Author: CannabisNewsWire (CNW)

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. To receive SMS text alerts from CannabisNewsWire, text “CANNABIS” to 21000 (U.S. Mobile Phones Only) For more information please visit https://www.CannabisNewsWire.com 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

Lexaria Bioscience Corp. (NASDAQ: LEXX) Using Novel DehydraTECH(TM) Technology to Address Unmet Antihypertension Drug Market

  • Research has shown that co-occurring conditions may be linked to high blood pressure, including bone aging and mental illness
  • The antihypertension drug market is anticipated to rise due to the launch of novel pharmaceuticals and diagnostic agents
  • Valued at US $30.2 billion in 2021, the market is expected to grow at a CAGR of 3%, resulting in a value of US $40 billion by 2031
  • Lexaria’s patented DehydraTECH(TM) technology offers higher bioavailability of active pharmaceutical ingredients due to, in part, bypassing first-pass-liver processing, improving the speed of onset, and brain absorption

The American Heart Association (“AMA”) refers to high blood pressure, or hypertension, as a “silent killer.” Nearly half of American adults have hypertension but do not know it because there are no obvious symptoms correlating to the condition. However, research finds that co-occurring conditions may be linked to high blood pressure, including bone aging and mental illness.

A recent study conducted by the AMA has found that hypertension may be linked to significant bone loss. The bone quality in younger mice with hypertension was similar to the bones of older mice without hypertension present. The study suggests that the effects of hypertension on the bones may mimic aging – making early detection and treatment a necessity to deter excessive bone loss as people age (https://cnw.fm/AK70Y).

Additionally, a study published by the National Library of Medicine concluded that individuals with mental illnesses had increased blood pressure variability (“BPV”), regardless of age. Since mental illness contributes to the deterioration of autonomic functions, early therapeutic interventions for mental illness may prevent diseases associated with autonomic dysregulation and reduce the likelihood of negative cardiac outcomes (https://cnw.fm/NXtnb).

Lexaria Bioscience (NASDAQ: LEXX), a global innovator in drug delivery, has developed a patented technology, DehydraTECH(TM), that has been proven useful for potentially treating hypertension. DehydraTECH improves the bioavailability of pharmaceuticals and therapeutics (in part) by bypassing first-pass-liver processing, improving the speed of onset, and brain absorption of active pharmaceutical ingredients (“APIs”). The company began developing this technology in 2014 and has since strengthened and broadened the technology to an unprecedented degree.

Lexaria operates four subsidiaries to focus on its different commercial opportunities in their respective industries: Lexaria Pharmaceutical Corp., which investigates new products for hypertension, anti-viral treatments, epilepsy and other drug classes; Lexaria Nicotine LLC (16.67% owned by Altria Ventures Inc.), which investigates oral non-combusted tobacco-derived nicotine product formats; Lexaria Hemp Corp., which pursues business-to-business opportunities with cannabinoids such as cannabidiol (“CBD”) from hemp; and Lexaria Canpharm ULC., which operates a state-of-the-art Health Canada licensed laboratory capable of developing novel psychotropic cannabinoid formulations for potential commercialization in the sectors where it is federally legal to do so.

Lexaria also licenses its DehydraTECH(TM) technology for delivering fat-soluble active molecules and drugs. The company has over 50 pending patents worldwide and 27 granted patents.

The market for antihypertension drugs is anticipated to rise due to the launch of novel pharmaceuticals and diagnostic agents. Valued at US $30.2 billion in 2021, the market is expected to grow at a CAGR of 3%, resulting in a value of US $40 billion by 2031. There is a serious unmet need in the antihypertension medication market, which includes a shortage of viable products. Lexaria is leveraging its position and DehydraTECH technology to meet the unmet needs in the market and the demand for new approaches to lower blood pressure.

For more information, visit the company’s website at www.LexariaBioscience.com.

NOTE TO INVESTORS: The latest news and updates relating to LEXX are available in the company’s newsroom at https://cnw.fm/LEXX

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.

To receive instant SMS alerts, text CANNABIS to 21000 (U.S. Mobile Phones Only)

For more information please visit https://www.CannabisNewsWire.com

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

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Flora Growth Corp. (NASDAQ: FLGC) Building Portfolio of Brands that Resonates with End Consumers as It Targets Margins and Profitability

  • Lexaria Bioscience, a global innovator in drug delivery technology, has developed a potential treatment for hypertension using the company’s patented DehydraTECH(TM) platform, now shown in several human studies to reduce blood pressure and arterial stiffness
  • Lexaria’s antihypertensive drug development program comes at a time when researchers are documenting poor control of hypertension among both men and women, partly due to suboptimal adherence to existing antihypertension medication
  • Reasons advanced for the suboptimal adherence include lack of awareness or treatment, increased number of prescribed medications, and major adverse effects of the prescribed drugs
  • Lexaria has so far shown that its DehydraTECH-CBD is not only effective but also well tolerated and is planning to undertake registered clinical trials in pursuit of the FDA’s approval of the drug candidate

A recent research article published in the Journal of the American Heart Association (“AHA”) unearths data that suggests poorly controlled hypertension among both men and women (https://cnw.fm/q4IM3), a problem global innovator Lexaria Bioscience (NASDAQ: LEXX) is keen on solving.

