{"success":true,"data":{"pressRelease":{"id":"131132","rtpr_id":"nNFC4gdNV9","ticker":"BETR","exchange":"","all_tickers":["BETR"],"title":"BetterLife Pharma Appoints Charles Duncan as Director and Chair of the Audit Committee","author":"Newsfile Corp","published_at":"2026-08-31T12:00:17.777Z","article_body":"Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - August 31, 2026) - BetterLife\nPharma Inc. (CSE: BETR) (OTCQB: BETRF) (FSE: NPAU) (\"BetterLife\" or the\n\"Company\"), an emerging biotechnology company developing BETR-001 for the\ntreatment of migraine and headache disorders, is pleased to announce the\nappointment of Charles Duncan, PhD as Director and Chair of the Audit\nCommittee.\n\nDr. Duncan is a biotechnology strategist, board director and former top-ranked\nWall Street biotechnology analyst with nearly 30 years of experience advising\ninvestors, management teams and boards across the biopharmaceutical industry.\nAs Managing Director, Head of Biotech Strategy & Development at Gilmartin\nGroup, he provides strategic advisory and investor engagement services to\npublic and private life sciences companies, leveraging expertise in corporate\nstrategy, capital markets, business development and investor communications.\nHe also serves on the Board of Directors of Vanda Pharmaceuticals.\n\nThroughout his distinguished career, Dr. Duncan has earned a reputation for\ncombining rigorous scientific expertise with capital markets insight to help\nbiotechnology companies create shareholder value. Over his Wall Street career,\nincluding as Managing Director and Senior Biotechnology Analyst at Cantor\nFitzgerald, Piper Jaffray and JMP Securities, he initiated research coverage\non more than 175 biotechnology companies, evaluated over 200 investment\nbanking transactions and served as senior vetting analyst on approximately 25\ninitial public offerings. His sector expertise spans neurology, psychiatry,\noncology and platform-enabled therapeutics, with particular recognition as a\nleading authority on neuro-innovator companies.\n\nA consistently top-ranked analyst, Dr. Duncan has received numerous industry\naccolades, including ranking among the top biotechnology analysts on TipRanks,\nThomson Reuters StarMine and the Financial Times for stock selection and\nearnings forecasting. Earlier in his career, he founded a venture-backed\nmedical device company, led pharmaceutical development programs and managed\nclinical and preclinical research.\n\n\"We are delighted to welcome Charles to our Board and particularly pleased\nthat he will serve as Chair of our Audit Committee,\" said Ahmad Doroudian,\nChief Executive Officer of BetterLife. \"Charles brings an exceptional\ncombination of scientific, biotechnology, capital markets and public-company\nexperience that will be highly valuable as we advance BETR-001 and continue to\nbuild our company. His deep understanding of the biopharmaceutical investment\ncommunity, combined with his experience working with management teams and\nboards, will provide important perspective as we execute our development\nstrategy and position the Company for long-term growth.\"\n\nDoug Drysdale, Executive Chairman of BetterLife, commented, \"BetterLife is\nvery pleased to have Charles join our Board. His nearly three decades of\nexperience across biotechnology, capital markets and corporate strategy make\nhim an outstanding addition to our Board and an excellent choice to lead our\nAudit Committee. Charles has a rare ability to evaluate biotechnology\ncompanies from both a scientific and investment perspective, and his\nexperience as a public-company director will further strengthen our governance\nand oversight. We look forward to benefiting from his judgment and expertise\nas the Company enters its next phase of development.\"\n\n\"I am excited to join the Board of BetterLife at an important stage in its\ndevelopment,\" said Dr. Duncan. \"BETR-001 represents an intriguing opportunity\nto address significant unmet needs in migraine and headache disorders, and I\nbelieve the Company has the potential to build meaningful value through\ndisciplined clinical development and thoughtful corporate strategy. I look\nforward to working closely with the Board and management team, contributing my\nexperience in biotechnology, capital markets and strategic development, and\nhelping the Company realize the full potential of its programs for patients\nand shareholders.\"\n\nDr. Duncan holds a Ph.D. in Pharmaceutical Sciences with a concentration in\nNeuropharmacology from the University of Colorado and has completed executive\neducation in audit committee governance at Harvard Business School.\n\nPursuant to the appointment of Dr. Duncan as Director and Chair of the Audit\nCommittee, the Company has agreed to grant Dr. Duncan stock options to\npurchase 500,000 common shares of BetterLife, with quarterly vesting over 24\nmonths and a ten (10) year term. A further 125,000 stock options, with ten\n(10) year term and vesting over 3 months, will also be granted to acknowledge\nthe strategic value of Dr. Duncan's role. Exercise prices for both stock\noptions will be in accordance with the policies of the Canadian Securities\nExchange.