Top 4 Companies Reinventing Cannabinoid Delivery


Ryan Allway

July 26th, 2017

News, Top News


Cannabinoids have demonstrated tremendous potential in treating many medical conditions, ranging from epilepsy to chronic pain. The problem is that many of these conditions rely on cannabinoids passing through the blood-brain barrier, while others require rapid absorption into the bloodstream. Conventional delivery systems are not ideally suited to achieve these goals, which has prompted many companies to develop alternatives.

In this article, we will look at four alternative delivery systems for cannabinoids and why investors may want to consider the companies behind them.

Oral Thin Films

Listerine® PocketPack® and other breath strips have become a popular way to kill bad breath germs in less than 30 seconds. It turns out that the same type of technology could help efficiently deliver cannabinoids into the bloodstream without the use of water.

CURE Pharmaceutical Corp. (OTCQB: CURR) is developing an oral thin film technology with faster onset and greater bioavailability than tablets and other conventional delivery systems. Using a micro-encapsulation process, the active ingredients are shielded by phospholipids and liposomes to deliver higher doses with better flavor masking. These active ingredients bypass the gastric system and are rapidly absorbed into the bloodstream for maximum effectiveness.

Since they’re simply placed the tongue to dissolve, oral thin films are ideally suited for children and elderly patients that may have trouble swallowing pills. They may also help improve compliance since they don’t require water and have improved flavor masking.

Chewing Gum

GlaxoSmithKline’s (NYSE: GSK) Nicorette® chewing gum has become the most popular nicotine replacement therapy in the world. But surprisingly, chewing gum hasn’t been used as a delivery mechanism for many other drugs despite its convenience and benefits.

AXIM Biotechnologies Inc. (OTCQB: AXIM) is developing chewing gum-based cannabinoid therapies targeting a wide range of medical conditions. The company’s most advanced program is CanChew Plus® for the treatment of irritable bowel syndrome (“IBS”), but it has similar programs targeting multiple sclerosis / pain spasticity, Parkinson’s disease, dementia, restless leg’s syndrome, opioid addiction, tobacco smoking cessation, and other conditions.

In addition to effectively delivering cannabinoids into the blood stream, chewing gum offers a controlled release via cellulose and may improve cerebral circulation, stimulate the basal ganglia, reduce stress, improve memory, and offer neuroprotective benefits.  

Lipid Encapsulation

The primary issue with tablets and other swallowed medicine is that they’re subject to so-called first pass metabolism. Compounding this problem, studies have shown that cannabinoids do not tolerate acidic environments like the stomach.

Lexaria Corp. (OTCQB: LXRP) is developing lipid encapsulation technologies designed to protect cannabinoids in acidic environments and maximize absorption. The company’s researchers processed a mixture of hemp oil, black tea, and select lipids to create a cannabinoid-infused tea that has resulted in as much as a 499% increase in intestinal tissue permeability for cannabidiol (“CBD”) over a concentration matched mixture of just CBD and water.

In addition to improved bioavailability, the company’s licensable technology platform has a rapid onset of just 15-20 minutes – compared to 60-120 minutes for conventional therapies – along with the elimination of undesirable tastes. The company has already signed several licensing agreements to commercialize the patented technology around the world. Lexaria is working with the Canadian federal government, through the National Research Council, on further research, development, and commercialization opportunities.

Sol-Gel Nasal Delivery

Soft gels have become a popular delivery mechanism since they are easy to administer, familiar to patients, and may contain a variety of different chemicals designed for slow-release and other features that improve the safety and efficacy profile of the active ingredients.

PreveCeutical Medical Inc.’s (CNSX: PREV) Sol-Gel technology encapsulates cannabinoids in a soluble form, while nanomicelles provide tissue permeation enhancing properties. Local tissue irritation is avoided as cannabinoids are in-solution and can be presented at lower doses. At the same time, Sol-Gels can remain in place for extended periods of time, which can reduce the administration times to once or twice weekly rather than daily.

 

The company has pioneered a novel process for preparing insoluble drug-containing nanomicelles and incorporating them into Sol-Gels in conjunction with the Parekh group at PACE-UQ. The team plans to file a provisional patent application around the single phase Sol-Gels for nasal delivery, which could vastly improve bioavailability relative to other therapeutics that are already on the market.

Looking Ahead

Cannabinoids have tremendous potential in addressing many medical conditions, but there are some unique challenges to their absorption. Fortunately, there are many companies working on improved delivery systems designed to increase bioavailability, reduce the onset time, and improve the taste profile and other convenience factors. Investors may want to take a look at these companies as potential investment opportunities in the space.