The researchers, who sought to describe gender-differential disease patterns and results of more than 20.6 million emergency department encounters in the United States from 2016 to 2018, made several observations. Firstly, most ED cardiovascular (“CVD”) visits in the sample were due to hypertensive diseases. Secondly, essential hypertension, which is high blood pressure not resulting from other maladies, was the most common CVD diagnosis in women and second most common in men (https://cnw.fm/5powB).

Moreover, the article notes, “Attendances for essential hypertension were more common in women, which may reflect higher rate of preexisting hypertension in women (76.6% vs. 74.4%). These findings may also reflect poorer control of hypertension or poorer access to primary care in women… Further supporting these suppositions, in our sample, although men were less likely to present to the ED with essential hypertension, they were slightly more likely to present with long-term consequences of hypertension-related end-organ damage (hypertensive heart or kidney disease) and were more likely to die following such presentations, suggesting longer duration of exposure to poorly controlled hypertension than women.”

This recent study is one of the latest in a series of research works on uncontrolled hypertension that date back to the 20th century. In a scholarly article published in 2005 in the AHA Journal, for example, researchers observed a high prevalence of uncontrolled hypertension that suggested a significant number of CVD events could be prevented by improved blood pressure control.

“The benefits of pharmacological treatment for [hypertensive] patients are well established. Meta-analysis of randomized placebo-controlled trials indicate that antihypertensive therapy reduces the risk of stroke by approximately 30%, coronary heart disease by 10-20%, congestive heart failure by 40-50%, and total mortality by 10%,” the 2005 research article continues (https://cnw.fm/HcLPN). 

Several other studies have put forth reasons that are thought to cause suboptimal adherence, leading to poor control. These reasons include the lack of awareness or treatment, an increased number of antihypertensive drugs, and major adverse effects, just to mention a few (https://cnw.fm/gJfBD). As this happens, hypertension remains the leading cause of noncommunicable disease deaths globally, raising concerns that have caught the attention of Lexaria, a company developing a potential hypertension treatment with little to no side effects.

The treatment is created by processing cannabidiol (“CBD”) using the company’s patented DehydraTECH(TM) drug delivery technology, which has been shown to substantially increase the bioavailability of active pharmaceutical ingredients (“APIs”). In human studies, Lexaria has shown that DehydraTECH-CBD not only increases the amount of CBD in the blood by as much as 317% but also reduces blood pressure and arterial stiffness.

To put these findings into a more comprehensive context, the company’s 24-person human clinical study, christened HYPER-H21-1, evidenced a rapid and sustained drop in blood pressure. The second study, HYPER-H21-2, a 16-person HCS, showed up to a 23% reduction in overnight blood pressure as well as reduced arterial stiffness, while the third study, HYPER-H21-3, evidenced attenuated pulmonary artery systolic pressure. What the three studies had in common was that no serious adverse events were reported, suggesting that DehydraTECH-CBD is well tolerated (https://cnw.fm/hUxCf).

To further confirm this fact, Lexaria is working toward a planned Phase I(b) trial, expected to commence following the filing of an Investigational New Drug (“IND”) application and the fulfillment of other regulatory requirements. According to the company, the IND-enabling program is currently underway and is expected to be completed later this year or early next year (https://cnw.fm/suz4F).

Lexaria hopes to prove, through registered clinical trials, that its DehydraTECH-CBD formulation has an acceptable safety and tolerability profile and that it is effective against hypertension. The proof could potentially influence the registration of DehydraTECH-CBD as the second FDA-approved CBD drug, offering a reprieve to millions of hypertension patients who do not have their condition under control because they receive numerous antihypertensive drugs or are unwilling to suffer through these medications’ adverse side effects.

For more information, visit the company’s website at www.LexariaBioscience.com.

NOTE TO INVESTORS: The latest news and updates relating to LEXX are available in the company’s newsroom at https://cnw.fm/LEXX

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.

To receive instant SMS alerts, text CANNABIS to 21000 (U.S. Mobile Phones Only)

For more information please visit https://www.CannabisNewsWire.com

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

Do you have questions or are you interested in working with CNW? Ask our Editor

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

CannabisNewsWire is part of the InvestorBrandNetwork.

