It appears that cannabis may be useful to treat yet another condition – chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).
InMed Pharmaceuticals started a COPD program in 2015, hoping to target and identify potential compounds to successfully treat COPD. Using human lung fibroblasts through in vitro assays, InMed found that certain cannabinoids can lead to healing and fibrosis in the lung.
“Taking into consideration the impact of this specific protein’s role in lung tissue remodeling and fibrosis, these preliminary data are important and promising for developing cannabinoid-based therapies for COPD,” InMed’s chief scientific officer, Sazzad Hossain, said in a press release.
RELATED: What Can You do to Manage COPD?
Experts found that cannabinoids are anti-inflammatory, immunosuppressive and bronchodilatory. Therefore, cannabinoid-based therapies could be the safer and most effective treatment option for patients with COPD.
“We continue to make significant scientific progress that further validates InMed’s proprietary bioinformatics analysis tool as a cost-effective way to identify drug-disease targets and expedite their validation in preclinical models,” Dr. Ado Muhammed, InMed’s chief medical officer, also said in the press release. “In addition to our primary drug development programs in Epidermolysis Bullosa ad Glaucoma, we are pleased to continue to expand the role of cannabinoids in other disease areas.”
Cannabinoids have been used to treat other diseases, such as cancer. According to the American Cancer Society, two drugs based on marijuana compounds are approved for medical use in the U.S.
One of the cannabinoids, Dronabinol, is used to treat nausea and vomiting as a result of chemotherapy or poor appetite in AIDS patients. The second drug, Nabilone, is a synthetic cannabinoid with properties like THC, the active ingredient in marijuana. It also treats nausea and vomiting from chemotherapy.
Researchers are exploring the possibilities of cannabinoids in treating other conditions. This research could lead to new waves in medical marijuana and how it can be used for medical therapies.
By subscribing, you consent to receive emails from BlackDoctor.com. You may unsubscribe at any time. Privacy Policy & Terms of Service.
