OWC Pharmaceutical Research Corp., an Israeli-based developer of cannabinoid-based therapies targeting a variety of different medical conditions and disorders, announced it is starting the final phase for testing the efficacy of its own developed topical crème compound for the treatment of psoriasis and related skin conditions.
The company’s recently completed Challenge Testing for the topical crème, successfully demonstrated the product’s robustness against microbiological contamination, stability, and provided a preliminary safety assessment. This next phase of Safety testing protocol was designed to corroborate that the cream is safe for application to the skin. This will be demonstrated by giving a highly concentrated topical crème formulation to healthy patients within a hospital controlled environment. The safety phase will start upon receiving the Institutional Review Board (IRB) approval by the national IRB committee which is expected to be assembled in November 2016.
OWC is also preparing to initiate in parallel Efficacy Testing using MatTek Corporation patented EpiDerm™ system, an in-vitro testing technology for dermal toxicologists. This protocol will seek to prove the effectiveness of the formulation in treating psoriasis on human skin tissue. The tests will be conducted at an approved international lab of Dead Sea & Arava Science Center under the auspices of the Ben-Gurion University of the Negev.
Dr. Yehuda Baruch, the company’s Director of Research and Regulatory Affairs, commented on the announcement, “Psoriasis is an affliction of the immune system resulting in sub-dermal infection that can be painful and uncomfortable. Cannabis is believed to provide relief from some infections and skin conditions, and it is a central ingredient in our topical crème formulation. Our preliminary studies indicate the formulation does provide relief of these symptoms, and we are confident that these studies will corroborate those results.”
Ziv Turner, OWC’s CEO, went on to say, “We are excited to begin this last phase of testing so that we can finally make this product available for all psoriasis sufferers. We hope to start sales and marketing both in Israel the US in the second quarter of 2017, and have already been in contact with a number of representatives who have expressed interest in manufacturing and distributing the crème in their state. Of course, we also continue our work on multiple myeloma and other conditions, so I am hopeful that this is just the first of many products that will follow.”
Psoriasis is an autoimmune disease that causes red, scaly patches to appear on the skin, and can be associated with other serious health conditions, including diabetes, heart disease and depression. Skin cells in patients with psoriasis grow at an abnormally fast rate, causing a buildup of lesions that tend to burn and itch. While the real cause of psoriasis is not known, genetics are believed to play a major role in its development. According to the National Psoriasis Foundation, psoriasis affects 7.5 million people in the United States.
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Filed Under: Drug Discovery