\n\nAbout BetterLife Pharma\n\nBetterLife Pharma Inc. is an emerging biotechnology company primarily focused\non developing and commercializing BETR-001 to treat various neurological\ndisorders. BETR-001, which is in preclinical and IND-enabling studies, is a\nnon-hallucinogenic and non-controlled LSD derivative in development and is\nunique in that it is unregulated and therefore can be self-administered.\nBetterLife's synthesis patent for BETR-001 eliminates regulatory hurdles and\nits pending patent, for composition and method of use, covers treatment of\nvarious neurological disorders, until around 2042. BetterLife also owns a drug\ncandidate for the treatment of viral infections and is in the process of\nseeking strategic alternatives for further development.\n\nFor further information, please visit BetterLife Pharma\n(https://api.newsfilecorp.com/redirect/zA0KWcyQ1M).\n\nContact\n\nAhmad Doroudian, Chief Executive Officer\nEmail: Ahmad.Doroudian@blifepharma.com\nPhone: 1-604-221-0595\n\nCautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements\n\nNo securities exchange has reviewed nor accepts responsibility for the\nadequacy or accuracy of the content of this news release. This news release\nmay contain forward-looking statements that are not historical facts.\nForward-looking statements are often identified by terms such as \"will\",\n\"may\", \"should\", \"anticipate\", \"expects\" and similar expressions. All\nstatements other than statements of historical fact, included in this release\nare forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. There can\nbe no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate and actual\nresults and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in\nsuch statements. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ\nmaterially from the Company's expectations include the failure to satisfy the\nconditions of the relevant securities exchange(s) and other risks detailed\nfrom time to time in the filings made by the Company with securities\nregulations. The reader is cautioned that assumptions used in the preparation\nof any forward-looking information may prove to be incorrect. Events or\ncircumstances may cause actual results to differ materially from those\npredicted, as a result of numerous known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and\nother factors, many of which are beyond the control of the Company. The reader\nis cautioned not to place undue reliance on any forward-looking information.\nSuch information, although considered reasonable by management at the time of\npreparation, may prove to be incorrect and actual results may differ\nmaterially from those anticipated. Forward-looking statements contained in\nthis news release are expressly qualified by this cautionary statement. The\nforward-looking statements contained in this news release are made as of the\ndate of this news release and the Company will update or revise publicly any\nof the included forward-looking statements as expressly required by applicable\nlaw.\n\n\nTo view the source version of this press release, please visit\nhttps://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/311653","article_body_html":"","raw_payload":{"data":{"id":"nNFC4gdNV9","title":"BetterLife Pharma Appoints Charles Duncan as Director and Chair of the Audit Committee","author":"Newsfile Corp","ticker":"BETR","created":"2026-08-31T12:00:17.777Z","tickers":["BETR"],"exchange":"","article_body":"Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - August 31, 2026) - BetterLife\nPharma Inc. (CSE: BETR) (OTCQB: BETRF) (FSE: NPAU) (\"BetterLife\" or the\n\"Company\"), an emerging biotechnology company developing BETR-001 for the\ntreatment of migraine and headache disorders, is pleased to announce the\nappointment of Charles Duncan, PhD as Director and Chair of the Audit\nCommittee.\n\nDr. Duncan is a biotechnology strategist, board director and former top-ranked\nWall Street biotechnology analyst with nearly 30 years of experience advising\ninvestors, management teams and boards across the biopharmaceutical industry.\nAs Managing Director, Head of Biotech Strategy & Development at Gilmartin\nGroup, he provides strategic advisory and investor engagement services to\npublic and private life sciences companies, leveraging expertise in corporate\nstrategy, capital markets, business development and investor communications.\nHe also serves on the Board of Directors of Vanda Pharmaceuticals.\n\nThroughout his distinguished career, Dr. Duncan has earned a reputation for\ncombining rigorous scientific expertise with capital markets insight to help\nbiotechnology companies create shareholder value. Over his Wall Street career,\nincluding as Managing Director and Senior Biotechnology Analyst at Cantor\nFitzgerald, Piper Jaffray and JMP Securities, he initiated research coverage\non more than 175 biotechnology companies, evaluated over 200 investment\nbanking transactions and served as senior vetting analyst on approximately 25\ninitial public offerings. His sector expertise spans neurology, psychiatry,\noncology and platform-enabled therapeutics, with particular recognition as a\nleading authority on neuro-innovator companies.