Dramatically Improved Delivery Systems Promise More Effective Cannabis Treatments

DENVER, June 11, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- Experiments with next-generation delivery systems appear certain to lead to better cannabis-based products.

Lexaria Bioscience Corp. (CSE:LXX) (OTCQX::LXRP) (LXRP Profile) has recently seen spectacular improvements in the effectiveness of cannabinoids thanks to its proprietary chemical delivery treatment. GW Pharmaceuticals Plc (NASDAQ:GWPH) (OTC:GWPRF), which has won widespread praise for its innovative medical work, has seen good trial results for a new treatment for seizures. Tilray Inc. (NASDAQ:TLRY) is supporting studies into the uses of cannabinoids to treat behavioral problems and HIV. MariMed Inc. (OTCQB:MRMD) has set up a subsidiary focused on CBD, currently the highest-profile cannabinoid product. Cronos Group Inc. (NASDAQ:CRON) (TSX:CRON) has established a new research lab to develop devices for CBD consumption.

• Currently, cannabis medicines are poorly absorbed by the body.
• Delivery challenges increase costs and reduce effectiveness.
• Select companies are working on better delivery systems.
• Others are working on new medicines so that cannabinoids can improve more lives.

To view an infographic of this editorial, click here.

The Cannabinoid Waste Conundrum

The popularity of cannabinoid products — those containing active ingredients from cannabis — has created a challenge for producers. While these producers are extracting larger volumes of CBD from cannabis and hemp, much of the precious ingredient goes to waste: the human body only absorbs a small fraction of these molecules because of delivery system limitations and human physiology.

This delivery challenge causes several problems. Manufacturers must comply with regulations limiting the amount of active cannabinoid ingredients, but consumers may not be able to obtain the effect or benefit they are seeking, even when needed to overcome serious medical conditions. People could end up consuming more cannabis than they would otherwise, which is both expensive and ill-advised. And in an age when the waste of human society is ravaging the environment, it means that the cannabis industry may also be doing unneeded damage to the environment.  

But thanks to the fast pace of cannabis research, a solution may be on the horizon.

Improving the Delivery of Cannabinoids

Across the industry, researchers are looking for ways to more effectively deliver CBD into the human body. Thanks to their latest breakthroughs, the scientists at Lexaria Bioscience Corp. (CSE: LXX) (OTCQX:LXRP) appear to be leading the way.

A biotech company based in British Columbia, Lexaria is currently focusing on its proprietary DehydraTECH(TM) technology. This unique technology has been developed to make medicinal compounds more suitable for human consumption in a number of ways. By combining molecules such as CBD with fatty acids at a molecular level, DehydraTECH makes it easier for the CBD to cross the body's internal barriers. Higher levels of CBD are absorbed, and they are absorbed more quickly.

Consumers need to know this: the quantity of CBD, or any other drug, in the bottle is unimportant. What matters is how much of that CBD actually reaches the bloodstream — and even more importantly — how much reaches the brain.

Most CBD sold in CBD-infused products in America today does not reach the bloodstream. CBD mixed in water and fed to animals demonstrated the incredible power of DehydraTECH. Results announced in May showed that DehydraTECH, in combination with generic nanotech techniques, delivered CBD to the brain 1,137% more efficiently than existing industry formulations. In addition, Lexaria's patented DehydraTECH delivered CBD into the bloodstream in just two minutes and delivered as much CBD in 15 minutes as generic doses did in 60 minutes.

Not content with these sorts of results, the company has been working on improving the power of DehydraTECH through a new second-generation version called Enhanced DehydraTECH. Lexaria's Enhanced DehydraTECH showed remarkable properties in crossing the blood-brain-barrier, delivering 1,937% more CBD into the brain than a generic industry formulation. It also delivered between 717% and 1,098% more CBD into the bloodstream than generic CBD formulations.

Lexaria's technological advances make it possible to manufacture capsules and edible products that deliver CBD and THC more effectively than ever before.

Satisfying Customers and Regulators

This vastly superior delivery performance holds promise to radically change the CBD industry, at a time when the sector is already going through huge change and growth.

On one level, the benefits of technology such as that being developed by Lexaria are obvious. A more efficient delivery system can do one of two things: it can make the same dose of a drug or vitamin more effective, or it can allow the same consumer effect to be achieved with a smaller dose.

The latter approach may have the widest impact and certainly has potential to shift prices. Recent legal changes in Canada and the United States have led to a surge in demand for CBD, a demand that suppliers have been unable to meet. With demand for CBD outstripping supply and a production process that involves complex technical steps, the price of CBD is relatively high. But if companies can make products that are just as effective but use smaller amounts of CBD, they can reduce their production costs and provide more products with the same raw resources. This change would allow companies to meet currently unmet demand and reduce prices, thus benefitting both the customers and the industry.

There's also a less-obvious factor, one that industry outsiders might not consider but that companies such as Lexaria are acutely aware of. With the legalization of cannabis across Canada and hemp in the United States, regulators are stepping in to control the production, sale and dosage amounts of CBD or THC products. Limits are being set on how much CBD or THC a product can contain.

