Apollon Formularies PLC (AQSE:APOL) said its cannabis formulations have been shown to work against prostate cancer in a preclinical model.
They were effective against both hormone-resistant and hormone-sensitive forms of the disease in 3D cell cultures carried out by an independent laboratory.
The work builds on previous early-stage research. This showed Apollon formulations, developed at the company’s centre in Jamaica, were effective in killing HER2+ and triple-negative breast cancer cells.
"Cannabinoids have been seen to exert antitumor effects by a number of different means, including killing cancer cells directly as well as inhibiting transformed cell growth and tumour metastasis,” said Apollon chief executive, Dr Stephen Barnhill.
“Apollon Jamaica, using results from its proprietary artificial intelligence-based analysis on strain genetics, has cultivated and processed certain of its proprietary medical cannabis products with cancer treatment expressly in mind.
“We are extremely excited that our proprietary medical cannabis formulations have been validated via independent laboratory testing to kill both hormone-sensitive and hormone-resistant prostate cancer cells in 3D cell cultures via direct cytotoxicity. This is in addition to our Apollon medical cannabis.”
According to a report by Fior Markets, the global prostate cancer treatment market is expected to grow to US$10.7bn by 2027 from US$7.2bn in 2019.