The development allows the transfer of cannabis molecules to penetrate into the brain through the blood-brain barrier, which stops the entry of many substances.
Technology developed at the Technion enabled the Israeli cannabis-based pharmaceutical company Nextage to completed a development that allows the transfer of cannabis molecules directly into the brain. The molecules penetrate the brain through the blood-brain barrier, which stops the entry of many substances.
The technology allows for the avoidance of side effects and dose reductions for patients and has enormous potential in dealing with brain diseases. Most of the active ingredients that are currently on the market, do not cross the blood-brain barrier, and can create significant side effects in the rest of the body.
The company says it will begin licensing contacts for companies interested in developing system-based brain disease drugs. Nextage also announced it will file a patent application based on information gathered during the development.
The passage of drugs through the blood-brain barrier is an essential challenge for the world of research and currently remains without a complete solution. Finding a solution to cross the blood-brain barrier is a groundbreaking achievement in the global pharmaceutical industry. The development of the formulation included: adapting the technology for use with CBD, optimizing the composition of the technology for the benefit of use with cannabinoids, and determining the maximum load capacity of the cannabinoids.
During pre-clinical trials conducted so far, it has been found that the technology can transmit a wide range of substances of various types through the blood-brain barrier directly. It can do that without any dispersion of the substances in other organs in the body while maintaining the active substance activity and significantly reducing side effects.
It is also possible that the direct transfer will allow for a significant increase in bioavailability and as a result, there may be a reduction in the dose given to patients.
The field of brain and central nervous system diseases is one of the major challenges of the pharmaceutical industry in recent years. Diseases including Parkinson’s, Alzheimer’s, epilepsy, chronic pain, brain cancer, and various psychiatric can benefit from the new development.