Improved delivery systems such as DehydraTECH allow companies to produce more effective products within the same legal limits. Customers can experience the highest benefit from their products while everyone stays inside the law.

Beyond CBD?

But while CBD is proving a profitable testing ground for DehydraTECH, the impact of this first-of-its-kind delivery system could potentially go far beyond this, extending into the wider medical sector.

Recent research results have shown that DehydraTECH is effective in delivering both cannabinoids and nicotine into brain tissue, thus improving the speed and effectiveness of these ingredients. The delivery system also comes with a fast-on/fast-off element, in which the effect of the drug both starts and ends quickly and clearly, providing better control over the use of the products in which drugs are used. DehydraTECH is being evaluated by the largest nicotine company in America for products utilizing oral delivery, bypassing the known disease conditions associated with current pulmonary delivery.

As a result, Lexaria's technology already has potential medical benefits because it can be used to deliver CBD- and THC-based medicines, in addition to its applications as a solution to cigarette use. But what if it could do more?

Since DehydraTECH has been shown to work with multiple molecules, people are asking if it could be used with central nervous system drugs. By delivering drugs quickly and efficiently across the blood-brain-barrier, this innovative delivery system could enhance the speed and effectiveness of a wide range of drugs and potentially usher in a new era of treatment for a wide range of debilitating diseases. Lexaria has quietly filed patent applications for innovation in treatment options related to central nervous system diseases such as Parkinson's and Alzheimers.

Experimenting with Cannabis

Given the importance of cannabinoids in treating some of these debilitating diseases, improved delivery systems already have clear medical advantages. Among the companies applying cannabinoids to life-changing medicines is GW Pharmaceuticals Plc (NASDAQ:GWPH) (OTC:GWPRF). With more than 20 years of research in the cannabis sector, GW is a global leader in developing cannabinoid medicines and was named one of Time Magazine's 50 genius companies for this work. The company recently announced successful clinical trials of EPIDIOLEX, in which this CBD drug was used to reduce the frequency of seizures associated with tubular sclerosis complex.

Tilray Inc. (NASDAQ:TLRY), a world-leading cannabis company based in Canada, has been working to address the shortage of cannabis and CBD, investing $32.6 million in an expansion of its cultivation and manufacturing facilities. But the company isn't just working on meeting current needs. Tilray is providing support to two clinical studies that could lead cannabinoids to transform more lives for the better. Through studies like these, the use of cannabinoids is spreading beyond its traditional territory of pain and nausea management.

MariMed Inc. (OTCQB:MRMD), a multistate cannabis company, has been improving the efficiency of its operations through vertical integration and the addition of new product lines, allowing it to more effectively deliver cannabis products to a wide range of customers. At the start of this year, the company established a subsidiary focused on CBD in response to rising sales and the changed legal status of hemp manufacturing in the US.

Lexaria's work on DehyrdaTECH isn't the only area where the interests of cannabis and tobacco are merging. Cronos Group Inc. (NASDAQ:CRON) (TSX:CRON), a global cannabinoid company, has had its fortunes and its profile improved by an investment of C$2.4 billion from tobacco giant Altria. The company's growth has also allowed it to establish a new global research and design center, Cronos Device Labs, in Israel. There, the company will work on devices specifically designed for the consumption of CBD.

As the technology around cannabis improves, so will the efficiency and effectiveness of cannabinoid products, lowering prices and improving outcomes for patients around the world.

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 

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. FN Media Group (FNM) is a third-party publisher and news dissemination service provider, which disseminates electronic information through multiple online media channels. FNM is NOT affiliated with CNW or any company mentioned herein. The commentary, views and opinions expressed in this release by CNW are solely those of CNW and are not shared by and do not reflect in any manner the views or opinions of FNM. Readers of this Article and content agree that they cannot and will not seek to hold liable CNW and FNM for any investment decisions by their readers or subscribers. CNW and FNM and their respective affiliated companies are a news dissemination and financial marketing solutions provider and are 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, FNM, 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 & FNM 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 and FNM undertake no obligation to update such statements.

CannabisNewsWire (CNW) & NetworkNewsWire (NNW) are proud to be affiliated partners of the Investor Brand Network (IBN)

About IBN

Over the past 10+ years we have consistently introduced new network brands, each specifically designed to fulfil the unique needs of our growing client base and services. Today, we continue to expand our branded network of highly influential properties, leveraging the knowledge and energy of specialized teams of experts to serve our increasingly diversified list of clients.

Please feel free to visit the Investor Brand Network (IBN) http://www.InvestorBrandNetwork.com

Corporate Communications Contact:

CannabisNewsWire (CNW)
Denver, Colorado
www.CannabisNewsWire.com 
303.498.7722 Office
Editor@CannabisNewsWire.com

Media Contact:

FN Media Group, LLC
NNW@FinancialNewsMedia.com  
+1-(954)345-0611