Passionate about the science and quality, Oxford Cannabinoid Technologies prepares for Phase 1 in-human clinical trials
“…I am really excited to talk about our projects, and I hope that people will be excited also…”
When a pharmaceutical company formulates a Scientific Advisory board, it’s not on a whim, but because a business has reached the next level in its development.
Founded just five years ago, Oxford Cannabinoid Technologies has developed a proprietary library of 427 synthetic cannabinoid derivatives and around 14 patent families. All could provide a source for future drug candidates to enter the company pipeline, but the strategy now is of meticulous attention to process, safety and the potential of value-accretive returns from current candidates.
Two drug candidates are topping the agenda of the advisory board, and Chief Scientific Officer Dr. Valentino Parravicini talks about the preparation involved in getting lead compound OCT461201 ready its first-in-human Phase 1 clinical trial. This candidate has the potential to treat chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuralgia and irritable bowel syndrome; the latter affecting five million sufferers in the U.K. alone. Parravicini educates the interested and the invested that while IBS is a problem affecting the gut, it’s a condition that reveals just as much about how the brain communicates with the gut.
The company is progressing from the academic to the practical with experts on process engaged and a master service agreement and work order with Simbec Research Limited which Parravicini describes as providing a “hand-to-hand comprehensive clinical development package which will allow us to cover all the aspects of the clinical trial in terms of the project management, in terms of the patient recruitment, in terms of actually performing.” Simbec also has seventy-years of experience, is U.K. based and will also support the business from “the clinical pharmacovigilance perspective, making sure that the patients are well taken care of.”
The clinical trial is due to start Q1 2023, with Parravicini telling Sarah Lowther that this was achieved within two years of the company’s stock market listing, and compares favourably with peers who on average take twice as long to get to this stage. The emphasis now though is less aggressive timelines and more quality and safety, both trademarks of this cannabinoid pain solution pioneer.
Watch Valentino, CEO John Lucas and COO Clarissa Sowemimo-Coker answer investor questions in this Investor Meet video.
Access the company’s 2022 Corporate Presentation
Follow the company on Twitter @OxCanTech
The author was remunerated but does not hold shares in the company
