CannabisNewsWire
Editorial Coverage: The tremendous growth of the licensed
cannabis market has naturally led to an increase in research in
this area. A number of specialist biotech companies have emerged,
creating innovative cannabinoid applications. Lexaria
Bioscience Corp. (CSE: LXX) (OTCQX: LXRP) (LXRP
Profile) has developed technology to improve the
palatability and speed of absorption of cannabinoid therapeutics,
leading to a range of licensed products and related patents. Plant
biotechnology company 22nd Century Group, Inc. (NYSE
American: XXII) is altering the level of active
ingredients in both cannabis and tobacco, allowing new strains to
be grown for medical and other purposes. GW Pharmaceuticals
plc (NASDAQ: GWPH) has developed
extensive expertise in research, regulatory allowances and
manufacturing, creating a pipeline of products for illnesses
including epilepsy and multiple sclerosis. INSYS
Therapeutics, Inc. (NASDAQ: INSY) is creating drugs for
previously unmet patient needs, researching novel systems to
deliver active ingredients as effectively as possible. Even rare
illnesses are being addressed by this research boom, with
Zynerba Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NASDAQ: ZYNE)
focusing on neurological disorders, including fragile X syndrome
and Tourette’s syndrome.
The Importance of Cannabis Biotech
As the cannabis market grows, biotechnology is taking an
increasingly important place in that market.
From a position of almost global illegality 20 years ago,
cannabis is evolving into a multibillion-dollar legal industry.
Shifting social attitudes have led to the legalization of licensed
medical cannabis in more than half of the United States and in many
other countries around the world. A handful of countries are also
now moving to legalize the recreational use of cannabis,
accelerating the growth of the industry. Because of these changes,
much of the public’s attention has been on social and legal
developments.
This focus ignores the groundbreaking work emerging from
cannabis research and design departments. Biotechnology has become
a crucial part of the cannabis market as researchers explore new
applications for the plant’s active ingredients and new ways of
delivering drugs derived from them. This has led to exciting
efforts in tackling opioid addiction, helping brains age more
healthily and managing the symptoms of Parkinson’s disease, just to
name a few. The medical application of cannabis is becoming more
sophisticated, and the cannabis biotech sector is growing in both
power and profitability.
Business-to-Business Biotech
Lexaria
Bioscience Corp. (CSE: LXX) (OTCQX: LXRP) has taken an
important place in this part of the market.
Lexaria is a research-driven company whose work focuses on
improved drug delivery systems. This expertise started with
DehydraTECH™, a technology that has been proven both in the
laboratory and the market to improve the consumption of beneficial
compounds.
Many of these compounds are lipophilic, meaning they are fat
soluble. They taste and smell unpleasant, are poorly absorbed by
the body, and are vulnerable to being broken down by the stomach
and metabolized away by the liver. This leads to poor
bioavailability, or how much of the compound the body can use.
Smoking, vaping and added chemicals have all been used to try to
alleviate this, but DehydraTECH offers a different solution. The
lipophilic compound is combined with fatty acids in a process that
makes it nearly odorless and tasteless while protecting it from
hostile stomach conditions to increase both its speed of delivery
to appropriate biological systems and rate of absorption.
This technology can also be applied to vitamins, supplements,
nicotine and pharmaceuticals. And it is particularly applicable for
both cannabis and tobacco-derived drugs because it allows patients
to benefit from the active ingredients without having to smoke,
thereby reducing harmful side effects from smoking. By increasing
the efficacy of drugs, the technology also reduces quantities
needed, cutting costs and minimizing drug-related side effects.
Lexaria has focused on licensing out its technology utilizing a
business model similar to that used by software companies. Through
licensing agreements with companies in Canada, the United States
and beyond, Lexaria’s technology could benefit patients around the
world. Meanwhile, the company itself can stay focused on
biotechnology research without the burden of expensive commercial
operations.
Piling Up the Patents
The result is a company that has developed a significant volume
of intellectual property in its short history — and that volume
continues to grow. Currently Lexaria has 15 patent applications
filed in the United States and over 30 pending in more than 40
countries, plus two patents granted for cannabinoid delivery in the
United States and one granted in Australia. With researchers
continuing to refine the DehydraTECH system, the patents keep
piling up.
