Cannabis Treatment for MS, Similar Diseases Goal of Atlas and University Partnership – Multiple Sclerosis News Today

Atlas Biotechnologieswill fund and provide support to three research projects at the University of Albertato possibly identify cannabis component(s) that could help people with neurological diseases likemultiple sclerosis (MS).

The cannabis plant produces hundreds of biological compounds, the best-known being tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) the psychoactive compound primarily responsible for the cannabis high and cannabidiol (CBD), a main component of medical marijuana.

Under the terms of the new agreement, Atlas Biotechnologies,which focuses on developing cannabis-based therapies for medical use,will provide funding totaling just under $300,000 over two years for three separate research projects that will assess the benefits of cannabis-derived compounds in three diseases: MS, Alzheimers, and Huntingtons.

In recent years, there has been renewed interest in how compounds in cannabis might help people manage a variety of conditions. But solid scientific evidence for such uses is lacking.

A lot of people will tell you, My mom had cancer or, My friend had an illness, and they took cannabis and it helped. But then for other people they dont have as effective results, Jeffrey R. Gossain, the chief operating officer of Atlas Biotechnologies, said in a universitynews story.

Part of the problem is that you dont really know what product they took, how they dosed it or the combinations of chemicals in the product that helped. Its not as simple as just saying, The plants got THC and CBD. Youve got to get a lot more detailed than that, Gossain added.

Ross Tsuyuki, MS, PharmD, a professor at University of Alberta in Canada, also noted:People are touting (cannabis) for all kinds of things, but without solid scientific evidence. Still, there likely are benefits for some conditions.

In addition to funding, Atlas will also provide the researchers with materials, like cannabis compounds, produced at its facility. The company has stated that furthering good research into medical cannabis use is critical for its ability to bring effective products to market.

Our vision is to have a product that will actually help patients with these different ailments and make their lives better, Gossain said.

In the MS project, researchers Anna TaylorandBradley Kerrwill assess the use of CBDand other cannabinoids in the treatment of pain experienced by people with this disease.

Our team is exploring the areas that we think have the highest likelihood of success, and we will follow where the science leads, Tsuyuki said. If it comes to the point where Atlas wants to develop targeted products, well be there for that as well. But for now well be the ones to give them the signals about whats worthwhile to pursue.

Marisa holds an MS in Cellular and Molecular Pathology from the University of Pittsburgh, where she studied novel genetic drivers of ovarian cancer. She specializes in cancer biology, immunology, and genetics. Marisa began working with BioNews in 2018, and has written about science and health for SelfHacked and the Genetics Society of America. She also writes/composes musicals and coaches the University of Pittsburgh fencing club.

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Patrcia holds her PhD in Medical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases from the Leiden University Medical Center in Leiden, The Netherlands. She has studied Applied Biology at Universidade do Minho and was a postdoctoral research fellow at Instituto de Medicina Molecular in Lisbon, Portugal. Her work has been focused on molecular genetic traits of infectious agents such as viruses and parasites.

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Cannabis Treatment for MS, Similar Diseases Goal of Atlas and University Partnership - Multiple Sclerosis News Today