\n\nA consistently top-ranked analyst, Dr. Duncan has received numerous industry\naccolades, including ranking among the top biotechnology analysts on TipRanks,\nThomson Reuters StarMine and the Financial Times for stock selection and\nearnings forecasting. Earlier in his career, he founded a venture-backed\nmedical device company, led pharmaceutical development programs and managed\nclinical and preclinical research.\n\n\"We are delighted to welcome Charles to our Board and particularly pleased\nthat he will serve as Chair of our Audit Committee,\" said Ahmad Doroudian,\nChief Executive Officer of BetterLife. \"Charles brings an exceptional\ncombination of scientific, biotechnology, capital markets and public-company\nexperience that will be highly valuable as we advance BETR-001 and continue to\nbuild our company. His deep understanding of the biopharmaceutical investment\ncommunity, combined with his experience working with management teams and\nboards, will provide important perspective as we execute our development\nstrategy and position the Company for long-term growth.\"\n\nDoug Drysdale, Executive Chairman of BetterLife, commented, \"BetterLife is\nvery pleased to have Charles join our Board. His nearly three decades of\nexperience across biotechnology, capital markets and corporate strategy make\nhim an outstanding addition to our Board and an excellent choice to lead our\nAudit Committee. Charles has a rare ability to evaluate biotechnology\ncompanies from both a scientific and investment perspective, and his\nexperience as a public-company director will further strengthen our governance\nand oversight. We look forward to benefiting from his judgment and expertise\nas the Company enters its next phase of development.\"\n\n\"I am excited to join the Board of BetterLife at an important stage in its\ndevelopment,\" said Dr. Duncan. \"BETR-001 represents an intriguing opportunity\nto address significant unmet needs in migraine and headache disorders, and I\nbelieve the Company has the potential to build meaningful value through\ndisciplined clinical development and thoughtful corporate strategy. I look\nforward to working closely with the Board and management team, contributing my\nexperience in biotechnology, capital markets and strategic development, and\nhelping the Company realize the full potential of its programs for patients\nand shareholders.\"\n\nDr. Duncan holds a Ph.D. in Pharmaceutical Sciences with a concentration in\nNeuropharmacology from the University of Colorado and has completed executive\neducation in audit committee governance at Harvard Business School.\n\nPursuant to the appointment of Dr. Duncan as Director and Chair of the Audit\nCommittee, the Company has agreed to grant Dr. Duncan stock options to\npurchase 500,000 common shares of BetterLife, with quarterly vesting over 24\nmonths and a ten (10) year term. A further 125,000 stock options, with ten\n(10) year term and vesting over 3 months, will also be granted to acknowledge\nthe strategic value of Dr. Duncan's role. Exercise prices for both stock\noptions will be in accordance with the policies of the Canadian Securities\nExchange.\n\nAbout BetterLife Pharma\n\nBetterLife Pharma Inc. is an emerging biotechnology company primarily focused\non developing and commercializing BETR-001 to treat various neurological\ndisorders. BETR-001, which is in preclinical and IND-enabling studies, is a\nnon-hallucinogenic and non-controlled LSD derivative in development and is\nunique in that it is unregulated and therefore can be self-administered.\nBetterLife's synthesis patent for BETR-001 eliminates regulatory hurdles and\nits pending patent, for composition and method of use, covers treatment of\nvarious neurological disorders, until around 2042. BetterLife also owns a drug\ncandidate for the treatment of viral infections and is in the process of\nseeking strategic alternatives for further development.\n\nFor further information, please visit BetterLife Pharma\n(https://api.newsfilecorp.com/redirect/zA0KWcyQ1M).\n\nContact\n\nAhmad Doroudian, Chief Executive Officer\nEmail: Ahmad.Doroudian@blifepharma.com\nPhone: 1-604-221-0595\n\nCautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements\n\nNo securities exchange has reviewed nor accepts responsibility for the\nadequacy or accuracy of the content of this news release. This news release\nmay contain forward-looking statements that are not historical facts.\nForward-looking statements are often identified by terms such as \"will\",\n\"may\", \"should\", \"anticipate\", \"expects\" and similar expressions. All\nstatements other than statements of historical fact, included in this release\nare forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. There can\nbe no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate and actual\nresults and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in\nsuch statements. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ\nmaterially from the Company's expectations include the failure to satisfy the\nconditions of the relevant securities exchange(s) and other risks detailed\nfrom time to time in the filings made by the Company with securities\nregulations. The reader is cautioned that assumptions used in the preparation\nof any forward-looking information may prove to be incorrect. Events or\ncircumstances may cause actual results to differ materially from those\npredicted, as a result of numerous known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and\nother factors, many of which are beyond the control of the Company. The reader\nis cautioned not to place undue reliance on any forward-looking information.