In March the company received a Notice of Allowance from the
United States Patent and Trademark Office relating to substances
that improve the taste and absorption of cannabinoids (http://cnw.fm/A14bT). This is expected to lead to the
granting of yet another U.S. patent soon to add more protected
commercial values for Lexaria’s partnered companies.
The company is also exploring the use of DehydraTECH in the
absorption of drugs through the skin. Lexaria has recently filed a
new patent to improve the speed and quantity of absorption for
transdermal applications (http://cnw.fm/4sYzF). A recent breakthrough in testing
discovered that DehydraTECH can double the transdermal absorption
of cannabidiol compared with leading commercial alternatives. This
will allow the company to newly license its technology to create
improved patches, creams, cosmetics and more.
In addition, the company’s work has been enhanced through an
R&D agreement with the Canadian government’s National Research
Council. This agreement is expected to result in a better
understanding of how Lexaria’s technology works, leading to more
agreements with other businesses.
It is ironic that this technology was developed for the cannabis
industry but has already received patent protection for many other
commonly used drugs. Anti-inflammatory drugs, vitamins and nicotine
could all be deployed using Lexaria’s disruptive technology.
Supplements, pain relief and smoking-cessation or
smoking-alternative nicotine products are all possible as a result
of Lexaria’s research. To this end, the company recently commenced
a study into nicotine absorption (http://cnw.fm/DLo69). Who would have thought that
cannabis research might lead to broader biotechnology applications
that could benefit non-cannabis consumers?
Immediate Benefits
Cannabis is a fast-growing sector; moving quickly to develop and
deploy new technology is important. Every year sees new areas of
the world opening up to licensed cannabis use, as well as new
products being commercialized to make the most of this market.
Companies are rushing to develop the products that will fill this
developing market.
The sooner these products can be patented, the sooner they can
be brought to market, and Lexaria may again have a distinct
first-mover advantage in this area. With patents filed and
backdated to 2014 for a range of related technologies in dozens of
different jurisdictions, the company may soon be able to
commercialize its systems around the globe. Lexaria’s IP is
steadily increasing, covering more effective bio-delivery of
medical cannabis, recreational cannabis and over-the-counter pain
remedies such as aspirin and ibuprofen. Through licensing to
partner companies, Lexaria may soon be using this technology to
drive value and prove the advantage of its systems worldwide.
The Broader Picture of Cannabis Biotech
Of course, Lexaria isn’t the only company applying biotechnology
to cannabis in a search for new products. A wide range of research
is leading to a diverse range of innovations set to disrupt this
exciting sector.
Plant biotech company 22nd Century Group (NYSE American:
XXII) is focused on changing the chemical composition of
plant strains. Initially working on tobacco, the company has
developed plants that have both very low and very high levels of
nicotine. This broad range can be used to help smokers quit or
reduce harm to those still smoking. Through its Botanical Genetics
subsidiary, 22nd Century Group is turning its attention to
controlling the level of active ingredients in cannabis. This has
potential not only to create more effective medicines but also to
support industrial hemp growth by removing active ingredients so
that the plant can more easily be farmed for fibers and food.
Based in the United States and the United Kingdom, GW
Pharmaceuticals plc (NASDAQ: GWPH) is a developer of
cannabinoid-based medicines. Twenty years of work have given the
company extensive expertise in research, regulations and
manufacturing, allowing it to manage the whole pipeline, from
research inspiration to a complete product. Its medicines are used
in tackling the symptoms of epilepsy and multiple sclerosis, with
more in the research pipeline.
Like Lexaria, INSYS Therapeutics (NASDAQ:
INSY) is focused on producing new cannabinoid
medicines and delivery systems to make better use of the drugs. The
company is also studying how to use the newly unleashed potential
of cannabis to create drugs for previously unmet patient needs. New
drugs developed by the company’s researchers may help medical
professionals support patients who previously lacked effective
treatment. Drugs in the pipeline include an oral treatment for
treating spasms in children.
Zynerba Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ:
ZYNE) is developing cannabis-based treatments for
rare and near-rare neurological disorders. The company is working
on transdermal drugs to help patients suffering from fragile X
syndrome, certain forms of epilepsy and Tourette’s syndrome.