420 with CNW — Biden’s Orders on Marijuana Run into Catch-22

There was a flurry of reaction, most of it in support, when President Joseph Biden recently issued a directive instructing the Department of Health & Human Services (HHS) to carry out a thorough medical as well as scientific review assessing the appropriateness of the current classification of cannabis in the Controlled Substances Act of 1970. In that law, marijuana is categorized in the same highly restricted group with heroin, cocaine and LSD (ecstasy). As the dust settles and the real work gets underway, it will become abundantly clear how much of a catch-22 the review represents.

Given that marijuana has been prohibited for decades and listed as a substance with no known medical application in the United States and has a high likelihood of being abused, scientific inquiry into the potential therapeutic uses and possible side effects is limited. This is a significant problem, because a medical and scientific review at the level desired by the president can only accept impeccable scientific research as the basis for any conclusions or recommendations that may be made at the end of the review process. The review needs scientific data, but that data is most likely unavailable on the required scale because of the Schedule 1 status of marijuana.

Classic catch-22.

Nora Volkow, director of the National Institute on Drug Abuse, recognized this challenge when she observed that she wouldn’t personally get involved in studying marijuana because of the numerous hoops that scientists have to navigate in order to get their proposed studies approved by different entities such as the DEA. She has promised to look for mechanisms through which marijuana research can be conducted under the existing legal framework.

That said, a review of the scale ordered by Biden is likely to take years, and there is no certainty as to what outcome the process will yield. Some advocates want the substance rescheduled, which would make marijuana a medical product controlled like other medicines, or descheduled, which would make marijuana a legal commodity, as is tobacco or alcohol. The review process can also maintain the status quo, which was the conclusion reached after a review that was completed back in 2015.

For now, industry and various actors such as Prime Harvest Inc. may regard a legislative approach to marijuana policy reform as the one with a higher probability of codifying the needed changes to the current prohibitive policies of the federal government. This may be more likely as pressure from the grassroots to end prohibition is mounting as more states open their own marijuana markets and isolate the federal government with its prohibitionist stance.

NOTE TO INVESTORS: The latest news and updates relating to Prime Harvest Inc. are available in the company’s newsroom at https://cnw.fm/PRIME

About CNW420

CNW420 spotlights the latest developments in the rapidly evolving cannabis industry through the release of two informative articles each business day. Our concise, informative content serves as a gateway for investors interested in the legalized cannabis sector and provides updates on how regulatory developments may impact financial markets. Articles are released each business day at 4:20 a.m. and 4:20 p.m. Eastern – our tribute to the time synonymous with cannabis culture. If marijuana and the burgeoning industry surrounding it are on your radar, CNW420 is for you! Check back daily to stay up-to-date on the latest milestones in the fast -changing world of cannabis.

To receive instant SMS alerts, text CANNABIS to 21000 (U.S. Mobile Phones Only)

For more information please visit https://www.CNW420.com

Please see full terms of use and disclaimers on the CannabisNewsWire website applicable to all content provided by CNW420, wherever published or re-published: http://CNW.fm/Disclaimer

Do you have questions or are you interested in working with CNW420? Ask our Editor

CannabisNewsWire420
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http://www.CNW420.com
303.498.7722 Office
Editor@CannabisNewsWire.com

CNW420 is part of the InvestorBrandNetwork.

420 with CNW — Could President Biden Overhaul America’s Cannabis Policy?

Last week, President Joseph Biden announced that individuals convicted of simple cannabis possession under federal law would be pardoned of their convictions. This proclamation thrust the country’s marijuana policy into the limelight, with the president also urging governors to pardon those convicted of the same under state law.

At the moment, marijuana is classified as a Schedule I substance under the Controlled Substances Act. All substances classified under this schedule are thought to have a high potential for abuse and no currently accepted medical use. Other substances under this schedule include LSD and heroin.

This classification is difficult to understand, especially if one considers the fact that marijuana’s categorization is even harsher than that of methamphetamine and fentanyl, which are currently driving the country’s overdose epidemic. During his announcement, Biden stated that classification made no sense then directed that the health secretary and attorney general conduct a review on whether marijuana should be classified as a less-serious substance.

Biden added that many lives have been upended because of the country’s failed approach to cannabis, noting that the time had come to right these wrongs. His announcement, which surprised many, greatly influenced cannabis stocks.

Advocates believe that this move brings the country closer to providing relief to those affected by the war on drugs, which began in the 1970s. They add that it is also the first step to bringing the burgeoning billion-dollar industry out of the shadows.

