VistaGen Therapeutics Expands R&D Team with Appointment of Louis Monti, M.D., Ph.D., Pioneer in the Development of Neuroactive Steroids known as Pherines as Potential Treatments for Anxiety and Depression Disorders, as V

VistaGen Therapeutics Expands R&D Team with Appointment of

Louis Monti, M.D., Ph.D., Pioneer in the Development of Neuroactive

Steroids known as Pherines as Potential Treatments for Anxiety and

Depression Disorders, as Vice President, Translational

Dr. Monti developed the innovative scientific platform that enabled

the early research and development of VistaGen's PH94B and

PH10, intranasal neuroactive steroid drug candidates (pherines)

with potential for the rapid-onset treatment of anxiety and

depression disorders, respectively

SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO, Calif., December 1, 2020 VistaGen Therapeutics (NASDAQ: VTGN), a biopharmaceutical

company committed to developing a new generation of medicines with

the potential to go beyond the current standard of care for

anxiety, depression and other central nervous system (CNS)

disorders, today announced that Louis Monti, M.D., Ph.D., a

the research and development of neuroactive steroids known as

pherines, including VistaGen's intranasal drug

candidates PH94B for anxiety disorders

depression disorders,

has joined the Company as Vice President, Translational

have had the pleasure of working closely with Dr. Monti in a

consultative capacity since 2018 to complement our efforts to

develop PH94B and PH10 to improve the lives of millions of people

worldwide who suffer from anxiety and depression disorders every

Shawn K. Singh, Chief Executive Officer of VistaGen. As we

approach several potentially significant milestones for these

differentiated neuropsychiatric drug candidates in 2021 and beyond,

Dr. Monti's unique knowledge, expertise, and insight about

their potential, as well as potential opportunities for further

expansion of our CNS pipeline, will be valuable. We are excited

that he has now joined us as a full-time member of our R&D

Monti commented, Driving research of neuroactive pherines to

develop innovative medicines with the potential to lift the burdens

of anxiety and depression has been a passion throughout my career.

I am truly pleased to join a team that shares that sense of

commitment and purpose. I am excited that my new role at VistaGen

will allow me both to continue to assist with the late-stage

clinical development of PH94B and PH10 and apply my R&D

experience working with neuroactive steroids to explore potential

pipeline expansion opportunities.

Monti has served as President and CEO of Pherin Pharmaceuticals

since July 2018. He previously served as its Executive Vice

President between 2002 and 2018 and as its Vice President of

Research from its founding in 1991 to 2002. Prior to joining

Pherin, Dr. Monti held various academic positions at the University

of Utah and the University of the Republic, Uruguay. He earned an

M.D. from the University of the Republic, Uruguay School of

Medicine, and a Ph.D. in Physiology and Pharmacology from the

University of Utah. Dr. Monti holds memberships in the New York

Academy of Sciences, the American Society of Clinical

Psychopharmacology, and the International Brain

is an innovative odorless investigational synthetic neuroactive

steroid nasal spray with therapeutic potential in multiple mental

health disorders involving anxiety or phobia and is designed to

have rapid onset. Self-administered in microgram-level doses, in

Phase 2 studies for the treatment of social anxiety disorder (SAD),

PH94B produced rapid-onset (within approximately 15 minutes)

anti-anxiety effects without sedation or systemic uptake and

is currently preparing PH94B for Phase 3 development as a potential

acute treatment of anxiety in adults with SAD. The FDA has granted

Fast Track designation for the development of PH94B for this

rapid-onset pharmacology and favorable safety results seen in all

clinical studies to date, we believe PH94B has the potential to

provide an innovative treatment alternative to benzodiazepines and

other pharmacological alternatives in the acute drug treatment

paradigm for SAD, as well as others anxiety disorders.

PH10 is an innovative odorless investigational synthetic

neuroactive nasal spray designed to have rapid onset and

therapeutic potential in several neuropsychiatric indications

involving depression and suicidal ideation. Following successfully

completed exploratory Phase 2A clinical development, VistaGen is

preparing for Phase 2B clinical development of PH10 as a potential

stand-alone, rapid-onset treatment for major depressive disorder

VistaGen Therapeutics, Inc. is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical

company committed to developing and commercializing innovative

medicines with the potential to go beyond the current standard of

care for anxiety, depression, and other CNS disorders. Each of

VistaGen's three drug candidates has a differentiated potential

mechanism of action, has been well-tolerated in all clinical

studies to date, and has therapeutic potential in multiple CNS

markets. For more information, please visit www.vistagen.com and

connect with VistaGen on Twitter, LinkedIn and

Forward Looking Statements

Various statements in this release are "forward-looking statements"

concerning VistaGen's future expectations, plans and prospects,

including the potential for successful clinical development and

commercialization of PH94B for anxiety disorders and PH10 for

depression disorders. These forward-looking statements are neither

promises nor guarantees of future performance, and are subject to a

variety of risks and uncertainties which could cause actual results

to differ materially from those contemplated in these

forward-looking statements, including the risks that: development

and approval of PH94B and PH10 may not be achieved in any market;

the FDA may decide that the results of the Company's PH94B and PH10

clinical programs are not sufficient for regulatory approval for

acute treatment of anxiety in adult patients with SAD or MDD,

respectively, or any other anxiety- or depression-related disorder;

development of PH94B and PH10 may not be successful in any

indication; success in nonclinical studies or in earlier-stage

clinical trials may not be repeated or observed in future studies,

which may not support further development or be sufficient to gain