Cannabis biotech efforts are unleashing a range of new
treatments. As more is discovered about the cannabis plant’s
potential, treatments for a range of previously hard-to-manage
conditions are being found along with better options for widespread
illnesses. In providing innovative solutions and new products, the
sector is growing in sophistication and strength.
For more information on Lexaria, please visit
Lexaria
Bioscience Corp. (CSE: LXX) (OTCQX: LXRP).
About CannabisNewsWire
CannabisNewsWire (CNW) is an information service that provides
(1) access to our news aggregation and syndication servers, (2)
CannabisNewsBreaks that summarize corporate news and
information, (3) enhanced press release services, (4) social media
distribution and optimization services, and (5) a full array of
corporate communication solutions. As a multifaceted financial news
and content distribution company with an extensive team of
contributing journalists and writers, CNW is uniquely positioned to
best serve private and public companies that desire to reach a wide
audience of investors, consumers, journalists and the general
public. CNW has an ever-growing distribution network of more than
5,000 key syndication outlets across the country. By cutting
through the overload of information in today’s market, CNW brings
its clients unparalleled visibility, recognition and brand
awareness. CNW is where news, content and information converge.
Receive Text Alerts
from CannabisNewsWire: Text "Cannabis" to
21000
For more information please visit https://www.CannabisNewsWire.com and or https://CannabisNewsWire.News
Please see full terms of use and disclaimers on the
CannabisNewsWire website applicable to all content provided by CNW,
wherever published or re-published: http://CNW.fm/Disclaimer
CannabisNewsWire (CNW)
Denver, Colorado
www.CannabisNewsWire.com
303.498.7722 Office
Editor@CannabisNewsWire.net
DISCLAIMER: CannabisNewsWire (CNW) is the source of the Article
and content set forth above. References to any issuer other than
the profiled issuer are intended solely to identify industry
participants and do not constitute an endorsement of any issuer and
do not constitute a comparison to the profiled issuer. The
commentary, views and opinions expressed in this release by CNW are
solely those of CNW. Readers of this Article and content agree that
they cannot and will not seek to hold liable CNW for any investment
decisions by their readers or subscribers. CNW is a news
dissemination and financial marketing solutions provider and is NOT
registered broker-dealers/analysts/investment advisers, hold no
investment licenses and may NOT sell, offer to sell or offer to buy
any security.
The Article and content related to the profiled company
represent the personal and subjective views of the Author, and are
subject to change at any time without notice. The information
provided in the Article and the content has been obtained from
sources which the Author believes to be reliable. However, the
Author has not independently verified or otherwise investigated all
such information. None of the Author, CNW, or any of their
respective affiliates, guarantee the accuracy or completeness of
any such information. This Article and content are not, and should
not be regarded as investment advice or as a recommendation
regarding any particular security or course of action; readers are
strongly urged to speak with their own investment advisor and
review all of the profiled issuer’s filings made with the
Securities and Exchange Commission before making any investment
decisions and should understand the risks associated with an
investment in the profiled issuer’s securities, including, but not
limited to, the complete loss of your investment.
CNW HOLDS NO SHARES OF ANY COMPANY NAMED IN THIS RELEASE.
This release contains “forward-looking statements” within the
meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended,
and Section 21E the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended and
such forward-looking statements are made pursuant to the safe
harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act
of 1995. “Forward-looking statements” describe future expectations,
plans, results, or strategies and are generally preceded by words
such as “may”, “future”, “plan” or “planned”, “will” or “should”,
“expected,” “anticipates”, “draft”, “eventually” or “projected”.
You are cautioned that such statements are subject to a multitude
of risks and uncertainties that could cause future circumstances,
events, or results to differ materially from those projected in the
forward-looking statements, including the risks that actual results
may differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking
statements as a result of various factors, and other risks
identified in a company’s annual report on Form 10-K or 10-KSB and
other filings made by such company with the Securities and Exchange
Commission. You should consider these factors in evaluating the
forward-looking statements included herein, and not place undue
reliance on such statements. The forward-looking statements in this
release are made as of the date hereof and CNW undertakes no
obligation to update such statements.
Source:
CannabisNewsWire
Contact:
CannabisNewsWire (CNW)
Denver, Colorado
www.CannabisNewsWire.com
303.498.7722 Office
Editor@CannabisNewsWire.net