Data-backed medical cannabis company Emyria (ASX: EMD) has just released the results of a comparative animal study that compared well-known CBD medication Epidyolex to Emyria’s proprietary CBD medication.
The formulation, called “EMD-003”, includes pure CBD and ingredients approved by the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Emyria has developed it as an improved version of Epidyolex, which is one of the only cannabis medications listed on Australia’s Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS).Â
In the study comparing EMD-003 and Epidyolex, researchers looked at the bioavailability and peak blood concentrations of each drug. Bioavailability is how much of the drug is available in the bloodstream (i.e. how much you can absorb).
The research was performed by Calvert Labs (an Altasciences company), and it included eight dogs who received doses of each medication with a wash-out period in between doses.
Researchers took blood samples from the dogs every two hours after each dose to examine the CBD concentration in their bodies. These samples led researchers to conclude that EMD-003 showed “higher peak blood concentrations and greater bioavailability” than Epidyolex over a 24-hour period. According to Emyria’s managing director Dr Michael Winlo, the company was “delighted” to receive these results.
These animal study results suggest Emyria has developed a novel, high performing and cost-effective CBD capsule that can meet the strict registration requirements for product quality and purity….
Emyria will continue to study EMD-003 in 2022 with a volunteer trial starting in the first quarter. This phase one trial will compare the effectiveness of EMD-003 to Epiyolex.
Emyria is also looking to register EMD-003 as an over-the-counter CBD medication with Australia’s Therapeutic Goods Administration next year. If it is registered successfully, people will be able to obtain it from their pharmacists (in line with the TGA’s 2020 changes to medical cannabis scheduling).
