A cheaper, safer CBD alternative? Scientists discover new synthetic CBD analogue alleviates seizures in rats

31 May 2019 --- A synthetic, non-intoxicating cannabidiol (CBD) alternative, 8,9-Dihydrocannabidiol (H2CBD) was found to be as effective in treating the frequency and severity of seizures in rats, pointing towards a potential therapeutic application for humans. The research was conducted by chemists at the University of California, Davis, US, in collaboration with researchers at the University of Reading, UK. According to their report, the synthetic CBD alternative is easier to purify than a plant extract, eliminating the need to use agricultural land for hemp cultivation (making it cheaper), and can avoid legal implications surrounding cannabis-related products. Their work was recently published in the journal Scientific Reports.

“It's a much safer drug than CBD, with no abuse potential and doesn't require the cultivation of hemp," says Mark Mascal, Professor in the UC Davis Department of Chemistry. The researchers have ambitions to conduct further studies in animals with a goal of moving into clinical trials soon. UC Davis has applied for a provisional patent on antiseizure use of H2CBD and its analogues, and Mascal has founded a company, Syncanica, to continue the development of H2CBD for commercial applications.

Syncanica has now applied for federal funding, but Mascal says the company is open to a joint development agreement with an established company. “We would like to see a product for the market as soon as possible, but there are a lot of variables that make a timeframe prediction impossible at this point,” he tells NutritionInsight. “The product would cater initially to the same demographic as the current, herbal cannabis-based drug on the market (pediatric epilepsy), but it would not be in regulatory no-man's land like cannabis now is (in most of the world), and ideally be less expensive.”

Products containing CBD have risen in popularity because of their touted health effects and due to the fact the compound does not cause a high. CBD is also being investigated as a pharmaceutical compound for conditions including anxiety, glaucoma and arthritis. As such, in recent years there has been a proliferation of NPD in this space – from CBD-infused wines and waters, to stick packs and even cinnamon rolls. The US Food and Drug Administration has approved an extract of herbal CBD for treating some seizure conditions and there is also strong evidence from animal studies.

However, because the extract is derived from cannabis or hemp plants, CBD poses legal problems in some US states and under federal law. Another implication is that is also possible to chemically convert CBD to tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the intoxicating compound in marijuana, which gets you high.

8,9-Dihydrocannabidiol (H2CBD) is a synthetic molecule with a similar structure to CBD. Mascal's laboratory developed a simple method to inexpensively synthesize H2CBD from commercially available chemicals. “Unlike CBD, there is no way to convert H2CBD to intoxicating THC,” he says.

And furthermore, Mascal adds that H2CBD does not appear to have the expected effects as CBD (no drowsiness, etc), as it is believed these are caused by CBD’s partial conversion to THC in the gastric tract, which is does not happen to H2CBD. The compound’s potential for use as a dietary supplement (antioxidant) is said to be identical to that of CBD.

“Our plan now is to do IND (investigational new drug)-enabling, nonclinical studies in anticipation of first-in-human clinical evaluation,” Mascal explains. “Essentially, we need more validation in animal trials to move forward. This first paper described preliminary results in the control of induced seizures in rats, where H2CBD and CBD were shown to have essentially identical efficacy. Follow up work will take up where that left off, and include in-depth pharmacokinetic studies.”

An industry report by Rabobank elaborates that there is still ambiguities as to whether CBD has indeed proven its potential as a new consumer staple, or is slated to become another “has-been cure-all in the supplement aisle.” The analysis, which takes a hard look at the future of CBD in the US, underscores the issue of a possible crash in the hemp market due to supply chain imbalances and legal implications. With this in mind, non-farmed, fully synthetic H2CBD may be well-positioned to fill in gaps in this budding market.

By Benjamin Ferrer

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