Cardiol Therapeutics (TSX:CRDL, NASDAQ:CRDL) said that new research published in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology: Basic to Translational Science (JACBTS) supports the potential of its cannabidiol-based drug candidate CRD-38 to treat heart failure.
The study, conducted by scientists at Tecnológico de Monterrey in collaboration with researchers from the DeBakey Heart and Vascular Center in Houston, found that pharmaceutically manufactured cannabidiol, administered subcutaneously, helped preserve mitochondrial function and calcium handling in a preclinical model of heart failure.
The newly published data indicate that subcutaneous cannabidiol improved cardiac function, reduced cardiac hypertrophy, and decreased inflammation and cell death in multiple models of heart failure.
Dr Andrew Hamer, Cardiol’s Chief Medical Officer, said the company was “very pleased” to see the findings published in the esteemed publication.
"The JACBTS publication provides fascinating new data that suggest a key mode of action of CRD-38 to potentially treat heart failure is through its ability to sustain cardiomyocytes, the muscle cells of the heart, and preserve mitochondrial function, the energy producing structures in cardiac cells,” Hamer told investors.
Heart failure with preserved ejection fraction remains a leading cause of hospitalization worldwide, with a five-year mortality rate exceeding 75% in hospitalized patients.
Cardiol, which is developing CRD-38 as a novel treatment for heart failure, is completing investigational new drug (IND)-enabling work to advance the candidate into clinical trials. The company's other lead drug, CardiolRx, is an oral cannabidiol solution being tested for heart disease treatment.