under addressed health challenges women face, from PMS to menopause, through an innovative approach to drug discovery and a deep understanding of women’s health.

Q: Any highlights on your recent announcement?

A: The Eastra team was surprised to see that on the day of our launch a competitor was announced, backed by the same fund that had initially expressed interest in being our incubator. We were not aligned with their values or terms, but I guess they really liked our idea.

That said, we welcome any initiative that helps forward science and support & empower women. Women have been deeply under served when it comes to healthcare and there are so many opportunities for success that we embrace healthy competition and potential collaboration.

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Q: Can you give us more insights into your offering?

A: Jeremy our CEO, along with a team of scientists, have already completed extensive initial research into both the target indication and the lead molecule. Our focus is on developing a low dose repeat-use take at home medicine that will empower women and optimize their mental and physical health through their reproductive life and beyond.

We have assembled a powerful team of advisors with deep experience in psychedelics and pharmaceuticals. We also have an accelerated approach to drug development that leverages the lessons from Covid vaccine development and the liberal use of technology, including AI, to support women’s health.

Our goal is to provide new solutions in women’s healthcare that are designed specifically for their needs. This isn’t just about a trend in psychedelics, or Femtech, it’s about providing hope and a new perspective on how we approach women’s healthcare holistically.

Q: What can we expect from your company in the next 6 months? What are your plans?

A: We are in the process of closing our seed investment round. Over the next six months, we will be putting the seed funding to use on research and development, both in terms of understanding in depth the biology behind mood disorders in women but also in terms of finalizing the lead molecule to address the unmet therapeutic needs. We will be developing significant intellectual property during this period which we will be seeking to protect through patents.

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Q: What is the best thing about your company that people might not know about?

A: What we do as a company, comes from a place of service, and a deep set of shared values – including honesty, transparency, critical thinking and authenticity. We believe that psychedelics offer hope and promise within a medical system that has fallen short, and through our small contribution we may make a big difference in women’s lives.