07 Feb CURE Pharmaceutical Forays into the European Medical Cannabis Industry with the Out-Licensing of its Encapsulation Technology to ReLeaf
Cure Pharmaceutical (OTCQB: CURR), a Company leveraging its proprietary drug dosage forms and delivery systems to create innovative therapeutics in collaboration with leading biotech and pharmaceutical companies, announced the signing of an exclusive licensing agreement with ReLeaf Europe, a leading European Medicinal Cannabis Company. ReLeaf gains exclusive access to CURE’s encapsulation technology for certain oral and topical cannabis products in Netherlands and will be the first company to incorporate the CUREinside™ quality mark.
The technology will be used by ReLeaf for encapsulation of one sublingual tincture and two topical creams, expected to be launched in 2020. ReLeaf is a pioneer in the clinical cannabis care in Europe and shares the passion and commitment with Cure, to deliver the highest quality standards for all of its products. The technology will help the company develop a highly differentiated product and help it gain a strong foothold in the market.
Jessica Rousset, COO of CURE, commented,
“ReLeaf Europe is one of the few pharmacy providers of pharmaceutical-grade medicinal cannabis oils in Europe and an ideal partner for our first step into the European market because of its commitment to establishing clinical evidence and following EU GMP and GDP standards. “Through this agreement, we will roll out our powered by CURE strategy that includes exclusive licensing relationships to build global market share.”
Cure Pharmaceutical (OTCQB: CURR)
Market Cap: $104.77M; Current Share Price: 2.76 USD
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Industry
The Cannabis plant has an estimated 113 different compounds, out of which THC and CBD are the two main constituents. These affect the receptors in the brain to alter an individual’s physical and mental state. THC is mainly responsible for the psychoactive effects or the feeling of “high” caused by the use of cannabis. CBD on the other hand, has several powerful anti-inflammatory, analgesic, neuroprotective and anti-anxiety properties, which explains its growing popularity to treat a plethora of medical conditions. Unlike THC, CBD does not have any psychotropic effects and hence is widely preferred.
CBD is now being used to treat a wide array of medical conditions such as cancer, cardiovascular anomalies, arthritis, anxiety, depression and Insomnia. In addition, it has also been proven to possess neuroprotective benefits that can treat diseases such as seizures, Multiple Sclerosis (MS), Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s and Schizophrenia to name a few. There is a growing preference for CBD over traditional pharmaceutical options as these have minimal side effects and are non-addictive.
In 2017, The WHO expert committee on Drug Dependence (ECDD) concluded that in its unadulterated form, CBD does not cause harm or have abuse potential. While further research is underway on the subject it has been proved that CBD is well tolerated in humans and is safe.
A survey conducted by Brightfield group shows that 42% of CBD users ditched traditional medicine and a significant 80% of the CBD users rated these alternate medicine as extremely effective treatment. The same survey reveals that 90% of CBD users were likely to buy these products again. Those numbers sound the death knell for pharmaceutical companies.
The Global legal marijuana market is likely to reach over USD 66.3 billion by the end of 2025, as per a report by Grand View Research, Inc, growing at a CAGR of 23.9%. There is a growing acceptance of the curative effects of cannabis, with some countries such as Canada and certain states of U.S legalizing the use of Marijuana for medical and recreational use. Research has time and again shown that cannabinoids (CBD), extracted from the cannabis plant, have varied medical uses with minimal side effects, making it a sought after alternative to traditional pharmaceutical options.
According to statistics published in the Hemp Business Journal, the industry registered sales of $820 million in 2017. In spite of facing regulatory hurdles and legal challenges, the industry grew by 16%.
The industry is poised to grow to $2.1 billion by 2020, a whopping 700% increase from 2016. Those numbers are not only appealing to the players in the CBD market but also serve as an incredible opportunity the pharmaceutical companies to create novel solutions for disease with large unmet medical needs.
Company
Cure Pharmaceutical offers novel drug delivery solutions for a broad range of molecules by improving their solubility and bioavailability. The Company’s goal is to make medicines easier to use with minimal side-effects thereby improving patient adherence. Cure’s proprietary technology improves the pharmacokinetics of drugs and results in precise dosing and ease of administration.
Cure’s nanoencapsulation method allows drugs to be delivered by bypassing the GI tract thereby overcoming side-effects, and inactivation in the gut and liver. The company produces CUREfilm ORAL that can be applied through Buccal Mucosa, Sublingual and Orally.
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The positive changes in the regulatory framework towards cannabinoid based medication have provided impetus to the company’s efforts. The company intends to leverage the “Entourage Effect” that is inherent in the cannabinoid, terpenoid molecules. Its technology enables formulation of multiple active ingredients into a single dose that can mimic drug combinations that are naturally occurring. It is engaged in preclinical trials for its CUREfilm Canna (THC&CBD), which can deliver synthetic and plant-derived cannabinoids in an oral thin film for pharmaceutical indications as per the Company.
CUREFilm can improve the oral bioavailability of cannabinoid molecules. It is currently sponsoring research to study the anti-tumor effects of phytocannabinoids and terpenes on cancer driving mutations and pathways.
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In addition, the company manufactures CUREfilm Sleep with five active ingredients such as Melatonin, Beta-Caryophyllene, Gamma-aminobutyric Acid (GABA), Vitamin B6 and L-Theanine to be used as a daily dietary supplement sleep aid. CURE is targeting a major share of the Melatonin supplement market that is projected to reach USD by USD 1.5 billion by 2021.
In the pipeline are CUREfilm Blue (Sildenafil), CUREfilm D (Vitamin D3) and CUREfilm β-Caryophyllene (anti-inflammatory and analgesic properties) under various stages of clinical development. It also has a subsidiary named OAK Therapeutics that focuses on making medicines available to children and women during pregnancy.
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