\nSuch information, although considered reasonable by management at the time of\npreparation, may prove to be incorrect and actual results may differ\nmaterially from those anticipated. Forward-looking statements contained in\nthis news release are expressly qualified by this cautionary statement. The\nforward-looking statements contained in this news release are made as of the\ndate of this news release and the Company will update or revise publicly any\nof the included forward-looking statements as expressly required by applicable\nlaw.\n\n\nTo view the source version of this press release, please visit\nhttps://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/311653"},"type":"article","timestamp":"2026-08-31T12:00:17.880082599Z","server_sent_at_ms":1788177617880},"received_at":"2026-08-31T12:00:17.938Z","source_url":"https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/311653"},"analysis":{"id":"120040","press_release_id":"131132","analysis_json":{"industry":{"label":"Biotechnology","sector":"Health Care"},"redFlags":["125,000 stock options granted with immediate 3-month vesting period"],"eventType":"board_change","narrative":"BetterLife Pharma appointed Charles Duncan, PhD, as a Director and Chair of the Audit Committee, bringing nearly 30 years of experience as a Wall Street biotechnology analyst.\n\nThe company granted Dr. Duncan 625,000 stock options, with 500,000 vesting quarterly over 24 months and 125,000 vesting over three months.\n\nBetterLife is currently developing BETR-001, a non-hallucinogenic LSD derivative aimed at treating migraine and headache disorders.","sentiment":"bullish","agentHooks":{"shouldPost":false,"suggestedAngle":"Board addition brings Wall Street credibility to BETR-001 developer."},"keyFigures":{"customDimensions":{"option_term_years":10,"options_granted_3_month_vest":125000,"options_granted_24_month_vest":500000}},"quotedText":"Charles brings an exceptional combination of scientific, biotechnology, capital markets and public-company experience that will be highly valuable as we advance BETR-001 and continue to build our company.","namedEntities":{"people":[{"name":"Charles Duncan","role":"Director and Chair of the Audit Committee"},{"name":"Ahmad Doroudian","role":"Chief Executive Officer"},{"name":"Doug Drysdale","role":"Executive Chairman"}],"products":["BETR-001"],"companies":[{"name":"BetterLife Pharma Inc.","ticker":"BETR"},{"name":"Gilmartin Group","relationship":"employer of new director"},{"name":"Vanda Pharmaceuticals","relationship":"other board seat of new director"},{"name":"Cantor Fitzgerald","relationship":"former employer of new director"},{"name":"Piper Jaffray","relationship":"former employer of new director"},{"name":"JMP Securities","relationship":"former employer of new director"}],"dollarAmounts":[]},"materialImpact":{"score":2,"reasoning":"Appointment of a highly qualified director with Wall Street and capital markets experience enhances credibility and governance, but it is a routine corporate action with no immediate operational impact."},"tickerRelevance":{"others":[],"primary":"BETR"},"globalImportance":5,"audienceRelevance":10,"eventTypeSecondary":["insider_transaction"],"importanceComponents":{"tickerTier":"small-cap","eventGravity":"board_appointment"}},"event_type":"board_change","event_type_secondary":["insider_transaction"],"sentiment":"bullish","material_impact_score":2,"narrative":"BetterLife Pharma appointed Charles Duncan, PhD, as a Director and Chair of the Audit Committee, bringing nearly 30 years of experience as a Wall Street biotechnology analyst.\n\nThe company granted Dr. Duncan 625,000 stock options, with 500,000 vesting quarterly over 24 months and 125,000 vesting over three months.\n\nBetterLife is currently developing BETR-001, a non-hallucinogenic LSD derivative aimed at treating migraine and headache disorders.","key_figures":{"customDimensions":{"option_term_years":10,"options_granted_3_month_vest":125000,"options_granted_24_month_vest":500000}},"named_entities":{"people":[{"name":"Charles Duncan","role":"Director and Chair of the Audit Committee"},{"name":"Ahmad Doroudian","role":"Chief Executive Officer"},{"name":"Doug Drysdale","role":"Executive Chairman"}],"products":["BETR-001"],"companies":[{"name":"BetterLife Pharma Inc.","ticker":"BETR"},{"name":"Gilmartin Group","relationship":"employer of new director"},{"name":"Vanda Pharmaceuticals","relationship":"other board seat of new director"},{"name":"Cantor Fitzgerald","relationship":"former employer of new director"},{"name":"Piper Jaffray","relationship":"former employer of new director"},{"name":"JMP Securities","relationship":"former employer of new director"}],"dollarAmounts":[]},"model_name":"glm-4.7","prompt_hash":"sha256:727b4b9429a443af","schema_hash":"sha256:05005c02d9cffac9","created_at":"2026-08-31T12:59:35.661Z","global_importance":5,"audience_relevance":10,"importance_components":{"tickerTier":"small-cap","eventGravity":"board_appointment"}},"durationMs":null,"modelName":"glm-4.7"}}