Publication on a Novel Hydrogel Formulation for the Treatment of Glaucoma Helps Validate InMed's Fully Integrated, Cannabinoid-based Business Model
CSE: IN
OTCQB: IMLFF
VANCOUVER, March 6, 2018 /PRNewswire/ - InMed Pharmaceuticals Inc. ("InMed" or the "Company") (CSE: IN; OTCQB: IMLFF), a biopharmaceutical company specializing in the research and development of novel, cannabinoid-based drug therapies, announced today the publication of a peer-reviewed article in Drug Delivery and Translational Research.
The article, titled "A stimulus-responsive, in situ forming, nanoparticle-laden hydrogel for ocular drug delivery", presents results from a pre-clinical study co-sponsored by InMed and was co-authored by Dr. Sazzad Hossain, InMed's Chief Scientific Officer.
In October, 2017, InMed originally announced completion of this study. These proprietary data support what the Company believes to be a first-in-class nanoparticle-hydrogel formulation for cannabinoid delivery to the eye, resulting in enhanced drug uptake via the cornea and lens. The patent family for this discovery is currently at the provisional stage and will be converted to a PCT filing during 2018.
"We are highly encouraged by the findings from our discovery, and are now pleased to see our research receiving acceptance from a key peer-reviewed journal", said Dr. Hossain. "These study results demonstrate significant delivery of cannabinoids to the eye via transcorneal penetration, resulting in a 300% increase versus a control formulation. Beyond cannabinoid delivery, we believe our nanoparticle-hydrogel composite may be beneficial for a number of other ophthalmic pharmaceutical products requiring enhanced transport into the eye."
In these studies, the investigators successfully validated the efficient transport of the formulated product in whole-eye experiments. The work seamlessly combined product design, synthetic biology, polymer rheology, and analysis of mass transport within ocular tissue. The hydrogel was formulated as a composite of hyaluronic acid (HA) and methylcellulose (MC). Both polymers are biocompatible and highly muco-adhesive, making them ideal candidates for an ocular formulation. The amphiphilic nanoparticles were composed of a block copolymer composed of poly-ethylene oxide (PEO) and poly-lactic acid (PLA), designed to facilitate enhanced cannabinoid drug delivery into the eye via the cornea. For this study, the non-psychoactive cannabinoid cannabigerolic acid (CBGA) was biosynthesized using InMed's proprietary E. coli-based manufacturing approach. Results from the experiment verified the performance of a stimulus-responsive switching between thixotropy (thinning of the gel upon a shearing force, such as blinking) and temperature-dependent rheopexy (reforming as a gel after blinking), resulting in a thin, uniform gel-like lens that holds the drug in place to allow for transcorneal transport. Envisioned as a once-per-day (at bedtime) administration, this formulation is designed to address many of the issues associated with current glaucoma medications.
Eric A. Adams, the Company's President and CEO, added "While glaucoma is certainly a blockbuster opportunity, we believe that our innovations offer solutions beyond this single indication. This research validates InMed's first-in-class technology, which integrates our proprietary drug-disease targeting platform, highly efficient biosynthesis process of multiple cannabinoid compounds, and delivery of therapeutic products designed to treat multiple diseases with high unmet medical needs."
For additional information, please follow this link to the article: https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s13346-018-0504-x/fulltext.html
About InMed:
InMed is a fully integrated biopharmaceutical company specializing in the research and development of novel, cannabinoid-based prescription drug therapies utilizing novel drug delivery systems. Along with building and validating its proprietary drug-disease targeting platform and biosynthesis technologies for broad commercial use, InMed is currently developing pre-clinical product candidates: INM-750 for the treatment of Epidermolysis bullosa, INM-085 for the treatment of glaucoma, and INM-405 for the treatment of pain. For more information, visit www.inmedpharma.com.
About Glaucoma:
Glaucoma is a chronic optic neuropathy that is typically caused by high intraocular pressure (IOP). The increased intraocular pressure exacts a toll on the membranes of the retina, damaging the head of the optic nerve and leading to blindness. Glaucoma is currently the second leading cause of blindness world-wide; it is estimated to affect a population close to 80 million by 2020*.
| *Quigley and Boman, "The number of people with glaucoma worldwide in 2010 and 2020". 2006. |
Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Information
This news release contains "forward-looking information" and "forward-looking statements" (collectively, "forward-looking information") within the meaning of applicable securities laws. Forward-looking information is based on management's current expectations and beliefs and is subject to a number of risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those described in the forward-looking statements. Forward-looking information in this news release includes statements about: a first-in-class nanoparticle-hydrogel formulation for cannabinoid delivery to the eye, resulting in enhanced drug uptake via the cornea and lens; converting the patent family to a PCT filing in 2018; the Company's nanoparticle-hydrogel composite possibly being beneficial for a number of other non-cannabinoid ophthalmic pharmaceutical products requiring enhanced transport into the eye; the ability of the formulation to address many of the issues associated with current glaucoma medications; the ability of the Company's innovations to offer solutions beyond this single indication; this research validating the Company's technology; and developing pre-clinical product candidates: INM-750 for the treatment of Epidermolysis bullosa, INM-085 for the treatment of glaucoma, and INM-405 for the treatment of pain.
With respect to the forward-looking information contained in this news release, InMed has made numerous assumptions regarding, among other things: continued and timely positive preclinical and clinical efficacy data; the speed of regulatory approvals; demand for InMed's products; and continued economic and market stability. While InMed considers these assumptions to be reasonable, these assumptions are inherently subject to significant business, economic, competitive, market and social uncertainties and contingencies.
Additionally, there are known and unknown risk factors which could cause InMed's actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking information contained herein. Known risk factors include, among others: the nanoparticle-hydrogel formulation and InMed's other product candidates may not deliver the expected level of results; the patent family may not be converted to a PCT filing in 2018, or at all; technological challenges associated with developing InMed's proprietary platform technology, including its bioinformatics database drug/disease targeting tool, its cannabinoid biosynthesis technology, its hydrogel cannabinoid product formulation, and its drug product candidates which may not, individually and in aggregate, return their expected level of value; InMed may not be able to find suitable partners; and economic or market conditions may worsen.
A more complete discussion of the risks and uncertainties facing InMed is disclosed in InMed's Annual Information Form and other continuous disclosure filed with Canadian securities regulatory authorities on SEDAR at www.sedar.com. All forward-looking information herein is qualified in its entirety by this cautionary statement, and InMed disclaims any obligation to revise or update any such forward-looking information or to publicly announce the result of any revisions to any of the forward-looking information contained herein to reflect future results, events or developments, except as required by law.
NEITHER THE CANADIAN SECURITIES EXCHANGE NOR ITS REGULATIONS SERVICES PROVIDER HAVE REVIEWED OR ACCEPT RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE ADEQUACY OR ACCURACY OF THIS RELEASE.
SOURCE InMed Pharmaceuticals Inc.
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