{"id":3098,"date":"2016-04-20T21:29:57","date_gmt":"2016-04-20T21:29:57","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.medicalmarijuanainc.com\/?p=6579"},"modified":"2016-04-20T21:29:57","modified_gmt":"2016-04-20T21:29:57","slug":"medical-marijuana-inc-announces-its-cannabis-drug-research-and-drug-development-pipeline-update","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/medicalmarijuanainc.com\/2016\/04\/20\/medical-marijuana-inc-announces-its-cannabis-drug-research-and-drug-development-pipeline-update\/","title":{"rendered":"Medical Marijuana, Inc. Announces Its Cannabis Drug Research and Drug Development Pipeline Update"},"content":{"rendered":"
SAN DIEGO, CA — April 20, 2016 <\/b>\u2014 Medical Marijuana, Inc. <\/span><\/a>(OTC: MJNA) is pleased to announce that the \u201cCompany of Firsts\u201d investments are actively fostering cannabis-based drug development and creation of new, innovative medicine delivery methods. These results are intended to expedite the historic reintroduction of cannabis-based medications into U.S. and global healthcare systems.<\/span><\/p>\n Medical Marijuana, Inc. is placing its investment resources toward research and development of drugs derived from cannabis for distribution as pharmaceutical products. The collective results have the potential to impact hundreds of millions of lives around the world. One groundbreaking cannabis- derived medical product to enter clinical trials conducted by investment portfolio company AXIM<\/span>\u00ae <\/span>may be on the market as soon as 2017, according to a recent report by Reuters<\/span><\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n MJNA’s Investment in Kannalife Helps Advance Research in Cannabinoid Based Therapeutics <\/b>Kannalife<\/span><\/a><\/span>\u2122, an MJNA investment company, currently <\/span>holds two licenses with National Institutes of Health for U.S. Patent 6,630,507 <\/span><\/a>\u201cCannabinoids as Antioxidants and Neuroprotectants.\u201d These licenses are currently in use by Kannalife\u2122 to develop novel therapeutic drugs to treat chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) and hepatic encephalopathy (HE).<\/span><\/p>\n Kannalife\u2019s scientific team has researched the effects of cannabidiol (CBD) on non-differentiated native neuronal cells and has determined cannabidiol\u2019s potential as a target drug candidate to treat oxidative stress-related disorders, CBD\u2019s therapeutic index, and CBD\u2019s limitations in pharmaceutical target drug design.<\/span><\/p>\n In tandem with its findings on CBD, Kannalife\u2122 has developed a new cannabidiol-like molecule called KLS-13019 <\/span><\/a>that, through pre-clinical testing and pharmacokinetic (PK) studies, indicates improvement over CBD\u2019s role as a neuroprotectant through increased potency, as well as potential for greater safety through reduced toxicity. Side-by-side comparisons between CBD and KLS-13019 have also shown that KLS-13019 has marked improvements over CBD in oral bioavailability, CNS penetration, blood-plasma concentrations, and cognitive improvement in murine behavioral models.<\/span><\/p>\n The abstract, as well as the purchase of the full version of the publication on the Discovery of KLS- 13019 is available online at: http:\/\/pubs.acs.org\/doi\/abs\/10.1021\/acsmedchemlett.6b00009<\/span><\/a><\/span>.<\/span><\/p>\n Medical Marijuana, Inc. provided $1.5 million in Series A funding <\/a><\/span>to Kannalife Sciences, Inc. in March of 2013. In addition, MJNA owns 16.4 percent of Kannalife Sciences, Inc.<\/span><\/p>\n MJNA Funds New Medicine Delivery Methods<\/b><\/span><\/p>\n In May 2015, MJNA\u2019s joint venture, <\/span>CanChew<\/span>\u00ae <\/span>Biotechnologies, LLC (CanChew<\/span><\/a><\/span>\u00ae<\/span>) <\/span>was issued the world\u2019s first patent on cannabinoid controlled-release chewing gum<\/span><\/a>. The exclusive agreement to bring a new medical product, MedChew RX\u2122, to market is held by AXIM<\/span><\/a><\/span>\u00ae <\/span>Biotechnologies, Inc. (OTC: AXIM), an MJNA investment. <\/span>AXIM<\/span>\u00ae <\/span>holds additional intellectual property (IP) that will innovate the way that cannabis-based medicines are manufactured from seed to product and taken by patients worldwide.