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AusCann (ASX:AC8) ready to begin first clinical evaluation of hard-shell capsules

Health Care
ASX:AC8      MCAP $17.62M
31 March 2020 14:30 (AEST)

Medicinal cannabis company AusCann (AC8) is ready to start its first clinical evaluation of its hard-shell capsules.

The company is planning to undertake a randomised, cross-over, open-label phase one trial of its capsules to assess the movement of the capsule through the body once it has been taken.

All volunteers participating are healthy and will be testing two different dose strengths of a THC:CBD formulation.

While the study is planned to begin on April 20, 2020, the health and safety of staff and volunteers is a priority and AusCann will continue to monitor the developments and guidelines surrounding COVID-19.

AusCann’s hard-shell capsules provide a unique way to take medicinal hemp, rather than traditional methods such as topical creams, liquids or inhalation.

The company states that its capsules are “designed to enable accurate dosing” which address problems associated with consistency, stability and dosing in current oil-based CBD medicines on the market.

Oil-based CBD medicines are difficult to administer, they deliver an unreliable dosage, and it’s easier for the cannabinoids (the physchoactive component of cannabis) to degrade over time.

In December 2019, AusCann announced that the capsules had been successfully tested and had met all predefined criteria set out by the Australian Therapeutic Good Administration (TGA), in addition to the company’s own quality assurance and control procedures.

The TGA outlines that the general principle for testing should be “start low, go slow”.

This means that it is important to provide doctors and patients with a controlled-formulation in different doses to find to perfect concentration for personalised treatment.

Two months later in February 2020, AusCann completed the manufacturing and testing of its capsules with a low dose of CBD at a commercial scale.

“AusCann has developed standardised cannabinoid-based formulations in a dose-controlled capsule. The capsules have been tested in a lab setting and demonstrated to be reliable, stable and deliver a consistent controlled dose of the formulation,” CEO Ido Kanyon commented.

“These results will build the clinical evidence supporting the unique benefits of AusCann’s capsules, whilst enhancing the medical acceptance of cannabinoid-based medicines for the benefit of patients in Australia,” he said.

AusCann is up a steady 15.6 per cent on the market today and shares are trading for 18.5 cents each at 12:24 pm AEDT.

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