It should be noted though that the pardon on simple possession is limited in scope. Currently, only 6,500 individuals who have federal convictions and some residents in Washington, DC, are eligible for pardon. Additionally, presidential pardons can only be applied to federal charges, which isn’t as effective at this point in time given that most convictions for possession are at the local and state level.

If the review calls for the reclassification of marijuana, the federal government will have to catch up with reforms that have already been approved in various states across the country. Currently, the District of Columbia and 37 states have legalized the use of medical marijuana while 19 states have legalized the recreational use of the drug. This represents more than 40% of the country’s population.

Voters in five other states — South Dakota, North Dakota, Missouri, Maryland and Arkansas — are set to vote on measures to allow the recreational use of marijuana. Additionally, four separate ballot referendums are expected in the coming years. If all these jurisdictions pass cannabis reform policies, there will be a bigger market for entities such as REZYFi Inc., which is bridging the financing gaps created by the reluctance of mainstream banks to work with marijuana businesses.

NOTE TO INVESTORS: The latest news and updates relating to REZYFi, Inc. are available in the company’s newsroom at https://cnw.fm/REZY

About CNW420

CNW420 spotlights the latest developments in the rapidly evolving cannabis industry through the release of two informative articles each business day. Our concise, informative content serves as a gateway for investors interested in the legalized cannabis sector and provides updates on how regulatory developments may impact financial markets. Articles are released each business day at 4:20 a.m. and 4:20 p.m. Eastern – our tribute to the time synonymous with cannabis culture. If marijuana and the burgeoning industry surrounding it are on your radar, CNW420 is for you! Check back daily to stay up-to-date on the latest milestones in the fast -changing world of cannabis.

To receive instant SMS alerts, text CANNABIS to 21000 (U.S. Mobile Phones Only)

For more information please visit https://www.CNW420.com

Please see full terms of use and disclaimers on the CannabisNewsWire website applicable to all content provided by CNW420, wherever published or re-published: http://CNW.fm/Disclaimer

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420 with CNW — Governors Across the US Weigh in on Biden’s Call for Mass Marijuana Pardons

President Joseph Biden recently announced mass pardons for people convicted in federal courts on minor marijuana possession charges. While making that announcement, he called on governors across the nation to emulate the federal action and replicate the clemency at state level. His call to action has elicited mixed reactions, and we capture the highlights below.

Colorado governor Jared Polis revealed that the U.S. president had finally decided to walk the road that Colorado took two years earlier. He said that the action taken by the president would remove any roadblocks that were in the lives of the people affected by the discriminative implementation of prohibition laws.

Ned Lamont, the governor of Connecticut, was also pleased by the announcement, calling for expunging records and pardoning those in state jails for possessing small amounts of cannabis. Lamont sees the federal action as long overdue. He reaffirmed his belief that the law he enacted to automatically erase the criminal records of people blighted by minor marijuana offenses was the right thing to do.

Nikki Fried, who made an unsuccessful bid to win the gubernatorial race nomination in Florida and a long-term avid supporter of drug-policy reform, called on Governor Ron DeSantis to follow in President Biden’s footsteps and clear criminal records and support the rebuilding of the lives of people hurt by the futile war on drugs.

In Georgia, Stacey Abrams, a DP nominee for the gubernatorial race, applauded the action taken by the president and vowed to see to it that marijuana is decriminalized and those with criminal records on minor charges have those records expunged by the state.

However, not everyone sees sunshine and roses in the call made by the president. For example, Brad Little, the governor of Idaho, made a scathing attack against the marijuana announcements made by Biden. Little called the action something calculated “for show” and added that it appeared Biden didn’t know that those in jail on cannabis offenses invariably have other charges successfully prosecuted against them as well.

According to a spokesperson, Montana Governor Greg Gianforte has no intention to heed Biden’s call and grant blanket clemency to marijuana convicts or expunge records of ex-convicts.

Generally, there is a clear divide with Democratic governors supporting the president’s call while Republican governors are opposed to taking this social-justice step. It is only Republican governors in states with legal marijuana markets that see merit in expunging records and pardoning those in jail on simple possession charges.

It remains to be seen how those who follow the lead of Biden will follow that up with further reforms that ease the environment in which cannabis companies such as Flora Growth Corp. (NASDAQ: FLGC) operate.

NOTE TO INVESTORS: The latest news and updates relating to Flora Growth Corp. (NASDAQ: FLGC) are available in the company’s newsroom at https://cnw.fm/FLGC

About CNW420

CNW420 spotlights the latest developments in the rapidly evolving cannabis industry through the release of two informative articles each business day. Our concise, informative content serves as a gateway for investors interested in the legalized cannabis sector and provides updates on how regulatory developments may impact financial markets. Articles are released each business day at 4:20 a.m. and 4:20 p.m. Eastern – our tribute to the time synonymous with cannabis culture. If marijuana and the burgeoning industry surrounding it are on your radar, CNW420 is for you! Check back daily to stay up-to-date on the latest milestones in the fast -changing world of cannabis.