<\/span><\/p>\n MedChew RX\u2122 is on schedule to begin clinical trials in The Netherlands for pain and spasticity for Multiple Sclerosis (MS). According to a global news report by Reuters<\/span><\/a>, AXIM<\/span>\u00ae <\/span>may be able to bring MedChew RX\u2122 to market as both a ground-breaking new cannabinoid (THC\/CBD) controlled-release chewing gum and new patented medicine delivery method as early as 2017.<\/span><\/p>\n The mission of AXIM<\/span>\u00ae <\/span>is to develop solutions for conditions that have no known cure; presently there are 15 conditions identified including: MS<\/span><\/a>, spasticity, pain, Parkinson\u2019s <\/span><\/a>disease, Alzheimer\u2019s <\/span><\/a>disease\/dementia<\/span><\/a>, ADHD <\/span><\/a>(attention deficit hyperactivity disorder), psychosis, PTSD, autism, RLS <\/span><\/a>(restless leg syndrome), glaucoma, IBD, IBS, and Crohn\u2019s <\/span><\/a>disease.<\/span><\/p>\n AXIM<\/span>\u00ae <\/span>Biotech is a significant investment company for Medical Marijuana, Inc.<\/span><\/a>. MJNA Investment Holdings, LLC holds 14,943,650 shares of common stock and 500,000 shares of preferred stock in the cutting-edge biotechnology innovator.<\/span><\/p>\n MJNA Empowers Global Cannabis Healthcare Reform<\/b><\/span><\/p>\n While cannabis remains illegal in Brazil and hemp not legal to grow, a landmark decision by a Federal Judge in 2014 approved the import of MJNA\u2019s CBD hemp oil product, RSHO\u2122, for a Brazilian child, Anny Fischer, deeming it \u201cinhumane\u201d to keep it from her. Afterward, the Brazilian government expanded its approval to include any individual with a medical recommendation and authorization to import under the indication of Refractory Epilepsy. The program has gone so well, that ANVISA then authorized two additional indications: Parkinson\u2019s disease, and chronic pain, including migraine headache. Additional indications are expected in the months ahead.<\/span><\/p>\n The Brazilian government is now waiving import taxes, subsidizing the cost of RSHO\u2122, and covering the product under health insurance. With more than 248 million residents, Brazil represents the 7<\/span>th<\/span><\/a><\/span> largest economy <\/span><\/a><\/span>in the world and is providing a blueprint for success when it comes to cannabis law reform.<\/span><\/p>\n At UNGASS 2016, Mexico\u2019s President <\/span><\/a>made the historic announcement that the country is moving toward legalizing medical marijuana. Details are expected later this week.<\/span><\/p>\n Earlier this year, in February, Mexico\u2019s government\u2019s health agency COFEPRIS issued the nation\u2019s first permits to individuals to access CBD hemp oil. In the press release issued by COFEPRIS, MJNA\u2019s CBD hemp oil product, RSHO-X\u2122, was specified. These permits open the door for any of Mexico\u2019s 120 million residents wishing to access RSHO-X\u2122 to do so with a doctor\u2019s prescription and an import permit from COFEPRIS. HempMeds\u00ae Mexico took place in all of the country\u2019s public debates on medical marijuana law reform.<\/span><\/p>\n MJNA Investments – Catalysts to Affordable Healthcare<\/b><\/span><\/p>\n The diagnosis and economic burden of the health indications previously described, in order of least to most impacted in the U.S., are:<\/span><\/p>\n Parkinson\u2019s disease –<\/span><\/p>\n Approximately 1 million Americans <\/span><\/a>live with Parkinson’s disease<\/span><\/p>\n Estimated seven to 10 million people worldwide <\/span><\/a>are living with Parkinson’s disease<\/span><\/p>\n Combined direct and indirect cost of Parkinson\u2019s, including treatment, social security payments and lost income from inability to work, is estimated to be nearly $25 billion <\/span><\/a>per year in the United States alone<\/span><\/p>\n Medication costs <\/span><\/a>for an individual person with PD average $2,500 a year, and therapeutic surgery can cost up to $100,000 dollars per patient<\/span><\/p>\n Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE)<\/span><\/p>\n 1.7 million people in the U.S. sustain a traumatic brain