Vancouver, British Columbia – TheNewswire - January 12, 2022. Lexston Life Sciences Corp. (the “Company” or “Lexston”) (CSE:LEXT) (CNSX:LEXT.CN) (OTC:LEXTF) is pleased to announce the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (the “MOU”) between its wholly owned subsidiary Egret Bioscience Ltd. (“Egret”) and Alvarius Research Inc. (“Alvarius”; a wholly owned subsidiary of Lighthouse Genomics Inc.), a leading research and development company focused on ex situ conservation and genomic resource development for the Colorado River toad (Incilius alvarius).

Under the terms of the MOU, Egret and Alvarius intend to elucidate the biosynthetic pathways leading to the entourage of tryptamines (5-MeO-DMT, 5-MeO-tryptamine, 5-HO-N-methyltryptamine, Bufotenin and DMT) produced in the toads’ parotoid glands secretions. Alvarius recently commenced an ex situ conservation program with eight individual toads from two independent captive populations and have developed ethical means to harvest parotoid gland secretions. The latter are in the process of being chemically characterized via tryptamine profiling using the Egret High Pressure Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) assay and will be used to record intra-individual variation in tryptamine profiles with the goal of identifying individuals to set up future breeding populations.

Subsequent research will investigate genes uniquely expressed in parotoid glands. A reference genome will be assembled with the ultimate goal to enhance ethical and humane ex situ conservation programs and to develop genomic resources to assist the conservation of the species in the wild. The teams will also jointly develop an alternative to synthetic toad-free tryptamine production using a cell-based culture pipeline to produce the compounds of interest while retaining the natural entourage. Such compounds have shown promise in the treatment of a variety of indications including cluster headaches, and major depressive disorder.

“We are excited to move forward with this significant project. The Colorado River toad parotoid glands may represent the most efficient natural factories for tryptamines such as 5-Meo-DMT, reaching concentrations as high as 45% total secretion mass. The conservation status of this species in the wild has made it challenging to work with, however we expect that our collaboration with Alvarius will ensure that alternative means to produce natural tryptamines will be in place to accommodate the anticipated demand for this class of psychedelics,” stated Dr. Philippe Henry, Chief Science Officer and Director of Lexston.

“This collaboration with Egret carries multiple dimensions of beneficial impact,” stated Timothy Harvey, Director of Alvarius Research. “The advent of full-spectrum biosynthetic toad tryptamines will take pressure off toad populations as the supply of therapeutic psychoactive compounds. There is currently no alternative source of the full-spectrum gland secretions, which puts wild populations under tremendous pressure as demand increases from a growing number of therapeutic programs, which aim to improve human psychological health. To provide a biosynthetic supply to these important therapeutic programs, in addition to stimulating needed research into the conservation status of wild populations, links our business success to improved outcomes for the toad. It is a regenerative business model based on respect for this unique and remarkable species.”

Click Image To View Full Size

Mugshot of “Little Buddha” one of the 7 year old Colorado river toads in the Alvarius’ terrarium at Salt Spring Island BC.

For more information and to subscribe to the Company’s mailing list, please visit https://lexston.ca/contact/ .

About Lexston Life Sciences Corp.

Lexston Life Sciences Corp. is a Canadian biotechnology company providing cannabis testing and research services.  Lexston is also in the process of securing licensing under the exemptions prescribed by section 56 of the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act (Canada) to enable the expansion of its services into the psychedelic industry with an initial focus on the detection and quantification of psychedelic molecules in the lab and point of care. Lexston intends to develop and validate methods for standardized manufacturing of plant derived psychedelics in support of burgeoning trials in the field of mental health and wellness.

On Behalf of the Board of Directors

LEXSTON LIFE SCIENCES CORP.

Jagdip Bal Chief Executive Officer

Telephone: (604) 928-8913

Forward-Looking Statements

This news release contains forward-looking statements and information within the meaning of applicable securities legislation. Often, but not always, forward-looking statements and information can be identified by the use of words such as “plans”, “expects” or “does not expect”, “is expected”, “estimates”, “intends”, “anticipates” or “does not anticipate”, or “believes”, or variations of such words and phrases or state that certain actions, events or results “may”, “could”, “would”, “might” or “will” be taken, occur or be achieved. Forward looking statements or information involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance, or achievements of LEXT to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements or information contained in this news release. 

Risks, uncertainties, and other factors involved with forward-looking information could cause actual events, results, performance, prospects, and opportunities to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking information. The Canadian Securities Exchange has not reviewed and does not accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of the content of this news release.