UC San Diego researchers help study CBD treatment for nicotine withdrawal

Using research from UC San Diego, CV Sciences Inc. recently published a preclinical and proof-of-concept study on the effectiveness of treatment with cannabidiol, or CBD, in reducing nicotine dependence.

“This study confirms to us that we are on to something exciting,” said Douglas MacKay, senior vice president of scientific and regulatory affairs at Sorrento Valley. CV Sciences. He said he was “delighted” to collaborate with researchers at UCSD.

In the study, nicotine dependent rats suffering from withdrawal were treated with products containing CBD, a non-psychoactive compound in cannabis. Treatment prevented the animals from exhibiting withdrawal symptoms – such as increased sensitivity to pain and weight gain – during both short-term and long-term nicotine restriction.

“Science is developing in increments, and we already know from animal models that CBD has an anti-withdrawal effect for things like cocaine and alcohol, so they are looking at CBD for other symptoms of. withdrawal from other drugs, ”MacKay said. “We also know from receptor models and preclinical models that CBD interacts with nicotinic receptors. This study therefore bridges the gap between preclinical and animal studies by showing in animals that CBD can reduce nicotine withdrawal symptoms. “

“CBD blocks inflammation and relaxes your muscles,” he added. “It won’t get you high. “

The study came from the pharmaceutical development division of CV Sciences, MacKay said. It focuses on chewing tobacco as it is an area of ​​the market where there are few treatments.

“It’s an unmet need in the pharmaceutical field, so this study and these researchers are getting a lot of attention for this study,” MacKay said. “One tactic in drug development is to find a niche with a vacant hole. We have treatments for smoking, but no effective treatments for chewing. “

Further, he said, the CBD industry is “in its infancy” and “the world needs the FDA. [Food and Drug Administration]-approved drugs’ derived from CBD. “It’s something people can’t wait to see.”

“We are very pleased with the results of the research carried out in collaboration with UC San Diego, which further validates our years of investment and hard work,” said Joseph Dowling, general manager of CV Sciences, in a statement. “This study marked a key milestone in the treatment of smokeless tobacco addiction from CV Sciences [research and development] efforts and further expands our potential product development opportunities to commercialize the world’s first and only FDA-approved treatment for smokeless tobacco addiction to address a huge unmet medical need and global health problem.

MacKay said he couldn’t elaborate on a timeline for the study’s next steps.

In May 2020, CV Sciences received an official notice of grant from the United States Patent and Trademark Office for its patent application for a proprietary formulation of CBD and nicotine for the treatment of smokeless tobacco addiction. The patent covers methods of treating smokeless tobacco addiction by administering pharmaceutical formulations containing CBD and nicotine.

CV Sciences has also filed corresponding patent applications to enable the company to seek similar patent protection in other key markets around the world. â—†