Cannabis-based Therapies With Potential to Dull the Pain of Opioid Abuse

NEW YORK, May 17, 2017 /PRNewswire/ --

America is in an opioid epidemic. On an average day, 91 Americans will die from an opioid-related overdose. That's according to the CDC, which also reports that the number of prescription opioids sold in the U.S. has nearly quadrupled since 1999 despite no overall change in the amount of pain reported. The result is more than half a million deaths by opioid overdose from 2000 to 2015. These sobering figures reveal the desperate need for opioid substitutes, and cannabis-based therapies for pain treatment are emerging as viable alternatives. The potential rewards are significant for companies that can develop these therapies, and among those growing in recognition are India Globalization Capital, Inc. (NYSE: IGC) (IGC Profile), Vitality Biopharma, Inc. (OTC: VBIO), Cara Therapeutics, Inc. (NASDAQ: CARA), Zynerba Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NASDAQ: ZYNE) and AXIM Biotechnologies, Inc. (OTC: AXIM).

According to a 2016 report published by Transparency Market Research, analysts surmise that almost 20 percent of the world's population currently suffers from chronic pain^[(1)]. As such, the global pain management therapeutics market is expected to exhibit a 3.7 percent CAGR through 2024, with market valuation increasing to US $83.0 billion by the same year.

A closer look at chronic pain explains this growth. Terminal illness, for one, is frequently accompanied by pain so agonizing, severe, and difficult to treat that death can seem like a preferable option to the patient. A key disadvantage of currently available drug therapies for chronic severe pain is that opioid-based drugs can create various side effects, including hallucinations, sedation, nausea, respiratory depression, constipation and dysphoria. Pain treatment also poses a significant challenge to health care professionals because it frequently debilitates patients in ways that hamper their day-to-day functionality, which, by extension, poses a huge productivity problem among U.S. citizens. In 2012, the annual cost of pain in the United States was estimated at between $560 billion and $635 billion-eclipsing the costs of national priority health conditions.

In light of this information, imagine for a moment the inconceivable potential of a cannabis-based combination therapy that could effectively address a large market indication. An achievement of this sort would propel an undiscovered stock straight into the spotlight. Such is the case and possibility with India Globalization Capital (NYSE:IGC).

IGC aims to formulate and commercialize cannabinoid compounds as an alternative to addictive long-term opioid treatments, endeavoring to do so through a focus on combination therapy. The company is developing a portfolio of phytocannabinoid-based therapies to treat a broad range of therapeutic indications, including neuropathic and cancer pain. IGC has applied for a U.S. patent to treat pain based on a novel therapy that utilizes cannabinoid extracts. This therapy employs a cream that is applied through the use of various delivery technologies and has indications in both humans and other mammals, including dogs and cats. The company plans to conduct metabolic profiling and to run trials in the near term. IGC's patent filing (IGC-501) is a cannabis-based formulation that addresses neuropathic and arthritic pain via various delivery techniques.

IGC's innovative and exciting strategy is to leverage its 'first mover' position to become a leader within the phytocannabinoid-based combination therapy specialty pharmaceutical sector. Developing cannabis-based combination therapies represents a huge and unique opportunity in this emerging specialty pharmaceutical sector. Obtaining FDA approval for combination therapy is typically significantly quicker and less costly than new drug applications, which means IGC can potentially bring its cannabis-based pharmaceutical products to market in a timely and thus cost-effective manner. With a market cap of approximately $11.0 million, a fraction of that of its peer group, IGC is poised to explode once its cannabis-based pain therapies obtain approval and can be brought to the market.

Another company taking aim at bringing cannabis-based therapies to market is Vitality Biopharma (OTCQB: VBIO), which has a market cap of approximately $51.7 million. A cure development company, Vitality Biopharma is focused on utilizing cannabinoid 'prodrugs' to treat serious neurological and inflammatory disorders and to provide targeted therapies with the potential to offer long-term or durable relief and possibly help patients recover lost function.