This article was published by CFN Enterprises Inc. (OTCQB: CNFN), owner and operator of CFN Media, the industry’s leading agency and digital financial media network dedicated to the burgeoning CBD and legal cannabis industries. Call +1 (833) 420-CNFN for more information.

About Ryan Allway

Mr. Allway has over a decade of experience in the financial markets as both a private investor and financial journalist. He has been actively involved in the cannabis industry since its inception, covering public and private companies.


Network Partners

Follow Us on Social Media

About CFN Media Group

CFN Enterprises Inc. (OTCQB: CNFN) owns and operates CFN Media Group, the premier agency and financial media network reaching executives, entrepreneurs and consumers worldwide. Through its proprietary content creation, video library, and distribution via www.CannabisFN.com, CFN has built an extensive database of cannabis interest, assisting many of the world’s largest cannabis firms and CBD brands to build awareness and thrive. For more information, please visit www.cfnenterprisesinc.com.

Disclaimer: Matters discussed on this website contain forward-looking statements that are subject to certain risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such statements. CFN Media Group, which owns CannabisFN, is not registered with any financial or securities regulatory authority and does not provide nor claims to provide investment advice or recommendations to readers of this release. CFN Media Group, which owns CannabisFN, may from time-to-time have a position in the securities mentioned herein and will increase or decrease such positions without notice. The Information contains forward-looking statements, i.e. statements or discussions that constitute predictions, expectations, beliefs, plans, estimates, or projections as indicated by such words as "expects", "will", "anticipates", and "estimates"; therefore, you should proceed with extreme caution in relying upon such statements and conduct a full investigation of the Information and the Profiled Issuer as well as any such forward-looking statements. Any forward looking statements we make in the Information are limited to the time period in which they are made, and we do not undertake to update forward looking statements that may change at any time; The Information is presented only as a brief "snapshot" of the Profiled Issuer and should only be used, at most, and if at all, as a starting point for you to conduct a thorough investigation of the Profiled Issuer and its securities and to consult your financial, legal or other adviser(s) and avail yourself of the filings and information that may be accessed at www.sec.gov, www.pinksheets.com, www.otcmarkets.com or other electronic sources, including: (a) reviewing SEC periodic reports (Forms 10-Q and 10-K), reports of material events (Form 8-K), insider reports (Forms 3, 4, 5 and Schedule 13D); (b) reviewing Information and Disclosure Statements and unaudited financial reports filed with the Pink Sheets or www.otcmarkets.com; (c) obtaining and reviewing publicly available information contained in commonlyknown search engines such as Google; and (d) consulting investment guides at www.sec.gov and www.finra.com. You should always be cognizant that the Profiled Issuers may not be current in their reporting obligations with the SEC and OTCMarkets and/or have negative signs at www.otcmarkets.com (See section below titled "Risks Related to the Profiled Issuers, which provides additional information pertaining thereto). For making specific investment decisions, readers should seek their own advice and that of their own professional advisers. CFN Media Group, which owns CannabisFN, may be compensated for its Services in the form of cash-based and/or equity-based compensation in the companies it writes about, or a combination of the two. For full disclosure, please visit: https://www.cannabisfn.com/legal-disclaimer/. A short time after we acquire the securities of the foregoing company, we may publish the (favorable) information about the issuer referenced above advising others, including you, to purchase; and while doing so, we may sell the securities we acquired. In addition, a third-party shareholder compensating us may sell his or her shares of the issuer while we are publishing favorable information about the issuer. Except for the historical information presented herein, matters discussed in this article contain forward-looking statements that are subject to certain risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such statements. CFN Media Group, which owns CannabisFN, is not registered with any financial or securities regulatory authority, and does not provide nor claims to provide investment advice or recommendations to readers of this release. CFN Media Group, which owns CannabisFN, may from time to time have a position in the securities mentioned herein and will increase or decrease such positions without notice. For making specific investment decisions, readers should seek their own advice and that of their own professional advisers. CFN Media Group, which owns CannabisFN, may be compensated for its Services in the form of cash-based and/or equity- based compensation in the companies it writes about, or a combination of the two. For full disclosure please visit: https://www.cannabisfn.com/legal-disclaimer/.

Copyright © Accelerize Inc. · All Rights Reserved · Privacy Policy · Legal Disclaimer

loading