Winlo joins Emerald Clinics

Medicinal cannabis research company Emerald Clinics has boosted its management team with the appointment of Michael Winlo as chief executive, ahead of an expected IPO later this year.

Mr Winlo was previously CEO of Perth-based Linear Clinical Research, overseeing clinical trials for biotech companies in the US and Asia.

Prior to that, he was co-founder and chief executive of Cerulean Medical before joining US-based software developer Palantir Technologies in 2012 as a business cultivation engineer.

Mr Winlo told Business News joining Emerald Clinics was an opportunity to merge his interests in data-driven medicine and clinical trials.

“The model here is unique, where data capture is held paramount to build real world evidence to guide clinical evidence for cannabinoid medicines,” he said.

Currently, there exists limited clinical-based evidence for the efficacy of medicinal cannabis and cannabis-based medicines.

Mr Winlo said Emerald Clinics' model was unique, stressing that the business was not a cannabis grower, producer or provider, but instead a clinical research company aiming to guide broader understanding of cannabis’ medical efficacy.

“Clinical trials can be highly contrived … and sometimes the outcomes don’t always map to the real world,” said Mr Winlo.

“There’s an emerging interest from regulators around the globe to collect real world evidence and actually evaluate that data for signs of benefit.

“That’s an opportunity that I think is attractive and compelling.”

Mr Winlo will continue to hold a non-executive directorship with Linear Clinical Research.

Emerald Clinics was incorporated in 2018, with Stewart Washer serving as chair and Botanix Pharmaceuticals' Matt Callahan as an executive director.

The business successfully completed a $2.5 million capital raise in February supported by Canopy Growth Corporation, Cann Group Limited and US-based investor CB1 Capital, after having completed a $3 million capital raise the year prior.

Emerald Clinics has stated its intention to list on the ASX before the end of this year.