To receive instant SMS alerts, text CANNABIS to 21000 (U.S. Mobile Phones Only)

For more information please visit https://www.CNW420.com

Please see full terms of use and disclaimers on the CannabisNewsWire website applicable to all content provided by CNW420, wherever published or re-published: http://CNW.fm/Disclaimer

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CNW420 is part of the InvestorBrandNetwork.

420 with CNW — Study Finds Federal Cannabis Prohibition Is Exposing Patients to Tainted Products

New research has found that the ongoing prohibition of cannabis at the federal level is getting between safe products and consumers. The research was conducted for one year by investigators at Arizona State University, led by Dr. Maxwell Leung. The objective of the research was to determine the prevalence of a range of contaminants in lab-tested marijuana.

Currently, marijuana is still classified as a Schedule I substance under the Controlled Substances Act, which means that it isn’t subject to USDA or FDA regulations that are applied to legal products. This ongoing prohibition has left many states to work out how they can best ensure the safety of cannabis products sold in their jurisdictions.

For their study, the researchers examined disparities in the legal approach to contaminants by different states and also analyzed samples collected from one testing facility in California. They found that health agencies in different states used an extensive range of standards to identify contaminants and their threshold to become hazardous; the researchers reported observing higher inconsistencies in marijuana-borne contaminant regulation in comparison to other agricultural products.

In their report, the researchers stated that of all the states with legal marijuana, only 23 of them regulated all four contaminant categories — namely, pesticides, microbes/mycotoxins, solvents and inorganics — and recorded the threshold for every contaminant to become hazardous. Of the remaining states, only eight regulated contaminants in one, two or three of the aforementioned categories.

In addition, the researchers analyzed results from 3,760 extract and 5,654 flower samples from California in a bid to learn if the products adhered to state guidelines. The researchers found that roughly 5% of all marijuana samples failed testing, noting that there was a 9.2% and 2.3% rate of failure for extracts and flower, respectively.

They argued that the regulation approach used at the state level could confuse marijuana manufacturers while also discouraging compliance and subjecting users of marijuana to a higher level of exposure to contaminants in certain jurisdictions.  The researchers also cautioned that it remained unclear if the health benefits of using marijuana outweighed the exposure health risk to marijuana-borne contaminants.

This is especially concerning since marijuana products are sold as alternatives to standard medical therapies, which means that cannabis could possibly expose vulnerable patients to harmful contaminants. Despite this risk, there is little information on the scale of marijuana use in different patient populations.

The researchers concluded that a lack of consistent federal guidelines around cannabis contaminants heightened the risk of consumers developing health issues. The study’s findings were reported in the “Environmental Health Perspectives” journal.

Without those federal guidelines, states and individual companies such as American Cannabis Partners are left to create and implement their own product purity standards and yet the ideal would be for all actors to adhere to the same quality standards.

NOTE TO INVESTORS: The latest news and updates relating to American Cannabis Partners are available in the company’s newsroom at https://cnw.fm/ACP

About CNW420

CNW420 spotlights the latest developments in the rapidly evolving cannabis industry through the release of two informative articles each business day. Our concise, informative content serves as a gateway for investors interested in the legalized cannabis sector and provides updates on how regulatory developments may impact financial markets. Articles are released each business day at 4:20 a.m. and 4:20 p.m. Eastern – our tribute to the time synonymous with cannabis culture. If marijuana and the burgeoning industry surrounding it are on your radar, CNW420 is for you! Check back daily to stay up-to-date on the latest milestones in the fast -changing world of cannabis.

To receive instant SMS alerts, text CANNABIS to 21000 (U.S. Mobile Phones Only)

For more information please visit https://www.CNW420.com

Please see full terms of use and disclaimers on the CannabisNewsWire website applicable to all content provided by CNW420, wherever published or re-published: http://CNW.fm/Disclaimer

Do you have questions or are you interested in working with CNW420? Ask our Editor

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Lexaria Bioscience Corp.’s (NASDAQ: LEXX) Drug Development Program Seeking to Provide Safe, Well-Tolerated, Effective Antihypertensive Medication Amid Continued Reports of Suboptimal Adherence to Existing Treatments

  • Lexaria Bioscience, a global innovator in drug delivery technology, has developed a potential treatment for hypertension using the company’s patented DehydraTECH(TM) platform, now shown in several human studies to reduce blood pressure and arterial stiffness
  • Lexaria’s antihypertensive drug development program comes at a time when researchers are documenting poor control of hypertension among both men and women, partly due to suboptimal adherence to existing antihypertension medication
  • Reasons advanced for the suboptimal adherence include lack of awareness or treatment, increased number of prescribed medications, and major adverse effects of the prescribed drugs
  • Lexaria has so far shown that its DehydraTECH-CBD is not only effective but also well tolerated and is planning to undertake registered clinical trials in pursuit of the FDA’s approval of the drug candidate

A recent research article published in the Journal of the American Heart Association (“AHA”) unearths data that suggests poorly controlled hypertension among both men and women (https://cnw.fm/q4IM3), a problem global innovator Lexaria Bioscience (NASDAQ: LEXX) is keen on solving.

