Medical cannabis company Bod Australia has received clinical trial authorisation from the UK’s Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency to study the efficacy of medical cannabis against the symptoms of persistent covid.
This trial is to be conducted in partnership with Drug Science, with the aim of examining the effectiveness of the Australian company’s medical cannabis product, an oil extract of Cannabis sativa L. (MediCabilis®) which provides, among other cannabinoids, 50 mg/ml cannabidiol (CBD+CBDA), on the symptoms associated with the long-term impact of Covid-19.
What is considered persistent Covid?
Persistent COVID is considered to be symptoms that remain or become new for at least eight weeks after an initial COVID-19 infection. According to the Office for National Statistics, approximately 1.3 million people in the UK currently suffer from this condition. Common symptoms include shortness of breath, fatigue, loss of concentration, chronic pain, anxiety, increased chest discomfort, and insomnia.
Medical cannabis products are currently prescribed to patients with conditions such as chronic pain, anxiety and sleep disorders, so it is believed that many of the symptoms of persistent covadiction would also be amenable to treatment with medical cannabis.
After receiving clinical trial authorisation (CTA), it is intended to start the clinical trial and, together with Drug Science, are recruiting up to 30 participants over the age of 18 who have long-term covid.
The objective of this clinical trial is to administer the MediCabilis® preparation to the participants, daily, for a period of six months, performing monthly and daily evaluations of symptoms such as shortness of breath, fatigue, cognition and pain through an app for the mobile. The results obtained from this trial will determine the feasibility and safety of medical cannabis in the treatment of the condition.
Existing evidence
According to the results of a study carried out by American and Canadian scientists at the Oregon State University published on January 10 in the “Journal of Natural Products” magazine, the presence of the cannabinoid acids CBGA (cannabigerolic acid) and CBDA (cannabinoid acid). cannaidiolic) can prevent covid-19.
Through affinity selection mass spectrometry, two cannabinoid acids capable of binding to the S protein of SARS-CoV-2, a spike-shaped envelope that adheres to cells, causing the virus to enter the body.
In this way, the “spike” protein binds to the cannabis compound rather than to cells, meaning that inhibitors of cell entry, such as cannabis acids, could be used to prevent SARS-CoV-2 infection, as well as to shorten infections, by preventing virus particles from infecting human cells.
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Author:
Laura Taibo
GMP Consultant