Cannabinoids in Oncology
Cancer cells have high levels of endocannabinoid system (ECS) receptors and modulators.
In July 2023, we shared information on the research we are doing with cannabinoid derivatives as potential immunotherapy.
In general, existing cancer immunotherapies work by initially helping the human immune system to better attack and destroy the cancer, and then by preventing or considerably delaying cancer reappearance. The work we are doing in the laboratory shows that our cannabinoid derivative is based on a mechanism of action which removes the "brake" which the cancer sets on the patient's immunity, triggering the patient's own immune cells to attack the cancer again.
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While current therapies based on antibodies or cell therapies ("biologics") are expensive and hard to access (usually requiring travel to cancer centres), our compound has the potential to provide an efficacious drug which can be taken at home as a tablet, potentially making it cheaper for both public and private healthcare providers and more convenient for patients.