Prodrugs are compounds or medications that, upon administration, are converted inside the body into a pharmacologically active drug that may already have a lengthy history of clinical investigation and use. As reference drugs may already have independent verification of their safety and effectiveness, some prodrugs can potentially be quickly approved by demonstrating comparable bioavailability or bioequivalence. A prodrug can simultaneously be much more marketable because of its ability to eradicate undesirable side effects or commercial aspects.

As public interest in medical marijuana applications continues to increase, clinical trials sponsored by academic investigators for using cannabinoids in the treatment of profitable, large-market disease indications is also increasing. Vitality Biopharma's ability to quickly create proprietary prodrug versions of CBD, THC, CBVD and others positions the company to benefit from emerging data and increasing medical community recognition of the potential pain relief and anti-inflammatory effects of cannabinoids. It has become a well-established fact that cannabis has the potential to provide relief of pain and inflammation in certain disease indications, and Vitality Biopharma's prodrugs have the potential to exert the same positive therapeutic effects as current therapies, with noteworthy improvements. Vitality Biopharma has filed intellectual property applications and is seeking global patent protection through 2035 with strong composition matter claims for prodrugs of THC, CBD and CBDV, as well as for the company's proprietary prodrug biosynthesis platform that utilizes enzymatic glycosylation.

Another company applying the medical properties of cannabis for the treatment of pain is Cara Therapeutics (NASDAQ: CARA), with a market cap of approximately $539.6 million. Cara Therapeutics is a clinical-stage biotechnology company focused on developing and commercializing new chemical entities, which are designed to lessen pain and pruritus by selectively targeting peripheral kappa opioid receptors. The company is developing a novel and proprietary class of product candidates designed to target the peripheral nervous system of the body and that have shown initial efficacy in patients suffering with moderate-to-severe pain. This has been demonstrated without creating many of the unwanted side effects that are normally associated with current pain therapeutics.

Studies conducted to assess the effects of cannabis have led to a recent discovery of an endogenous system of ligands within humans that are involved in various physiological processes, including pain and inflammation. The primary naturally occurring ligands for this system activate numerous cannabinoid receptors, including CB1 and CB2 receptors. CB1 receptors and associated ligands are primarily localized in the brain, while CB2 receptors are chiefly found in peripheral tissues-in particular immune cells like leukocytes and mast cells, which have been shown to have involvement in pain and inflammatory responses. Cara Therapeutics is developing lead molecules that selectively modulate peripheral CB receptors without targeting CNS cannabinoid receptors. The company will initially develop peripheral CB receptor modulators as a novel therapeutic approach for neuropathic pain. CR701, the company's most advanced CB compound, is currently in preclinical development.

Zynerba Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ: ZYNE), with a market cap of approximately $255.8 million, is also seeking to treat a variety of severe health conditions, including peripheral neuropathic pain-in this case by applying synthetic cannabinoid therapeutics that are formulated for transdermal delivery. A clinical-stage pharmaceutical company, Zynerba Pharmaceuticals currently has two lead product candidates in its development pipeline: ZYN002 and ZYN001. These product candidates are being evaluated in five therapeutic indications. ZYN002 is the first and, currently, the only synthetic CBD, which is a non-psychoactive cannabinoid. It has been formulated as a patent-protected permeation-enhanced gel for transdermal delivery through the skin into the body's circulatory system and is in phase 2 clinical development. ZYN001 is a prodrug of THC that facilitates transdermal delivery through the skin and into the circulatory system through a patch. A phase 1 clinical trial of ZYN001 is planned to commence in 2017.

