Company’s Chief Scientific Officer, Phil Skolnick, Ph.D., to Receive ASCP’s “Donald Klein Lifetime Achievement Award”
SANTA MONICA, Calif., May 29, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Opiant Pharmaceuticals, Inc. ("Opiant") (NASDAQ:OPNT), a specialty pharmaceutical company developing pharmacological treatments for addictions, today announced that Roger Crystal, M.D., Opiant’s Chief Executive Officer, and Phil Skolnick, Ph.D., Opiant’s Chief Scientific Officer, will participate in a panel session at the American Society of Clinical Psychopharmacology (ASCP) 2018 Annual Meeting, being held May 29 – June 1, 2018, in Miami Beach, Florida. Dr. Skolnick will chair a panel session, titled: “The Opioid Epidemic: Crisis and Solutions,” and Dr. Crystal will be a speaker on the panel.
Additionally, ASCP will present the 2018 “Donald Klein Lifetime Achievement Award” to Dr. Skolnick for his contributions to the field of neuropsychopharmacology. Prior to his current role as Chief Scientific Officer of Opiant, Dr. Skolnick served as the Director, Division of Therapeutics and Medical Consequences at the National Institute on Drug Abuse, National Institutes of Health. Dr. He earned his Ph.D. at The George Washington University, School of Medicine, Department of Pharmacology, and has twice been awarded the D.Sc., honoris causa.
The panel session will focus on therapeutic approaches to address the opioid epidemic, including: increasing both the availability and efficacy of medication-assisted treatments (MATs), the development of a heroin vaccine and the development of effective opioid alternatives for the treatment of acute and chronic pain. Dr. Crystal will discuss the rapidly evolving nature of opioid overdose, focusing on the sharp increase in fatalities attributed to high potency “synthetics,” such as fentanyl. He will also discuss the use of naloxone (currently the only FDA-approved medication to treat opioid overdose) as a rescue medication and the potential for developing alternatives.
About The American Society of Clinical Psychopharmacology
The American Society of Clinical Psychopharmacology (ASCP) was founded in 1992 to advance the science and practice of clinical psychopharmacology. The Society has four major meetings per year. ASCP has over 1,200 members, composed of psychopharmacology physicians and doctoral level investigators of clinical psychopharmacology or pharmacology, who advocate for clinical psychopharmacology and for clinical research. The first goal of ASCP is to promote continuing education for practicing psychopharmacologists, medical students, psychiatric residents and fellows. Second, ASCP intends to promote research that encourages rapid dissemination of new and relevant findings to facilitate the exchange of information among psychopharmacologists, practitioners and investigators, and to stimulate young investigators interested in psychopharmacology. Third, ASCP hopes to establish liaisons with other related professional organizations, to develop constructive relationships with mental health advocacy groups and to advocate public policies which promote clinical research of psychiatric disorders and the delivery of high-quality patient care. For more information, please visit the ASCP website at https://www.ascpp.org/.
About Opiant Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
Opiant Pharmaceuticals, Inc. is a specialty pharmaceutical company developing pharmacological treatments for addictions. The National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), a component of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), describes these disorders as chronic relapsing brain diseases which burden society at both the individual and community levels. With its innovative opioid antagonist nasal delivery technology, Opiant is positioned to become a leader in these treatment markets. Opiant's first product, NARCAN® Nasal Spray, is exclusively licensed to Adapt Pharmaceuticals, and is approved for marketing in the U.S. and Canada. For more information please visit: www.opiant.com.
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LifeSci Advisors, LLC
Daniel@lifesciadvisors.com
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