Catalent to formulate CBD multiple sclerosis treatment with Zydis
Canada-based Ethicann Pharmaceuticals uses botanically-sourced cannabinoids to develop treatments for several conditions, including chemotherapy-induced nausea, chronic pain, post-traumatic stress disorder and opioid mitigation.
Under a partnership with Catalent, the company will formulate its investigative combination therapeutic for multiple sclerosis spasticity by utilizing the latter’s Zydis orally disintegrating tablet technology.
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Ethicann’s candidate contains cannabidiol (CBD) and tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), and it is expected to ease muscular spasticity, one of the most common symptoms of multiple sclerosis, which causes muscle stiffness and involuntary spasms.
“CBDs and THCs are notoriously insoluble and poorly bioavailable so a Zydis sublingual dosage form provides a drug delivery solution by avoiding first pass metabolism,” explained Jonathan Arnold, president of Catalent’s Oral and Specialty Delivery business unit.
The product is being investigated for the treatment of patients who have shown inadequate response to other symptomatic treatments or who have difficulty tolerating the side-effects of other treatments.
On his side, Ethicann’s president, Bruce Mackler, commented that Zydis technology has the potential to “give pharmaceutical cannabinoids a distinct advantage, allowing patients to self-dose if approved to optimize therapeutic effect.”
The developer intends to seek approval for the product from the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA), as well as expedited approval to market the potential treatment in Canada.
