Initial results from a paediatric brain cancer study being conducted with the Telethon Kids Institute in Perth have validated that two chemicals naturally occurring in the cannabis plant, THC and CBD, each have some anti-cancer effects. Zelda Therapeutics will now aim to enhance that anti-cancer response by testing various chemical formulations.
“Cannabis seems to be quite a versatile therapeutic. It can treat a range of conditions, but it’s not the same cannabis for every condition; it’s this interplay between these THC and CBD molecules… taking the plant as our platform and then knowing how to mix and match these cannabinoids – what ratios, how much, how to give it, went to give it – means that we can target a whole range of indications from cancer to autism… The next phase in this brain cancer research is really comparing the results from our whole plant extracts versus the pure THC and pure CBD results which we announced,” Karelis explains.
“We’ve alluded to a pipeline of new opportunities that are coming through, and we’re reasonably close to finalising a new research program in a fairly important medical area, and we’re looking forward to finalising that in the coming weeks,” teases Karelis.
A new managing director, Dr Richard Hopkins, will be joining the team in July.