The researchers, who sought to describe gender-differential disease patterns and results of more than 20.6 million emergency department encounters in the United States from 2016 to 2018, made several observations. Firstly, most ED cardiovascular (“CVD”) visits in the sample were due to hypertensive diseases. Secondly, essential hypertension, which is high blood pressure not resulting from other maladies, was the most common CVD diagnosis in women and second most common in men (https://cnw.fm/5powB).

Moreover, the article notes, “Attendances for essential hypertension were more common in women, which may reflect higher rate of preexisting hypertension in women (76.6% vs. 74.4%). These findings may also reflect poorer control of hypertension or poorer access to primary care in women… Further supporting these suppositions, in our sample, although men were less likely to present to the ED with essential hypertension, they were slightly more likely to present with long-term consequences of hypertension-related end-organ damage (hypertensive heart or kidney disease) and were more likely to die following such presentations, suggesting longer duration of exposure to poorly controlled hypertension than women.”

This recent study is one of the latest in a series of research works on uncontrolled hypertension that date back to the 20th century. In a scholarly article published in 2005 in the AHA Journal, for example, researchers observed a high prevalence of uncontrolled hypertension that suggested a significant number of CVD events could be prevented by improved blood pressure control.

“The benefits of pharmacological treatment for [hypertensive] patients are well established. Meta-analysis of randomized placebo-controlled trials indicate that antihypertensive therapy reduces the risk of stroke by approximately 30%, coronary heart disease by 10-20%, congestive heart failure by 40-50%, and total mortality by 10%,” the 2005 research article continues (https://cnw.fm/HcLPN). 

Several other studies have put forth reasons that are thought to cause suboptimal adherence, leading to poor control. These reasons include the lack of awareness or treatment, an increased number of antihypertensive drugs, and major adverse effects, just to mention a few (https://cnw.fm/gJfBD). As this happens, hypertension remains the leading cause of noncommunicable disease deaths globally, raising concerns that have caught the attention of Lexaria, a company developing a potential hypertension treatment with little to no side effects.

The treatment is created by processing cannabidiol (“CBD”) using the company’s patented DehydraTECH(TM) drug delivery technology, which has been shown to substantially increase the bioavailability of active pharmaceutical ingredients (“APIs”). In human studies, Lexaria has shown that DehydraTECH-CBD not only increases the amount of CBD in the blood by as much as 317% but also reduces blood pressure and arterial stiffness.

To put these findings into a more comprehensive context, the company’s 24-person human clinical study, christened HYPER-H21-1, evidenced a rapid and sustained drop in blood pressure. The second study, HYPER-H21-2, a 16-person HCS, showed up to a 23% reduction in overnight blood pressure as well as reduced arterial stiffness, while the third study, HYPER-H21-3, evidenced attenuated pulmonary artery systolic pressure. What the three studies had in common was that no serious adverse events were reported, suggesting that DehydraTECH-CBD is well tolerated (https://cnw.fm/hUxCf).

To further confirm this fact, Lexaria is working toward a planned Phase I(b) trial, expected to commence following the filing of an Investigational New Drug (“IND”) application and the fulfillment of other regulatory requirements. According to the company, the IND-enabling program is currently underway and is expected to be completed later this year or early next year (https://cnw.fm/suz4F).

Lexaria hopes to prove, through registered clinical trials, that its DehydraTECH-CBD formulation has an acceptable safety and tolerability profile and that it is effective against hypertension. The proof could potentially influence the registration of DehydraTECH-CBD as the second FDA-approved CBD drug, offering a reprieve to millions of hypertension patients who do not have their condition under control because they receive numerous antihypertensive drugs or are unwilling to suffer through these medications’ adverse side effects.

For more information, visit the company’s website at www.LexariaBioscience.com.

NOTE TO INVESTORS: The latest news and updates relating to LEXX are available in the company’s newsroom at https://cnw.fm/LEXX

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.