AXIM Biotechnologies (OTCQB: AXIM), with a market cap of approximately $410.5 million, is focused on the research, development and production of cannabinoid-based pharmaceutical products and supplements. The company owns the patent for the use of chewing gum as a cannabinoid delivery method, and its MedChew RX gum will soon commence phase 3 clinical trials for the treatment of pain and spasticity related to multiple sclerosis. This pharmaceutical, functional chewing gum contains equal portions of THC and CBD. Thanks to the company's proprietary technology, various problems related to the water insolubility of cannabinoids have been addressed and resolved. Based on AXIM's proprietary intellectual property, a new direct and controlled slow-release nano-technology delivery method is planned to be investigated. Various other R&D projects are also being considered that involve AXIM's proprietary intellectual property.

There is no denying the power and potential of cannabis-based therapies for pain management, and investors have the opportunity to scout the playing field of this market to identify the most promising companies. This growing segment of the health care field increasingly demonstrates favorability by addressing key health issues that affect people in the United States and around the world.

For more information on India Globalization Capital visit India Globalization Capital (IGC)

About NetworkNewsWire 

NetworkNewsWire (NNW) is an information service that provides to users (1) access to our news aggregation and syndication servers, (2) enhanced press release services, and (3) a full array of social communication solutions. As a multifaceted financial news and content distribution company with an extensive team of contributing journalists and writers, NNW 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. NNW 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, NNW brings its clients unparalleled visibility, recognition and brand awareness. NNW is where news, content and information converge.

http://www.NetworkNewsWire.com

212.418.1217 Office

Editor@NetworkNewsWire.com

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

DISCLAIMER: NetworkNewsWire (NNW) is the source of the Article and content set forth above. References to any issuer other than the profiled issuer are intended solely to identify industry participants and do not constitute an endorsement of any issuer and do not constitute a comparison to the profiled issuer. FN Media Group (FNM) is a third-party publisher and news dissemination service provider, which disseminates electronic information through multiple online media channels. FNM is NOT affiliated with NNW or any company mentioned herein. The commentary, views and opinions expressed in this release by NNW are solely those of NNW and are not shared by and do not reflect in any manner the views or opinions of FNM. Readers of this Article and content agree that they cannot and will not seek to hold liable NNW and FNM for any investment decisions by their readers or subscribers. NNW and FNM and their respective affiliated companies are a news dissemination and financial marketing solutions provider and are NOT registered broker-dealers/analysts/investment advisers, hold no investment licenses and may NOT sell, offer to sell or offer to buy any security.

The Article and content related to the profiled company represent the personal and subjective views of the Author, and are subject to change at any time without notice. The information provided in the Article and the content has been obtained from sources which the Author believes to be reliable. However, the Author has not independently verified or otherwise investigated all such information. None of the Author, NNW, FNM, or any of their respective affiliates, guarantee the accuracy or completeness of any such information. This Article and content are not, and should not be regarded as investment advice or as a recommendation regarding any particular security or course of action; readers are strongly urged to speak with their own investment advisor and review all of the profiled issuer's filings made with the Securities and Exchange Commission before making any investment decisions and should understand the risks associated with an investment in the profiled issuer's securities, including, but not limited to, the complete loss of your investment.

NNW & FNM HOLDS NO SHARES OF ANY COMPANY NAMED IN THIS RELEASE.

This release contains "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended and such forward-looking statements are made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. "Forward-looking statements" describe future expectations, plans, results, or strategies and are generally preceded by words such as "may", "future", "plan" or "planned", "will" or "should", "expected," "anticipates", "draft", "eventually" or "projected". You are cautioned that such statements are subject to a multitude of risks and uncertainties that could cause future circumstances, events, or results to differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements, including the risks that actual results may differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements as a result of various factors, and other risks identified in a company's annual report on Form 10-K or 10-KSB and other filings made by such company with the Securities and Exchange Commission. You should consider these factors in evaluating the forward-looking statements included herein, and not place undue reliance on such statements. The forward-looking statements in this release are made as of the date hereof and NNW and FNM undertake no obligation to update such statements.

Sources:

Media Contact:
E-mail:  editor@financialnewsmedia.com
+1-(954)345-0611
FN Media Group, LLC

SOURCE NetworkNewsWire