Lipid Excipients for Cannabinoid Drug Products

The introduction of the cannabis plant into Western medicine dates to the 19th century when the plant was first used as an additive to patented medicines. The development of cannabis based therapies in the modern sense however came to a halt in the 1970’s after the passing of laws that have since categorized cannabis as a scheduled (narcotic) substance.

Amidst the regulatory constraints, over one hundred active molecules (phytocannabinoids) of the plant have been identified. Synthetic forms of cannabinoids such as dronabinol, nabilone, and cannabidiol have been developed and marketed for treatment of nausea associated with chemotherapy and for myoclonic seizures in patients two years of age and older.

However, it was not until 2018 that the US FDA approved Epidiolex®, the first purified phytocannabinoid isolated from the cannabis plant. Epidiolex® is indicated for severe forms of epilepsy, namely Lennox- Gastaut and Dravet syndromes.

Download Gattefossé cannaboid information brochure here: brochure_gattefosse-lipid-excipients-for-cannabinoid-drug-products.pdf or see more information on lipids here.