VANCOUVER, British Columbia, Dec. 21, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) --
Optimi Health Corp. (CSE: OPTI) (OTCQB: OPTHF) (FRA: 8BN) (“Optimi” or the “Company”), developers of a vertically integrated mushroom brand targeting functional as well as novel psychedelic compounds focused on the health and wellness sector, is pleased to announce a facility inspection under the auspices of Health Canada has commenced concurrent with today’s announcement regarding the implementation and inauguration of an internal control department focused on Quality Assurance efforts aimed at ensuring GMP standards are fully integrated and maintained at all times, post facility certification and commissioning.
As previously noted (news release
Dec 7, 2021), the Princeton, BC mushroom facility has been purpose-built to meet globally recognized GMP standards as part of the Company’s aim to develop a world-class seed-to-sale research and commercial production facility designed to compete at the very highest level of product excellence.
Since December of 2020, the Company has invested over CAD$8.5 million in completing its state-of-the-art facilities in full compliance with Health Canada's Directives and all regional, provincial, and federal security, design and building standards. Optimi believes that the completion of the physical inspection by Health Canada, subject to any comments or concerns, paves the way for Dealers License certification early in the new year.
Alongside the installation of operational and laboratory research equipment and final exterior fittings, the Company is rapidly moving towards an operational posture including the commencement of human resource plans for phase one departmental activation. The first additions to the operations team comes with today’s announcement introducing the buildout of Optimi’s Quality Assurance department with the appointment of Department Head, Mr. Raphael Moxam and QA Manager, Farkhanda Saifullah Khowaja, Ph.D.
Quality Assurance in a controlled growing environment requires extensive knowledge of specialized agronomy as well as operational considerations such as (but not limited to), environmental considerations and monitoring systems (i.e.: ventilation, humidity), fertilizer, nutrient composition, product care & handling, facility cleanliness, pest control, irrigation, and related systems. The department will oversee both quality control (QC) and quality assurance (QA) and compliance with Health Canada’s QA guidelines pertaining to business, production, facility, security, storage, packaging, labeling as well as establishing and enforcing GAP, GMP, HACCP standards for the Mushroom program. The team will develop, update, audit and maintain Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) and Quality Manuals ensuring continuous compliance with regulations and our own commitment to pure, high-quality products.
The Company’s goal and ambition towards becoming the leading producer and supplier of GMP certified medicinal and psychedelic mushrooms strains starts with Quality Assurance and Mr Moxam and Ms. Khowaja have the necessary expertise to execute. Mr. Moxam previously served as the Senior Quality Assurance Officer at DSM-Dietary Nutritional Products (DNP) and Process Chemist II (Pharmaceutical-cGMP) at Apotex Pharmachem Inc. During this period, he worked as liaison with government regulatory bodies, and implemented safety and quality standards for products. In these roles, he was responsible for developing equipment qualification, process validation, Quality Systems including SOP, recall procedures, HACCPs, and quality assurance of raw materials and products, for pharmaceutical drugs and fish oil products. He is experienced in the development of effective preventative actions, optimizing production processes to decrease the chance of out-of-specifications conditions, trouble shoot out-of-specifications and production equipment monitoring failures, and reviewed and/or approved laboratory equipment qualifications and validated analytical test methods. Mr Moxam earned his B.Sc. Chemistry at McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario.
Ms. Khowaja previously served over 5 years at a Cannabis Cultivation Facility utilizing environmentally controlled automated systems with credentials approved by Health Canada for Quality Assurance Person (worked as Independent Contractor for responsibilities of QC/QA Supervisor, Production Manager, and leading R&D related activities). She gained hands-on knowledge of BioTrackTHC software, this comes under the category of ERP system for operational and business activities and keeping complete and auditable batch records from seed to sale. Ms. Khowaja has the proven ability to obtain security clearances. Ms. Khowaja earned her Ph.D. in Plant Molecular Genetics at the University of Aberdeen, U.K., M.Sc. in Plant Biotechnology, Wye College, University of London, U.K. and B.Sc. in Plant Breeding, Sindh Agriculture University, Tando Jam, Pakistan.
