NHL Alumni Association (NHLAA), NEEKA Health Canada ("NEEKA"),and CanaQuest Medical Corp. ("CanaQuest") announced a transformative study partnership that will investigate the efficacy of Mentanine® as a potential treatment to reduce anxiety in former NHL players. NEEKA will lead studies on Mentanine®, a natural cannabidiol and essential fatty acid product, to evaluate the efficacy of the formulation to reduce anxiety and increase quality of life.

The research will be conducted by NEEKA's extensive and expert clinical research team which has been formed by Dr. Amin Kassam, a world-renowned neurosurgeon, and Founder /Chief Executive Officer of NEEKA, and will be led by Dr. Hunter Land, Chief Scientific Officer of NEEKA. A substantial number of high-performing, former professional athletes have developed impairments as a result of mental and physical trauma that has resulted in overwhelming changes to their Quality of Life (QoL). The impairments can range from mood disorders, sleeping challenges, anxiety, and issues with social and work status, among many others.

In some cases, this leads to limitations in their ability to cope with their environment, a term NEEKA has defined as "functional disintegration". This study will undertake the rigorous science needed to establish the medicinal value of cannabinoids when combined with other proven interventions amongst this highly afflicted group of elite athletes and potentially improve their ability to interact with family, friends, and their communities. Dr. Amin Kassam has led four neurosurgery programs over two decades, has vast clinical experience, has published over 320 peer-reviewed articles, and is widely recognized as a true leader in technology developments that advance and define next generation patient care serves as the CEO of NEEKA.

NEEKA's clinical team will be led by the global thought leader in cannabinoid research, Dr. Hunter Land. Dr. Land, CSO of NEEKA, co-led the clinical development of Epidiolex (FDA approved prescription cannabidiol) for GW Pharma, has over 20 years of R&D expertise across 25 different indications, as well as over 12 years of cannabinoid-focused research.