Zelda Therapeutics Ltd (ASX:ZLD) has entered into a research agreement with Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) relating to the pharmacology of cannabinoids.
The ultimate goal is to describe cannabinoid disposition in pediatric patients, and identify compounds that may demonstrate efficacy in the treatment of pediatric autism.
This news was well received with the company’s shares trading as high as $0.10 in mid-morning trading, up nearly 10% from Friday’s close of $0.091.
This builds on recent share price strength which was partly driven by the company being approved for Australia’s first medical cannabis trial for insomnia.
Read: Zelda Therapeutics approved for Australia’s first medicinal cannabis trial targeting insomnia
The collaborative research with CHOP will focus on autism with an observational trial to better understand the efficacy of treatment in existing patients.
The collaborative group will also be working closely with patient advocacy bodies and licensed growers.
This study will leverage CHOP’s extensive research infrastructure and is designed to capture a number of key efficacy and safety measures including bioanalytical studies.
Study to provide a platform for possible future clinical trials
Participating in this study could lay the foundations for a possible future clinical trial to generate high quality, robust and acceptable data.
The information should then be used to assist in validating the extensive positive anecdotal data amongst patient populations.
Preliminary results expected within six months
This collaboration effectively lifts Zelda’s profile as it will be an important U.S.-based study, focusing on the use of cannabinoids in controlled clinical settings.
The observational study is expected to commence in early 2018, with preliminary results anticipated within six months.