injury (TBI) <\/span><\/a>annually<\/span><\/p>\n $60 billion <\/span><\/a>annually in the United States<\/span><\/p>\n Epilepsy \u2013<\/span><\/p>\n For general epilepsy<\/span><\/a>, US direct healthcare costs per person ranged from $10,192 to<\/span><\/p>\n $47,862<\/span><\/p>\n 5.1 million people in the United States have had a diagnosis of epilepsy <\/span><\/a>or a seizure disorder<\/span><\/p>\n Hepatic Encephalopathy (HE)<\/span><\/p>\n U.S. hospitalizations for hepatic encephalopathy <\/span><\/a>range from $1-7 billion per year<\/span><\/p>\n Hepatic encephalopathy <\/a><\/span>is most often associated with cirrhosis, which is estimated to affect 5.5 million people in the United States<\/span><\/p>\n Chronic pain –<\/span><\/p>\n Pain is a significant public health problem that costs society at least $560-$635 billion <\/span><\/a>annually<\/span><\/p>\n 100 million Americans <\/a><\/span>and 1.5 billion people worldwide <\/span><\/a>suffer from chronic pain<\/span><\/p>\n Pain in just MS patients \u2013 $4.8 billion <\/span><\/a>market in USA<\/span><\/p>\n Note: Medical Marijuana, Inc. does not make any claims about its products or brands.<\/i><\/span><\/p>\n Cannabis has a robust history in healthcare dating back to 2737 BC<\/span><\/a>. After succumbing to negative marketing propaganda, it was removed from the U.S. Pharmacopoeia in 1936<\/span><\/a>. Research has shown that cannabinoids <\/span><\/a>(THC, THCV, CBD, CBG, CBN, CBC) have an impact on health and wellness.<\/span><\/p>\n Currently research is ongoing on various indications and conditions including:<\/span><\/p>\n \u2022 Protects against cancer<\/span><\/p>\n \u2022 Reduces nausea<\/span><\/p>\n \u2022 Pain reliever<\/span><\/p>\n \u2022 Causes drowsiness<\/span><\/p>\n \u2022 Increases appetite<\/span><\/p>\n \u2022 Decreases appetite<\/span><\/p>\n \u2022 Relieves spasms<\/span><\/p>\n \u2022 Decreases seizures<\/span><\/p>\n \u2022 Reduces anxiety<\/span><\/p>\n \u2022 Muscle relaxant<\/span><\/p>\n \u2022 Antimicrobial<\/span><\/p>\n \u2022 Antibacterial<\/span><\/p>\n \u2022 Antifungal<\/span><\/p>\n \u2022 Protects nervous system<\/span><\/p>\n \u2022 Anti-diabetic<\/span><\/p>\n \u2022 Improves blood circulation<\/span><\/p>\n \u2022 Lowers blood pressure<\/span><\/p>\n \u2022 Relieves psoriasis<\/span><\/p>\n \u2022 Relieves Crohn\u2019s disease<\/span><\/p>\n \u2022 Anti-inflammatory<\/span><\/p>\n \u2022 Bone stimulant<\/span><\/p>\n \u2022 Relieves rheumatoid arthritis<\/span><\/p>\n \u2022 Antioxidant<\/span><\/p>\n Dr. Stuart Titus, CEO of Medical Marijuana, Inc. states, \u201cWe are extremely proud of our investments that will spearhead the reintroduction of cannabis-based options in global healthcare. Our vision of affordable healthcare is starting with less costly, commercially produced retail cannabis-based products. Then, if necessary, progressing to allopathic solutions that will soon include cannabis- derived pharmaceuticals. The goal of these new advances in cannabis-based medicine \u2013 and the reintroduction of cannabis in healthcare \u2013 is to leave an indelible mark on the healthcare industry.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n Titus concludes, \u201cApril 20<\/span>th <\/span>is a day that the U.S. recognizes cannabis and simply refers to it as \u2018420.\u2019 It is extremely important to note that the United States has reached the \u2018tipping point\u2019 in cannabis acceptance with 42 states<\/span><\/a>, district or territories with some form of cannabis law. In terms of U.S. population, 51.26% have access to medical marijuana<\/span><\/a>. As world cannabis (marijuana and hemp) legalization efforts continue, may we reflect on how far we have come and continue to work toward the common goal of global cannabis access.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n Medical Marijuana, Inc. looks forward to updating the public and shareholders in the days ahead. For more information on Medical Marijuana, Inc. <\/span><\/a>and the portfolio company brands that it promotes, visit the Company website<\/span><\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n About Medical Marijuana Inc.<\/b><\/span><\/p>\n The mission of