Cardiol Therapeutics (TSX:CRDL, NASDAQ:CRDL) has reported positive study results showing that cannabidiol, the active pharmaceutical ingredient in the company's novel CRD-38 subcutaneous (SUBQ) formulation, reduces harmful fat distribution and key markers of cardiac inflammation and remodeling.
Study results from one of Cardiol’s international collaborating research centers demonstrated that subcutaneously administered cannabidiol slowed increases in body weight and heart weight, and prevented increases in key cardiac inflammatory and remodelling markers in a model of heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF).
The company said in a statement that the study was presented by researchers from Tecnológico de Monterrey, Mexico (TecSalud) at the Heart Failure Society of America (HFSA) Annual Scientific Meeting 2023.
TecSalud is one of its international collaborating research centers working towards the common goal of developing products to advance the treatment of heart diseases.
"The importance of this study lies in the clinical relevance of the pre-clinical model itself, which was developed to mirror the comorbidities of hypertension, obesity, and metabolic dysfunction common to patients with heart failure with preserved ejection fraction,” commented Dr Andrew Hamer, Cardiol’s chief medical officer and head of Research & Development.
“The results presented at the HFSA over the weekend demonstrated multiple cardioprotective effects of SUBQ-administered cannabidiol and provide additional evidence in support of the development of CRD-38, our novel SUBQ formulation of cannabidiol intended for the treatment of heart failure.
“Furthermore, we believe our SUBQ formulation offers the potential for sustained drug release over time, allowing for less frequent administration and improved patient compliance in a chronic disease setting,” Dr Hamer added.
The company noted that the work was performed using a model of HFpEF that is induced using a combination of a high-fat diet and hypertension that leads to an increase in heart weight to tibia length ratio, and an increase in markers for inflammation and cardiac remodeling.
Cannabidiol administered SUBQ was associated with significantly lower BNP (a cardiac stress marker raised in heart failure patients), IL-10 (a promotor of fibrosis in HFpEF), and visceral adipose tissue (VAT) to subcutaneous adipose tissue (SAT) ratio.
Cardiol said the new findings expand the understanding of the cardioprotective effects of CRD-38 and suggest new therapeutic potential in HFpEF, which remains a leading cause of death and hospital admissions in the US and throughout the developed world, with associated healthcare costs in the US exceeding US$30 billion annually.
Toronto-based Cardiol is a clinical-stage life sciences company focused on the research and clinical development of anti-inflammatory and anti-fibrotic therapies for the treatment of heart diseases.
Contact the author at stephen.gunnion@proactiveinvestors.com