Canntab Partners with Leading Surgeon to Conduct Pain Management Trial

The opioid industry is expected to generate nearly $20 billion in annual revenue by 2020, but the addictive nature of the drug has doctors and patients increasingly concerned. With the legalization of cannabis across Canada and many U.S. states, there’s an opportunity to replace dangerous opioids with efficacious cannabinoids to treat chronic and acute pain. Investors may want to take a closer look at companies focused in these areas.

Canntab Therapeutics Ltd. (CSE: PILL) (FSE: TBF1) recently announced a partnership with world-renowned orthopaedic surgeon, Dr. Don Garbuz, MD, to conduct a clinical trial to analyze the efficacy of cannabis as a replacement for opioids in postoperative care. The study is expected to cost about $600,000 and take between 12 and 18 months to complete. If successful, it could open the door to significant pain management markets.

Surgical Pain Management

Most patients undergoing surgery are prescribed opioids to control their postoperative pain, such as OxyContin®, Percocet®, or Vicodin®.

Opioids travel through the bloodstream to the nervous system where they attach to specialized proteins, called OP1, OP2, or OP3 receptors, on the surfaces of opiate-sensitive neurons. Through a series of cellular events and mechanisms, the linkage of opioids to these receptors produces an analgesic effect and triggers the same biochemical processes that reward people with feelings of pleasure.

The effectiveness and widespread use of opioids has created a market that could reach $18.4 billion by 2020, making it one of the most successful classes of pharmaceutical drugs.

The problem is that opioids can be very addictive. The body builds up tolerance to opioids over time, which means that greater and greater doses are required to achieve the same effects. In addition, chronic opioid use creates brain abnormalities that create withdrawal symptoms when a person tries to stop taking opioids. More than 115 people die every day from opioid overdoses in the U.S. alone, while costs have reached $78.5 billion per year, including the costs of healthcare, lost productivity, addiction treatment, and criminal justice involvement

The legalization of cannabis across Canada and in many U.S. states has created a unique opportunity to combat the crisis by prescribing cannabis as an alternative. Unlike opioids, cannabinoids act on the body’s endocannabinoid system to generate an analgesic effect—users don’t even need to experience the high of THC. Cannabis is also far less addictive and nobody has overdosed on cannabis and died—the same cannot be said for opioids where overdose deaths are commonplace.

Canntab’s Promising Trial

Canntab Therapeutics recently launched a research partnership with Dr. Don Garbuz, MD, Head of the Division of Lower Limb Reconstruction and Oncology of the Department of Orthopaedics at the University of British Columbia. Under the terms of the agreement, the two parties aim to conduct a study to examine and quantify the efficacy of Canntab products in replacing opioids in preoperative and postoperative pain management.

Subject to approval from the University of British Columbia, the partnership will begin clinical trials at the university using Canntab tablets to treat pain after knee-replacement surgery under the direction of Dr. Garbuz. The tablets will be manufactured at FSD Pharma’s (CSE: HUGE) Coburg, Ontario facility under its partnership that was established in September, while initial upfront fees will be covered by Canntab.

Canntab’s solid oral dose delivery systems include extended release (XR), flash melt, immediate release, modified release, and bi-layered tablets that provide a variety of cannabinoid and terpenoid blends in exacting dosages. Protected by 13 patents pending in the United States and Canada, the technology could revolutionize the cannabis industry by providing more pharmaceutical-like options that have exact dosing and familiar protocols.

Looking Ahead

Canntab Therapeutics Ltd. (CSE: PILL) (FSE: TBF1) is well-positioned to offer an alternative to opioids to both combat harmful addictions and capture a meaningful portion of the multi-billion dollar market. With clinical trials underway, the company is drawing closer to commercialization while creating numerous potential catalysts for the stock.

For more information, visit the company’s website at www.canntab.ca.

Disclaimer

The above article is sponsored content. Emerging Growth LLC, which owns CannabisFN.com and CFN Media, has been hired to create awareness. Please follow the link below to view our full disclosure outlining our compensation: http://www.cannabisfn.com/legal-disclaimer

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.