Australian company studying impact of rare cannabinoids on autism

An Australian-based company with an exclusive licence to a variety of rare cannabis cultivars is putting its plants to the test.

Neurotech International (NTI) has begun a study to assess the safety and tolerability of its products to treat symptoms associated with autism in children.

In a release, the company reported it is currently working on a Phase I/II open label clinical study in 20 children aged five to 17 who have Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD).

According to the release, the study marks the first time that full-spectrum cannabis extract containing less than 0.3 per cent THC will be assessed in children with ASD.

Professor Michael Fahey, head of paediatric neurology at Monash Children’s Hospital, is supervising the trials, which will measure the impact that cannabis has on things such as focus, agitation, irritability and general quality of life, over 16 weeks.

The results from the trial will be used to plan future Phase II/III studies.

“Medicinal cannabis has the potential to provide this treatment, but only NTI/Dolce naturally derived strains offer full-spectrum CBDs with little to no THC, an important consideration when treating children,” claimed Brian Leedman, chairman of Neurotech.

The NTI strains contain rare cannabinoids, like CBDP and CBDB, in addition to large quantities of CBD.

“This is a very exciting and novel approach to the treatment of ASD, for which there is the need for safe, effective therapies with no side effects that can improve a patient’s quality of life,” Leedman said.

In addition to professor Fahey, senior autism and behavioural clinical psychologists will also be monitoring the results.

According to Catalyst Hunter, NTI is also studying how its cultivars impact attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and epilepsy.