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Changing Legal Landscape for Cannabis in Colombia and the U.S. Portends a New Era of Productivity for Flora Growth Corp. (NASDAQ: FLGC)

  • Colombia and the United States have both recently exhibited new openness to the possibility of decriminalizing adult recreational cannabis use through legislative change
  • Cannabis supplier Flora Growth cultivates its product at a key Colombian farm and provides it to international markets, and may see additional opportunities arise as cannabis policies advance in the two countries
  • Flora Growth recently announced completion of its first shipments of high-CBD dried cannabis flower to Switzerland and the Czech Republic, as well as CBD isolate supplied to its market in the United States
  • The company also recently reported a 604 percent YOY increase in revenues during the H1 reporting period, with a 547 percent gross profit increase during that period

Cannabis may be approaching a new watershed moment as Colombia pushes for national legalization of adult-use marijuana and the United States’ government undertakes long-anticipated discussion of whether to change the drug’s classification. 

The nearly unanimous approval of legislation to legalize and regulate adult-use cannabis by an initial committee reviewing bills in Colombia’s legislature, coupled with the president’s criticisms of decades-long prohibitionist policies and regulatory advances made by his predecessor, position the fertile country with a storied history on the front lines of the global war on drugs to become a major legal producer of cannabis and its derivatives (https://cnw.fm/LcEd8). 

In the United States, the President recently issued executive pardons to criminals convicted of marijuana possession in federal cases and asked federal health and law enforcement agencies to take a fresh look at the possibility of ending marijuana’s classification as an illicit substance, creating energy for cannabis stocks in the country (https://cnw.fm/6gRIf).

International cannabis company Flora Growth (NASDAQ: FLGC) is headquartered in Fort Lauderdale, Florida but operates its cultivation from a 100-hectare (about 247-acre) licensed farming facility in northern Colombia where it develops cannabis products and then ships them into international markets or to its GMP-certified facility in the nation’s capital for transformation into consumer ready goods. 

The company’s NASDAQ listing precludes it from participating in the U.S. domestic market for adult-use cannabis at present, where marijuana has enjoyed some approval on a state-by-state basis despite the federal prohibitions.

But the continually developing approach to recreational cannabis use in Colombia and the United States portends possible new opportunities for the company beyond its current low-cost operation supplying THC and CBD flower and derivatives to international markets and the CBD it provides to its own product supply chain. 

“We are proud to help increase access to safe, legal CBD and THC to consumers all over the globe,” Flora Growth Chairman and CEO Luis Merchan stated last month after the company announced completion of its first exports to of high-CBD dried cannabis flower to Switzerland and the Czech Republic, as well as CBD isolate supplied to its market in the United States (https://cnw.fm/gszmr).

Investors have taken a wary approach to cannabis stocks amid ongoing global economic turmoil continuing beyond the immediate impact of the COVID pandemic. But financial data reported by Flora Growth indicates the company has reason for optimism that its strategic advances are taking it in the right direction. 

Flora’s most recent revenue report states that revenues increased 604 percent increase YOY during the H1 period and 117 percent of the previous half-year report (https://cnw.fm/uYeSp).

“Our gross profit increased 547 percent over that same period last year and we expect our revenues for the full year to grow between 300 and 400 percent for … 2022,” Merchan said as part of the management’s analysis of the results. “Despite (COVID-related challenges and economic uncertainty), Flora business units continue to improve their performance.” 

For more information, visit the company’s website at www.FloraGrowth.com.

NOTE TO INVESTORS: The latest news and updates relating to FLGC are available in the company’s newsroom at https://cnw.fm/FLGC

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.

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420 with CNW — Companies Scramble to Adapt as Marijuana Legalization Spreads

As more states across the United States establish legal marijuana markets, employers are scrambling to adjust to this new reality. This is because the traditional no-tolerance policies are becoming harder to enforce in the face of the changes brought by legalization.

For instance, there is a current shortage of workers, particularly for lower-paying job opportunities. Pre-employment testing for marijuana is increasingly being seen as a barrier to getting even the few applicants interested in joining the workforce. Many companies are therefore suspending such pre-employment tests especially for jobs which aren’t safety sensitive, such as operating machinery or driving trucks.

The shift away from pre-employment cannabis testing doesn’t however mean that companies are doing away with marijuana testing. For example, Dave Clark, while still CEO of Amazon, wrote in a blog post that the company would no longer reject applicants on the basis of failing a cannabis test. However, the firm would still conduct drug tests after every safety incident or accident that occurs in order to establish whether the party involved was impaired.

Some employers are also expressing concerns about the possible effect on insurance premiums when they stop testing for marijuana before hiring employees and conducting routine tests for the substance on existing employees.

However, Mark Pew, a Georgia-based insurance expert focusing on workers’ compensation, says that it is unlikely that insurers will slap companies with bigger premiums just because those entities are no longer conducting marijuana tests. Rather, premiums could creep up if insurance firms notice that claims are increasing among companies with less stringent drug testing policies in comparison to those that conduct rigorous testing.

