(TheNewswire)
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To help reduce opioid reliance,misuse and abuse
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Improve mood and reduce risk ofdepression and related health disorders
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Help cancer patients live better withillness
Vancouver, British Columbia - TheNewswire - December 20, 2021 –Blackhawk Growth Corp. (CSE:BLR )(CNSX:BLR.CN) ( Frankfurt:0JJ) (the “ Corporation ” or “ Blackhawk ”), ispleased to announce that its wholly-owned subsidiary, Digital MindTechnology Pty Ltd. (“ DMT ” or “Digital Mind”) is progressingwith the technical scope for its Phase 1 clinical trial of amindfulness-based cancer related pain management intervention. Thisclinical trial is set to start in Q1/2022, is fully financed and willbe compliant with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA)protocol.
DMT’s Phase 1 clinical trial in cancer patients aimsto develop a mindfulness intervention that is useful in painmanagement. Pain, endured for any length of time unsustainably canresult in low mood and other mental health conditions. The mindfulnessintervention program will be designed to interrupt negative patternsof thoughts and behaviours that can lead to depression and otherrelated mental health disorders.
Chronic pain is experienced by over 20% of the U.S.population, according to the U.S. National Health Interview Surveyconducted by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) andthere is a high risk of opioid over-use and abuse in patientsexperiencing pain. This problem is exacerbated in cancer patients whoare often undertaking concurrent cancer therapies such as chemotherapyand ingesting opioids to manage pain with pain being one of the mostcommon symptoms reported by nearly 70% of cancer patients. 1 Moreover,around 24% of people diagnosed with cancer are also diagnosed withdepression. 2 Cancer pain remains a challenging symptom occurring longafter treatment completion, with a prevalence of 20-50% in cancersurvivors. 3
Dr. Russell’s leading research in cancer patients,developing mindfulness-based practices, aims to help people livebetter with their illness. DMT’s Phase 1 clinical trial is alsovery complementary with MindBio Therapeutics’ Phase 2 psychedelicsmicro-dose trial for assisting patients with mental health conditionsas a result of late stage cancer.
“Current treatments for managing chronic pain cancause opioid addiction problems and generally have a high side effectrisk profile” says Dr. Lahiru Russell, Founder of DigitalMind. “In cancer patients, we often see health problems emergingrelated to medication overuse and the effects of enduring pain onmood. The aim of these clinical trials is to create anintervention accessible to patients on their own digital devices tohelp them cope with pain while managing their mental health andwellbeing.”
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Van Den Beuken-Van MH, Hochstenbach LM, Joosten EA,Tjan-Heijnen VC, Janssen DJ. Update on prevalence of pain inpatients with cancer: systematic review and meta-analysis. Journal of pain and symptom management. 2016;51(6):1070-1090. e1079.
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Naser AY, Hameed AN, Mustafa N, et al. Depression and Anxiety inPatients With Cancer: A Cross-Sectional Study. Frontiers in Psychology. 2021;12(1067).
Pitman A, Suleman S, Hyde N, Hodgkiss A. Depression and anxiety inpatients with cancer. BMJ. 2018;361:k1415.
Hartung TJ, Brähler E, Faller H, et al. The risk of being depressedis significantly higher in cancer patients than in the generalpopulation: Prevalence and severity of depressive symptoms acrossmajor cancer types. European Journalof Cancer. 2017;72:46-53.
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Gallaway MS, Townsend JS, Shelby D, Puckett MC. Peer Reviewed: PainAmong Cancer Survivors. PreventingChronic Disease. 2020;17.
About Digital Mind Technology PtyLtd
Digital Mind is a clinical trial stage companydeveloping digital interventions to treat mental health conditions.It successfully completed a pilot randomized controlled trial with 69patients of an on-line mindfulness-based program for people diagnosedwith melanoma. Digital Mind’s clinical trial protocol was developedby leading scientist Dr. Russell at a major Australianuniversity.
Digital Mind is also working to develop digitalplatforms (mobile, smart watch and Web) that provides clinicallyproven mindfulness-based digital programs to help patients to dealwith pain. These clinical programs have the potential to be providedto patients via health professionals in a clinical setting.
Digital intervention technologies are one of thefastest growth areas in the treatment and prevention of mental healthconditions. Financing for technology companies that are developingapplications to treat behavioural, mental and brain health exceeded$5.3-billion (U.S.) to Q3 in 2021.
About Blackhawk Growth
Blackhawk is an investment holding company looking tocreate substantial value for its shareholders through the acquisitionand development of high growth companies. It has focused itsinvestments in the health, cannabis and cannabidiol industries in bothCanada and the United States. Its portfolio of companies includes SacPharma, TripPharma, LeichtMind Clinics, Noble Hemp, Spaced Food,NuWave Foods, MindBio Therapeutics, Digital Mind Technology Pty Ltd. as well as an equity position in Gaia Grow Corp (CSE:GAIA).
The Company diligently posts updates through videosfrom the official company YouTube channel https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCs4f2tt3yAvOGhNLjgNOy-A
Please join the conversation on our Blackhawk groupsupporter’s telegram group at https://t.me/Blackhawkgrowthcorp and visit us online at https://www.blackhawkgrowth.com .
For further information please contact:
Frederick Pels, Chief ExecutiveOfficer
(403)-991-7737
Cautionary NoteRegarding Forward-Looking Statement
All statements in this pressrelease, other than statements of historical fact, are “forward-looking information”with respect to the Company within the meaning of applicablesecurities laws, including with respect to transaction and futureoperations of Digital Mind Technology Pty Ltd. The Company providesforward-looking statements for the purpose of conveying informationabout current expectations and plans relating to the future andreaders are cautioned that such statements may not be appropriate forother purposes. By its nature, this information is subject to inherentrisks and uncertainties that may be general or specific and which giverise to the possibility that expectations, forecasts, predictions,projections or conclusions will not prove to be accurate, thatassumptions may not be correct and that objectives, strategic goalsand priorities will not be achieved. These risks and uncertaintiesinclude but are not limited those identified and reported in theCompany’s public filings under the Company’s SEDAR profile atwww.sedar.com. Although the Company has attempted to identifyimportant factors that could cause actual actions, events or resultsto differ materially from those described in forward-lookinginformation, there may be other factors that cause actions, events orresults not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. There can beno assurance that such information will prove to be accurate as actualresults and future events could differ materially from thoseanticipated in such statements. The Company disclaims any intention orobligation to update or revise any forward-looking information,whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwiseunless required by law.
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