Vocan Biotechnologies Inc. (“Vocan”) is a wholly owned subsidiary of Core One Labs, and is the research and development business unit of Core One, led by Dr. Robert E.W. Hancock, CEO and Dr. Jan Burian, Chief Scientist.
MISSION:Vocan’s mission is to use science and technology to advance the knowledge of natural-based medicines for the treatment of mental health illnesses, including addictions.
OPERATING UNDER HEALTH CANADA CONTROLLED DRUGS AND SUBSTANCES LICENSE:
Conducting its research and development of psychedelics out of a state-of-the-art research facility in British Columbia, Canada, Vocan operates under a Controlled Drugs and Substances Act (CDSA) dealers license issued by Health Canada that allows for the possession, production, assembly, sale, export, and delivery for of the psychedelic compounds, Psilocybin and DMT.
FIRST TO MARKET TECHNOLOGY:
On January 21, 2022 Core One Labs announced that Vocan has successfully tested its proof of concept for the biosynthesis of psilocybin suitable for use in future scale-up, and has filed a patent application with the United States Patent and Trademark Office (“USPTO”) titled “Production of Psychedelic Compounds” for protection of its novel psilocybin production system.
Vocan’s team of scientists have constructed optimized DNA sequences that can produce enzymes replicating the biosynthetic pathway used by Psilocybe mushrooms, allowing bacteria to become factories for psilocybin production. Vocan scientists have used DNA modeling to improve and optimize design and produce unique DNA sequences that improve the efficiency and expression of these enzymes, allowing for rapid and cost-effective psilocybin production.
Vocan’s fist-to-market biosynthetic process retains the stereochemistry of the natural psilocybin molecules found in hallucinogenic mushrooms, which are known to have a more positive effect than their chemically synthetized counterpart.
Vocan is preparing to produce pharmaceutical grade psilocybin for use by researchers engaging in clinical trials, as well as for the recreational and micro-dosing markets, where there is a legal market to do so.
WHY IS THIS SIGNIFICANT?
Vocan’s successful biological production system for psilocybin has the potential to produce psilocybin somewhere in the realm of $10’s to $100’s per gram.
Commonly utilized chemically synthesized psilocybin is the only cGMP compliant product that is available in large volumes. This chemical process carries significant costs and is less efficient when compared to a biologically derived psilocybin. Additionally, naturally occurring mushrooms are not an efficient source of psilocybin since the amount produced is quite small and variable. Chemical synthesis of, and extraction of natural occurring psilocybin can range between $7000 to $10000 per gram.
Vocan’s method of psilocybin production will provide cost-effective access to organizations looking to acquire cGMP API grade psilocybin. Vocan’s psilocybin production method utilizes the well-established industrial process of fermentation and thus can be scaled up while consistently producing a high-quality cGMP product.
There is significant potential that by using a gene mimicry process and simple chemical modifications to its biosynthesized psilocybin, could enable the creation of bioidentical compounds, and produce other known and novel analogs of psilocybin and related psychedelics. These analog compounds have the potential to be more effective, targeted, and safer than their naturally occurring psychedelic compounds.
PATENT CLAIMS:
The patent application entitled “Production of Psychedelic Compounds” includes claims that Vocan’s technology will enable the production of cGMP API grade psilocybin, which can be used by pharmaceutical companies, API manufacturers and organizations conducting clinical trials and, where permitted by law, consumers, and patients.
Our method of psilocybin production will provide more affordable access to organizations looking to acquire cGMP API grade psilocybin. Our process can be scaled up while consistently producing a high-quality cGMP product.