Optimi COO Bryan Safarik notes, “As we near facility completion and certification, the activity level on-site is shifting dramatically from construction to detailed preparations for commercial efforts to commence. To say it is exciting is such an understatement. Years of effort, millions of dollars and so much planning are materializing before our eyes. Even so, the real work is just about to begin. With this shift comes new attention to processes, procedures and policies that will form the basis for our future success. I’m delighted to have the opportunity to introduce our new Quality Assurance department and can’t wait to get started working with Raphael and Farkhanda. Their experience and attention to detail is developmentally critical to our ability to deliver the highest quality products in our sector. This is of extreme importance to us as we are 100% committed to delivering the finest all-natural products to our future customers.”
On Behalf of the Board of Directors,
Bill Ciprick
Chief Executive Officer
Optimi Health Corp.
ABOUT OPTIMI (CSE: OPTI) (OTCQB: OPTHF) (FRA: 8BN)
Optimi is developing a sophisticated mushroom brand that focuses on the health and wellness markets. With a vertically integrated approach, Optimi intends to cultivate, extract, process and distribute high quality functional mushroom products at its two facilities comprising a total of 20,000 square feet nearing completion in Princeton, British Columbia. To fully investigate the science of mushrooms, the Company has received a research exemption under Health Canada Food and Drug Regulations (FDR) for the use of Psilocybin and Psilocin for scientific purposes via its wholly owned subsidiary Optimi Labs Inc. Optimi has also applied for a dealer’s license under Canada’s Narcotic Control Regulations governing possession, distribution, sale, laboratory analysis of and research and development of Psilocybin and Psilocin formulations. Optimi is committed to expert cultivation and quality production subject to and in accordance with the terms of all applicable laws and governing regulations to ensure safe, superior Canadian fungi production. Find out more at:
https://optimihealth.ca/.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Investor Relations
Email:
investors@optimihealth.ca
Phone: +1 (778) 930-1321
Web:
https://optimihealth.ca/
FORWARD‐LOOKING STATEMENTS
This news release contains forward‐looking statements and forward‐looking information within the meaning of Canadian securities legislation (collectively, "forward‐looking statements") that relate to Optimi’s current expectations and views of future events. Any statements that express, or involve discussions as to, expectations, beliefs, plans, objectives, assumptions or future events or performance (often, but not always, through the use of words or phrases such as "will likely result," "are expected to," "expects," "will continue," "is anticipated," "anticipates," "believes," "estimated," "intends," "plans," "forecast," "projection," "strategy," "objective," and "outlook") are not historical facts and may be forward‐looking statements and may involve estimates, assumptions and uncertainties which could cause actual results or outcomes to differ materially from those expressed in such forward‐looking statements. No assurance can be given that these expectations will prove to be correct and such forward‐looking statements included in this news release should not be unduly relied upon. These statements speak only as of the date of this news release. In particular and without limitation, this news release contains forward‐ looking statements pertaining to the Company’s potential Nasdaq listing, the dealer’s license application, activities proposed to be conducted under the Company’s research exemption and associated business related to Psilocybin and Psilocin and Optimi’s plans, focus and objectives.
Forward‐looking statements are based on a number of assumptions and are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond Optimi’s control, which could cause actual results and events to differ materially from those that are disclosed in or implied by such forward‐looking statements. Such risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, the impact and progression of the COVID‐19 pandemic and other factors set forth under “Forward‐Looking Statements" and “Risk Factors” in the Company’s Final Prospectus dated February 12, 2021. Optimi undertakes no obligation to update or revise any forward‐looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as may be required by law. New factors emerge from time to time, and it is not possible for Optimi to predict all of them or assess the impact of each such factor or the extent to which any factor, or combination of factors, may cause results to differ materially from those contained in any forward‐looking statement. Any forward‐looking statements contained in this news release are expressly qualified in their entirety by this cautionary statement.
The CSE does not accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.
