Former NHL Champion Daniel Carcillo Joins BetterLife Pharma as Advisor to Advance Non-Hallucinogenic LSD Derivative for Brain Injury Treatment

BetterLife Pharma Inc. has announced the appointment of Daniel Carcillo as corporate advisor to advance the company's development of BETR-001, a proprietary non-hallucinogenic derivative of LSD targeting traumatic brain injury, cluster headache, and migraine treatment. Carcillo brings unique firsthand experience to this role, having been forced to retire from professional hockey at age 30 due to Post Concussion Syndrome after sustaining seven concussions during his NHL career. The former Chicago Blackhawks left winger, who won two Stanley Cups during his playing career, has become a prominent advocate for TBI survivors and individuals facing mental health challenges since his retirement in 2015.

Carcillo founded a non-profit organization assisting former NHL players suffering from post-concussion syndrome and mental health issues, and previously served as founder and CEO of Wesana Health, a life sciences company focused on psilocybin-based treatments for traumatic brain injuries. Carcillo stated that joining BetterLife represents the natural next step in his mission to help concussion survivors. He emphasized the potential of BETR-001 to provide psychedelic healing benefits without regulatory barriers, noting the medicine offers serotonergic benefits that people desperately need. Having personally experienced brain trauma, Carcillo expressed his belief in the power of such breakthroughs to give athletes, veterans, and anyone living with concussion-related challenges a genuine opportunity to heal and reclaim their lives.

Dr. Ahmad Doroudian, CEO of BetterLife, expressed excitement about Carcillo joining the advisory group, highlighting that his firsthand experience with TBI and passion for advancing treatments will provide invaluable guidance for the company's development efforts. BetterLife is focused on developing BETR-001 through its synthesis patent that eliminates regulatory hurdles, with pending composition and method of use patents covering treatment of various neurological disorders until approximately 2042. BETR-001 is currently in preclinical and IND-enabling studies as a non-hallucinogenic, non-controlled LSD derivative that can be self-administered due to its unregulated status.

The company's approach addresses significant treatment gaps for conditions like traumatic brain injury and severe headache disorders, potentially offering new therapeutic options where conventional treatments have shown limitations. For additional information about the company's developments, visit https://www.betterlifepharma.com. This appointment matters because it represents a convergence of pharmaceutical innovation with lived experience advocacy, potentially accelerating development of treatments for conditions affecting millions worldwide. The involvement of a high-profile concussion survivor like Carcillo brings crucial patient perspective to drug development while highlighting the urgent need for effective TBI treatments. BetterLife's regulatory strategy with BETR-001 could enable faster patient access compared to controlled psychedelic substances, addressing what Carcillo describes as desperate need for serotonergic benefits without hallucinogenic effects.

The implications extend beyond pharmaceutical development to broader conversations about athlete health, veteran care, and mental health treatment paradigms. Carcillo's transition from patient to advocate to industry advisor demonstrates how personal health journeys can inform medical innovation. BetterLife's patent protection until 2042 suggests long-term commitment to this therapeutic area, while the non-controlled status of BETR-001 could facilitate broader clinical adoption if proven effective. This development represents a significant step toward addressing the complex neurological consequences of brain injuries that conventional medicine has struggled to treat effectively.