Posted: 22 February 2023
Avecho Biotechnology Limited has today announced that its ongoing collaboration with leading Australian research group for cannabinoid therapeutics, the Lambert Initiative at the University of Sydney, will expand to include a series of clinical trials examining new clinical indications for cannabinoid (CBD) using Avecho’s CBD soft-gel capsule.
Avecho has previously collaborated with the Lambert Initiative on a successful Phase II clinical trial examining the use of a topical CBD TPM gel for the treatment of osteoarthritis of the fingers and hands. Results from this study were presented by Lambert Initiative researchers at the International Cannabinoid Research Society Symposium on the Cannabinoid in June 2022. A larger topical CBD trial is currently being planned with the Lambert Initiative for 2023, as is a further study that will examine a topical (CBG) TPM product.
Avecho has developed a proprietary oral CBD soft-gel capsule, enhanced by its proprietary TPM technology to increase absorption, a major limitation of existing cannabinoid therapy. While Avecho focuses its efforts on its pivotal Phase III clinical trial testing the CBD sot-gel capsule in an insomnia indication, the Lambert Initiative trials will test the product on a series of novel candidate indications not previously associated with CBD therapy. These candidate indications have emerged from pre-clinical and early-stage clinical studies conducted by the Lambert Initiative researchers and their colleagues, and represent attractive indications for future CBD products registered as over-the-counter (OTC) medicines with the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA).
Professor Iain McGregor, Academic Director of the Lamber Initiative, said: “We have early evidence supporting the use of CBD in a number of new clinical indications and intend to examine these further in human clinical trials. We have been impressed by both the products, and the quality of the science, emerging from Avecho. Consequently, we are delighted to continue out productive collaboration with the company to use their oral CBD product for out forthcoming clinical trials examining novel indications”
The protocol for the first trial has already been submitted to ethics and will aim to dose patients in the middle of the year. The second study will commence dosign Q3 2023.
Acecho CEO, Dr Paul Gavin, said: “While our Company remains principally focused on the upcoming Phase III trials of our oral CBD soft-gel product, it has always been our intention to allow others to examine further clinical applications of our formulations in other indications of value and interest. The Lambert Initiative are Australia’s foremost experts in cannabinoid research, and we have learnt much about the clinical potential of cannabinoid through our integrations. Their decision to use Avecho’s CBD product in their own studies is testament to the clinical relevance of the work we’ve conducted over the last three years on product development in the cannabinoid space.”
With the addition of the further Lambert Initiative studies, Avcho’s products will be used in seven clinical trials during 2023; the Company’s pivotal Phase III insomnia trial, the Perland osteoarthritis study and the two new Lambert Imitative trials will use the oral CBD soft-gel capsule; Perrigo’s pain study will use topical ibuprofen; and both topical CBD and topical CBG will be examined in osteoarthritis of the hand in collaboration with the Lamber Initiative.
