Lexaria’s DehydraTECH™ Triples Bioavailability of CBD in Human Trial

The cannabidiol (CBD) market is projected to reach $2.1 billion by 2020, according to the Hemp Business Journal, which marks significant growth over last year’s roughly $200 million in revenue. Consumers and physicians are starting to realize the significant potential benefits of the cannabinoid in treating a wide range of disorders that can be tied back to the human endocannabinoid system and its far-reaching effects.

Lexaria Bioscience Corp. (OTCQX: LXRP) (CSE: LXX) has spent the past several years focused on improving the bioavailability of cannabinoids, including CBD. Its DehydraTECH™ drug delivery platform has demonstrated significant improvements in bioavailability over conventional delivery methods — and its latest human clinical study confirmed these findings. Lexaria is now one of a very few select biotech companies to have completed a successful human clinical trial with cannabinoids.

CBD Bioavailability Issues

There are many different cannabidiol (CBD) delivery methods available for consumers, patients, and physicians, including capsules, tinctures, vape oils, and even edibles, and each delivery method impacts the body in a different way. Most importantly, some delivery methods are associated with greater bioavailability — or the percentage of the compound that’s absorbed into the bloodstream after any other processing in the body.

Oral CBD supplements, such as capsules, edibles, and oils, must pass through the digestive system and circulate through the liver. These processes metabolize CBD and reduce the amount that ultimately reaches the bloodstream, thereby reducing the bioavailability. While there aren’t any studies about CBD bioavailability, there are some studies that have shown tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) bioavailability of between four and 20 percent for oral delivery.

Another common way to consume CBD is through inhalation using CBD vape oils. When a consumer vapes oil, CBD bypasses first-pass metabolism and enters the bloodstream through the lungs. THC studies have shown that this can enhance bioavailability to as much as 56 percent, although there is significant variance due to factors like how long the vapor is held in the lungs and the volume of inhalation for a given person.

DehydraTECH™ Approach

Lexaria’s DehydraTECH™ drug delivery platform aims to improve bioavailability, as well as make the dosing more predictable across individuals.

By combining cannabinoids with fatty acid oil, applying food carrier particles, and performing a dehydration procedure, the technology masks the bitter and earthy taste of cannabis oil and ensures quick and effective transportation into the bloodstream without degradation in the stomach or liver (first pass metabolism). Early animal studies showed that this approach could significant improve the bioavailability of cannabinoids.

On August 1, the company released the results from its randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind European human clinical study that evaluated TurboCBD™ — a proprietary DehydraTECH™ powered CBD hemp oil capsule. The study looked at the degree and speed of CBD absorption into blood plasma and potential cardiovascular and cognitive performance enhancements in 12 healthy male volunteers.

The study found that CBD absorption was more than three-times higher than the control at the 30 minute mark and continued to significantly surpass control blood level concentrations through the 360 minute measurements. Interestingly, the CBD absorption was even better than GW Pharmaceuticals’ (NASDAQ: GWPH) Mount Sinai study, which used much higher doses of 400mg and 800mg to achieve lower overall blood concentrations.

Looking Ahead

Lexaria Bioscience Corp.’s (OTCQX: LXRP) (CSE: LXX) DehydraTECH™ has consistently demonstrated superior bioavailability versus other products on the market. In addition to CBD, the company has been actively research the drug delivery platform’s potential in improving the bioavailability of other cannabinoids and other drugs. It has over 40 patents pending and 8 patents granted around the world protecting these innovations, yielding significant licensing opportunities down the road.

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

Disclaimer

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About Ryan Allway

Mr. Allway has over a decade of experience in the financial markets as both a private investor and financial journalist. He has been actively involved in the cannabis industry since its inception, covering public and private companies.