The results give NTI further momentum as it pursues an expanded development pathway for its proprietary medicinal cannabis treatment.
Medical company Neurotech International (ASX:NTI) has announced an important new update in the development of its proprietary formulation for the treatment of multiple sclerosis (MS).
The company is executing on a detailed pre-clinical program for its NTI/Dolce Strains – a strain of hemp containing unique properties that the company has licensed from a domestic producer.
NTI announced results from the latest in-vitro study this morning, which showed the NTI/Dolce Strains were “significantly more potent than CBD alone in suppressing the production of two key inflammatory neuro-markers” involved in MS.
The study was carried out in conjunction with the Neurodevelopment in Health & Disease Laboratory at RMIT University, a globally recognised research laboratory.
When applied to the two neuro-markers – GM-CSF and TNF Alpha – the NTI/Dolce Strains showed a material suppression of 40% and 30% respectively, compared to CBD alone which had no significant effect.
The results reconfirm the “powerful properties” of NTI’s proprietary strain across neurotransmission, neuro-regulation and neuro anti-inflammatory networks that assist in the suppression of MS.
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Looking ahead, the results will form part of the comprehensive scientific portfolio NTI is building for the NTI/Dolce Strains as it moves towards clinical trials
“Further preclinical studies will determine mode of action and safety to design and undertake a Phase I/II clinical study in MS,” Neurotech said.
Company chairman Brian Leedman said the treatment was tested against a number of “very powerful” neuro-markers that are used to monitor the development of MS.
To obtain the levels of suppression or regulation that Neurotech achieved could prove to be “very beneficial in the overall disease management”, he added.
MS is a disease which damages the protective sheath around nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord, and causes symptoms such as slurred speech, chronic pain, numbness and loss of muscular function.
According to Fortune Business Insights, the global market for MS drug treatments was valued at US$25 billion in 2019 and is expected to climb to US$40bn by 2027.
In that context, NTI is taking a diligent approach to building out a proprietary drug treatment that has a large global addressable market which has a strong need for alternative medical solutions.
This article was developed in collaboration with Neurotech International, a Stockhead advertiser at the time of publishing.
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