MMJ International Holdings can move forward with a cannabis drug to fight Huntington’s Disease
In a press release from yesterday, MMJ International Holdings indicates that the Food & Drug Administration (FDA) has given support for a new cannabis-based drug it is developing. The company said that the FDA has awarded an “Orphan Drug Designation” for its MMJ-002 drug, which it is developing to fight Huntington’s Disease.
In receiving the designation, the drug is recognized by the FDA as having promise for the diagnosis and/or treatment of rare diseases or conditions. Orphan designation qualifies MMJ International Holdings for various development incentives of the Orphan Drug Award, including tax credits for qualified clinical testing,” according to the announcement.
Huntington’s Disease is an inherited disease that results in the degeneration of nerve cells in the brain. It often causes a loss of motor and cognitive skills and affects one in every 10,000 people in the U.S.
Duane Boise, the CEO for MMJ, adds in the press release, “MMJ’s Orphan Drug award is another milestone that the company has met as we continue to set industry standards. MMJ has established a leading position in the development of plant-derived cannabinoid therapeutics through its proven drug discovery and development processes, intellectual property portfolio and regulatory and manufacturing expertise.”
The company’s director of research and development, Dr. Elio Mariani, explains of the firm’s developments, “MMJ has two proprietary cannabinoid pharmaceutical drugs in development. The lead product candidate, MMJ-001, is a patented molecule derived from cannabidiol (CBD) and is being developed for the treatment of multiple sclerosis and Huntington’s disease. We are working diligently to address the significant unmet medical need in people suffering from this deadly disease and this designation furthers our mission to develop impactful cannabinoid-derived medicines to improve clinical outcomes for patients with Huntington’s disease.”
