Optimi Health Appoints Dr. Michael Blough as Chief Clinical Development Officer

Supports Optimi’s planned Phase 2 psilocybin trial in major depressive disorder and Phase 3 MDMA trial in PTSD

VANCOUVER, British Columbia, Sept. 22, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Optimi Health Corp. (NASDAQ: OPTH) (CSE: OPTI) (FSE: 8BN) (“ Optimi ” or the “ Company “), a commercial-stage pharmaceutical manufacturer of regulated psychedelic drug products, today announced the appointment of Michael Blough, Ph.D., as Chief Clinical Development Officer.

Dr. Blough has significant experience leading Health Canada-authorized clinical trials and has worked with Optimi on clinical trial applications since 2022. In this newly created position, he will oversee Optimi’s clinical development strategy and related operations. This includes the Company’s planned Phase 2 clinical trial evaluating naturally derived psilocybin-assisted psychotherapy to treat patients with major depressive disorder and the Phase 3 clinical trial evaluating MDMA-assisted psychotherapy for the treatment of PTSD. Dr. Blough will be responsible for protocol execution, site activation, Health Canada interactions, and the datasets the Company intends to use to support registration of its drug products.

“Michael brings to Optimi a valuable combination of clinical trial expertise in psychedelics, a strong working relationship with Health Canada, and a commitment to scientific rigor at a pivotal moment for our Company. His experience running psychedelic trials in Canada, combined with years of collaborating with our team, positions him well to advance our Phase 2 psilocybin trial in major depressive disorder and our Phase 3 MDMA trial in PTSD,” said Dane Stevens, Optimi Chief Executive Officer and Co-Founder. “With both trials expected to begin enrolling patients next year, this timely appointment strengthens our ability to generate the data to bring these treatments to the underserved patient populations who need them most.”

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Dr. Blough is a medical researcher with more than 20 years of experience directing research programs spanning bench science, pre-clinical studies, and clinical trials. His work has included leading the development and Health Canada authorization of multiple clinical trials evaluating psilocybin and MDMA for mental health conditions including post-traumatic stress disorder and treatment-resistant depression. Before moving into psychedelic medicine, he spent 15 years in brain cancer research, publishing over 30 peer-reviewed papers on glioblastoma and the molecular mechanisms of therapeutic response, as well as leading a seven-year national initiative funded by the Terry Fox Research Institute to identify new treatments for the disease.

“Working closely with the Optimi team, I’ve seen firsthand the quality and care they bring to psychedelic drug manufacturing and clinical development. Joining as Chief Clinical Development Officer lets me bring my experience in protocol design, regulatory approval, and trial management to two of the most important studies in our field right now.