Gencor and CV Sciences team up on CBD alternative for immunity

30 Oct 2020 --- Hemp-derived phytocannabinoid manufacturer CV Sciences is teaming up with botanical ingredients manufacturer Gencor to release an immunity-support supplement positioned as an alternative to the increasingly popular CBD compound.

CV Defense is a product with properties similar to CBD, which the partnership hopes will expand its reach in the immunity market during the global public health crisis.

It is composed of Levagen palmitoylethanolamide (PEA), vitamins A and D, selenium and zinc, and an organic reishi mushroom extract with concentrated beta-glucans. 

“We are pleased to partner with CV Science, Inc. in its effort to make non-CBD immunity products available to a broader market,” says Chase Shryoc, vice president of sales and business development. 

Shyroc says that the development should answer the growing demand for immunity supplements by reaching outside the CBD market and using natural ingredients backed by clinical trials. 

“Given the demands of the recent global public health crisis, we feel that the commitment to scientifically-supported ingredients that have been tested for their safety and ability to meet global regulations are of the utmost importance. Now is the time for our communities to focus on healthy lifestyle habits and support of a healthy immune system.”

This year, CV Sciences announced it would be strategically moving into the market space created by growing global health concerns. CV Acute, released in July, seeks to tap into this trend by offering a herbal formula with proven immune benefits. 

The release of CV Defense is the company’s latest development in the category and represents a continuing expansion driven by consumer demand. 

CV Defense contains compounds similar to CBD.Research backing CV Defense
PEA acts to inhibit the fatty acid amide hydrolase, which breaks down endocannabinoids in the brain and downregulates pain and inflammatory response in the body. 

PEA was selected for its similarity with CBD in having anti-inflammatory and neuro-protective properties. Unlike CBD, PEA is an endogenous fatty amide that is produced as a direct response and repair mechanism to inflammation and pain. 

CV Sciences says it also chose PEA specifically for its proven record as a safe, immune strengthening ingredient. The company references tests from 1993 by Nobel laureate Dr. Rita Levi-Montalcini, who studied the compound’s beneficial impact on immune health in six double-blind, placebo controlled clinical trials involving more than 3,000 participants. 

Rise of immune products 
The COVID-19 pandemic has driven up consumer demand for immune strengthening products and CV Defense joins a host of innovations looking to address rising health concerns. 

Recently, GoodMills Innovations released a fiber mix designed for use in baked goods containing similar ingredients for immunity as CV Defense. Extracts selected for their beta-glucans are part of GoodMills Innovation’s formula. 

Beta-glucans are polymers of glucose linked in a specific manner and are particularly important for supporting immune function, potentially offering protection from pathogenic microbes, environmental toxins and carcinogens. 

A study last year highlighted the beneficial effects of maitake, reishi and shiitake mushroom extracts, particularly focusing on immunity and respiratory health. 

By Louis Gore-Langton