The tests themselves have faced some criticism since most test for the presence of THC metabolites in the sample (blood, urine, saliva or hair follicle) tested. A positive test therefore isn’t irrefutable proof that someone was impaired on the job. Rather, the test just confirms that the person used marijuana at some point in the past, and they may or may not have been impaired at the time of the safety incident. Better tests are needed to establish cannabis impairment in a way that can stand court scrutiny.

That notwithstanding, a broader trend of safer workplaces may make it harder to establish whether looser testing policies result in more work-related accidents. Statistics show that there are fewer accidents at work today compared to the frequency of such incidents in the years gone by.

As marijuana and other allied products from various manufacturers like Advanced Container Technologies Inc. (OTC: ACTX) grow in popularity, employers are likely to continue tweaking their drug use policies so that they are more in tandem with current realities.

NOTE TO INVESTORS: The latest news and updates relating to Advanced Container Technologies Inc. (OTC: ACTX) are available in the company’s newsroom at https://cnw.fm/ACTX

About CNW420

CNW420 spotlights the latest developments in the rapidly evolving cannabis industry through the release of two informative articles each business day. Our concise, informative content serves as a gateway for investors interested in the legalized cannabis sector and provides updates on how regulatory developments may impact financial markets. Articles are released each business day at 4:20 a.m. and 4:20 p.m. Eastern – our tribute to the time synonymous with cannabis culture. If marijuana and the burgeoning industry surrounding it are on your radar, CNW420 is for you! Check back daily to stay up-to-date on the latest milestones in the fast -changing world of cannabis.

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420 with CNW — Courts May Help Bring Federal Marijuana Legalization Closer

Despite President Joseph Biden having pardoned individuals convicted of simple cannabis convictions, he has shown no interest in loosening the federal restrictions that have left most states in control of developing how the billion-dollar marijuana industry in the country is growing. Thus far, 37 states in the country have legalized medical cannabis, with 19 of those states permitting individuals aged 21 and above to possess the drug for recreational use. However, the drug’s illegality at the federal level continues to prevent interstate sales.

Various states have established their marijuana programs to meet objectives beyond legalization. For instance, many prioritize issuance of licenses to those impacted by the war on drugs and entrepreneurs of color.

Courts in the country may have to force their hand in a way that could undermine efforts that diversify this burgeoning industry. For example, a federal court recently ruled that residency requirements on trade imposed in states is unconstitutional because these requirements also endanger packaging and testing rules, which help improve public safety.

Experts believe that this justification by the First Circuit Court of Appeals may open up commerce between different states across the country. An expert on drug laws and federalism, Robert Mikos stated that this ruling foreshadowed the emergence of a national marijuana market, noting that changes in state export and import bans could soon be observed.

The First Circuit is not the only court to rule against residency requirements either. Last year, a federal court in Missouri came down against the residency requirement for ownership in medical cannabis firms imposed in the state.

Various states have also begun to prepare for a potential national market for cannabis. For example, Gov. Gavin Newsom of California recently signed a measure that would permit the state to enter into agreements with other states to regulate the export and import of marijuana products. In 2019, the state of Oregon also approved a similar legislation. The state of New Jersey is expected to go down this path soon.

The path the courts are expected to follow is supported by many advocates who have argued that the time for Congress to amend federal marijuana policies so they can reflect the current legalization landscape is past. This is despite the fact that Congress has the power to regulate global as well as interstate commerce, as stipulated in the Commerce Clause of the U.S. Constitution. At the moment,  however, the legalization of cannabis has mainly been dealt with at the ballot through state measures by voters.

If the courts keep making decisions that open more space for the cannabis industry to operate nationally, federal reform may not be far behind, and entities such as REZYFi Inc. could find themselves swamped with more clients than they had expected to serve in the foreseeable future.

NOTE TO INVESTORS: The latest news and updates relating to REZYFi, Inc. are available in the company’s newsroom at https://cnw.fm/REZY

About CNW420

CNW420 spotlights the latest developments in the rapidly evolving cannabis industry through the release of two informative articles each business day. Our concise, informative content serves as a gateway for investors interested in the legalized cannabis sector and provides updates on how regulatory developments may impact financial markets. Articles are released each business day at 4:20 a.m. and 4:20 p.m. Eastern – our tribute to the time synonymous with cannabis culture. If marijuana and the burgeoning industry surrounding it are on your radar, CNW420 is for you! Check back daily to stay up-to-date on the latest milestones in the fast -changing world of cannabis.

To receive instant SMS alerts, text CANNABIS to 21000 (U.S. Mobile Phones Only)

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