DSM at CPHI 2022: Pioneering technologies for CBD bioavailability and drug delivery formats

19 Oct 2022 --- DSM is gearing up to present its latest pharmaceutical, consumer health and medical nutrition solutions at CPHI 2022 in Frankfurt, Germany (Nov 1-3). Visitors to booth 120B120 will discover pioneering technologies to enhance cannabidiol (CBD) bioavailability and new drug delivery formats.

Scientific evidence increasingly points to the potential of CBD as a key ingredient across multiple health areas, including central nervous system (CNS) diseases, pain management, cancer and mood disorders.

However, low and variable bioavailability poses a significant challenge in CBD-based formulations. According to Kelsey Achenbach, senior director of Pharma and Medical Nutrition at DSM, this issue is particularly prevalent in oral solid dosage drug delivery, which necessitates new formulation technology to enhance the performance of CBD-based therapies.

“Powered by a favorably evolving regulatory landscape and promising scientific findings indicating their therapeutic potential in a number of indications, cannabinoids – like CBD – are expected to break new boundaries in drug innovation,” she tells NutritionInsight.

“To facilitate early-stage drug development in these emerging fields of science, DSM has created a platform to explore the potential of cannabinoid molecules, with the ultimate aim of expanding treatment possibilities for patients globally.”

DSM’s offering includes a high-quality, THC-free CBD active, access to leading rare cannabinoid actives, regulatory, quality and scientific expertise and customized solutions for enhanced formulations.Kelsey Achenbach, senior director of Pharma and Medical Nutrition at DSM.

Innovative CBD formulations
DSM’s focus on developing CBD-based formulations and its partnership with Brains Bio provides customers with access to leading technology and “the purest CBD API available on the market.”

Brains Bio recently expanded its research facilities and cannabinoid manufacturing capabilities. It is reportedly set to become the largest cannabinoid producer in the UK, supported by the appropriate GMP certification from the UK’s Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency.

DSM is advancing various technologies to create a comprehensive formulation toolkit that effectively improves CBD bioavailability while addressing different market needs and supporting better patient outcomes. Visitors to DSM’s booth can explore new bioavailability-enhancing CBD solutions in various oral solid dosage formats.

Alexandru Zabara, innovation manager of Pharma and Medical Nutrition at DSM, explains that ‘when increasing the bioavailability of CBD, the efficacy of each delivery route varies according to the used excipients, formulation strategy and specific properties of the finished drug product format.

“We, therefore, require a comprehensive array of formulation technologies – ranging from lipid-based systems to nano-emulsification based solid dosage forms and amorphous solid dispersions – to optimize the effectiveness of CBD-based drugs for different patient needs.”

Meanwhile, Achenbach underscores that the cannabinoid market is bursting with innovation, with a myriad of opportunities to address unmet patient needs through cannabinoid-based drug discovery and development.

“This market will be a big focus for DSM in 2023,” she confirms. “To date, much of the science on cannabinoids has focused on CNS diseases. However, CBD research is continuing to expand into areas including pain management, cancer and mood disorders and more. Our aim is to remain at the forefront of new scientific developments in this space.”The COVID-19 pandemic has inspired new scientific research on how vitamin D supports immune health.

Advanced drug delivery formats
DSM is also a leading polymer technology company. It will showcase TheraPEA – its polymer technology for advanced sustained-release drug products at CPHI 2022. Designed to address limitations associated with the use of traditional polymeric materials, this novel biodegradable platform of Polyester Amide (PEA) polymers allows for formulating small molecule drugs and biologics for systemic and site-specific parenteral drug delivery.

TheraPEA facilitates the formulation of a wide range of active ingredients in various treatment forms, including implantable and long-acting injectables.

Marc Hendriks, vice president of Strategy and Business Development at DSM, explains: “TheraPEA offers a tunable degradation profile and many benefits including broad compatibility with many drugs – thanks to its non-acidic degradation – and excellent proven biocompatibility in multiple settings from ophthalmic to intravascular and intra-articular applications.”

Vitamin D and COVID-19
The company will also spotlight ampli-D, a revolutionary bioavailable source of the biologically active metabolite of vitamin D that raises vitamin D levels in days and weeks instead of months. Although most widely recognized for its role in bone and muscle health, growing evidence points to the benefits of vitamin D for immune health and reducing the risk of acute respiratory infections.

“Since the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, scientific research on how vitamin D supports immune health has evolved rapidly, and there has been growing interest in the potential of calcifediol in unlocking the benefits of the ‘sunshine vitamin’ for immunity more rapidly,” Achenbach tells NutritionInsight.

“As immunity is now a key health priority for consumers, this new science offers a unique opportunity for dietary supplement manufacturers to develop purpose-led solutions that help optimize vitamin D intake and support immune health for populations across the world.”

Meanwhile, DSM’s new consumer-oriented supplement report suggests that consumers are increasingly interested in trading privacy for personalized supplements after the COVID-19 pandemic.DSM will present science-led approaches to medical nutrition in holistic patient care at CPHI 2022.

DSM at CPHI 2022
At DSM’s booth, attendees can also meet the company’s formulation specialists and explore an FDA-recommended strategy to help mitigate the risk of nitrosamine formation. Ascorbic acid and alpha-tocopherol can be used as excipients to effectively inhibit nitrosamine formation and act as stabilizers in the finished drug product.

In addition, the company is leveraging the “game-changing” potential of medical nutrition in patient care. Disease-related malnutrition occurs among patients with chronic disease and is researched extensively in the field of oncology.

By combining drug therapies with medical nutrition solutions, DSM contributes to better patient recovery and quality of life, especially for patients with cancer. Visitors can learn more about how DSM’s science-led approaches to medical nutrition in holistic patient care help optimize patient outcomes at the show.

By Joshua Poole