Australia’s CannPal Animal Therapeutics has received medical cannabis oils from Canada’s Aphria Inc to begin clinical trials of what it calls its lead drug candidate, known as CPAT-01. The company has already completed the dog selection for the live phase of the study, which will be conducted in two phases.
The first phase will involve 11 dogs, while the second phase will include 48 dogs. In both phases, researchers will assess the pharmacokinetic and safety profiles for the propriety cannabinoid blend. The first phase is expected to begin the first week of April with blood sample analysis of the dogs set for May, the company said in a press release.
CannPal received its medical cannabis import license from Australia’s Office of Drug Control earlier this year and recently received export permits from Health Canada.
The trials are part of a growing trend exploring cannabinoid use for animals. A 2016 study published in the Journal of the American Holistic Veterinary Medical Association purported cannabis as a tool to manage chronic health conditions such as anxiety, cancer, seizures, sleeplessness, arthritis, and behavioral issues. Last year, Australia’s Creso Pharma received registration from the European Union to sell CBD products for pets. The company has deals with two European companies – Dutch veterinary product manufacturer A&H and Grieving Holdings Netherland – to develop medical cannabis products for pet owners and veterinarians.