Lexaria Comments on Study Examining Cannabinoids and SARS-CoV-2
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“Cannabinoids have the potential to prevent as well as treat infection by SARS-CoV-2”
Kelowna, British Columbia – TheNewswire - January 18, 2022 – Lexaria Bioscience Corp. (Nasdaq:LEXX) (Nasdaq:LEXXW) (the “Company” or “Lexaria”), a global innovator in drug delivery platforms, comments on an independent January 10 study, available here, that discovered that “Cannabinoids Block Cellular Entry of SARS-CoV-2 and the Emerging Variants”.
In an interview granted to vice.com, lead research scientist Dr. Richard van Breeman commented on how smoking or vaping of cannabis was likely not effective, while oral delivery was effective. “If these hemp products containing these compounds are smoked or vaped, the heat exposure could cause the chemical decomposition or conversion… So, we would recommend in favor of an oral administration of these compounds instead of smoking them, inhaling them from vaping.”
“Lexaria has led the conversation for years related to oral delivery of cannabinoids and is a world-leader through its pioneering drug delivery technology, DehydraTECHTM, in more effective delivery of cannabinoids to the human bloodstream through oral means,” said Chris Bunka, CEO of Lexaria Bioscience.
In the peer-reviewed study, the researchers concluded that “Cannabinoid acids from hemp (Cannabis sativa) were found to be allosteric as well as orthosteric ligands with micromolar affinity for the spike protein. In follow-up virus neutralization assays, cannabigerolic acid and cannabidiolic acid prevented infection of human epithelial cells by a pseudovirus expressing the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein and prevented entry of live SARS-CoV-2 alpha variant B.1.1.7 and the beta variant B.1.351.”
Lexaria is actively engaged in research with DehydraTECH-powered cannabinoid formulations across a range of potential therapeutic applications, including an advanced oral DehydraTECH-CBD formulation that it is preparing for registered clinical trials as a prospective new pharmaceutical product. Moreover, the patented DehydraTECH process does not involve processing temperatures remotely as high as those encountered in smoking or vaping processes, and in previous studies has been found to leave the cannabinoid molecules undamaged.
In other work previously conducted by Lexaria and announced on June 3, 2021, we discovered that Lexaria’s DehydraTECH-enabled remdesivir and ebastine effectively inhibit the COVID-19 SARS-CoV-2 Virus. Remdesivir is a well-known nucleotide reverse transcriptase inhibitor, available under the trade name Veklury® from Gilead Sciences Inc., that interferes with the SARS-CoV-2 viral replication life cycle and has received emergency use authorization in many regions of the world for treatment of COVID-19. Ebastine is an antihistamine drug that has potent effects in inhibiting the SARS-CoV-2 main protease (Mpro, also called the 3CL protease) blocking viral entry into human cells, together with effects to reduce COVID-19 inflammatory reactions. Mpro inhibitors are gaining attention in the fight against COVID-19, as announced by Pfizer with their novel compound PF-07304814.
The Company is not making any express or implied claims that it has the ability to eliminate, cure or contain COVID-19 (or the SARS-CoV-2) virus.
About Lexaria Bioscience Corp.
Lexaria Bioscience Corp.’s patented drug delivery technology, DehydraTECH™, improves the way active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) enter the bloodstream by promoting more effective oral delivery. Since 2016, DehydraTECH has repeatedly demonstrated the ability to increase bio-absorption with cannabinoids and nicotine by 5-10x and, in some instances with cannabinoids by as much as 27x compared to standard industry formulations, reduce time of onset from 1 - 2 hours to minutes, and mask unwanted tastes; and is also being evaluated for orally administered anti-viral drugs, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), PDE5 inhibitors and more. DehydraTECH has also evidenced an ability to deliver some drugs more effectively across the blood brain barrier. Lexaria operates a licensed in-house research laboratory and holds a robust intellectual property portfolio with 23 patents granted and over 50 patents pending worldwide. For more information, please visit www.lexariabioscience.com.
CAUTION REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
This press release includes forward-looking statements. Statements as such term is defined under applicable securities laws. These statements may be identified by words such as "anticipate," "if," "believe," "plan," "estimate," "expect," "intend," "may," "could," "should," "will," and other similar expressions. Such forward-looking statements in this press release include, but are not limited to, statements by the company relating the Company’s ability to carry out research initiatives, receive regulatory approvals or grants or experience positive effects or results from any research or study. Such forward-looking statements are estimates reflecting the Company's best judgment based upon current information and involve a number of risks and uncertainties, and there can be no assurance that the Company will actually achieve the plans, intentions, or expectations disclosed in these forward-looking statements. As such, you should not place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements. Factors which could cause actual results to differ materially from those estimated by the Company include, but are not limited to, government regulation and regulatory approvals, managing and maintaining growth, the effect of adverse publicity, litigation, competition, scientific discovery, the patent application and approval process, potential adverse effects arising from the testing or use of products utilizing the DehydraTECH technology, the Company’s ability to maintain existing collaborations and realize the benefits thereof, delays or cancellations of planned R&D that could occur related to pandemics or for other reasons, and other factors which may be identified from time to time in the Company's public announcements and periodic filings with the US Securities and Exchange Commission on EDGAR. There is no assurance that any of Lexaria’s postulated uses, benefits, or advantages for the patented and patent-pending technology will in fact be realized in any manner or in any part. No statement herein has been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Lexaria-associated products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. Any forward-looking statements contained in this release speak only as of the date hereof, and the Company expressly disclaims any obligation to update any forward-looking statements contained herein, whether as a result of any new information, future events, changed circumstances or otherwise, except as otherwise required by law.
George Jurcic - Head of Investor Relations