Micellae Delivery Systems Inc., an innovative technology-based company founded on 15 years of research and engineering at University of Toronto (U of T), has today announced the launch of its breakthrough drug delivery technology, O2W – the fastest oral bioavailability-enhancing formulation.
O2W, Micellae says, is a next-generation drug delivery system that was shown to significantly enhance the potency, bioavailability, and shelf-stability of cannabinoids while achieving an unparalleled speed of onset. It is the only self-dispersing and fully water-dilutable Self-Microemulsifying Drug Delivery System (SMEDDS) made with food-grade excipients.
Innovation
Dr. Mehdi Nouraei, Founder and CEO of Micellae and U of T Researcher, highlights how O2W differs from existing technologies – existing technologies which, Nouraei says, can result in a slow onset of action and short shelf-life for cannabinoid-based products, amongst some other compromises.
“Emulsification technologies have previously been employed in cannabinoid-based products. However, existing technologies are less than optimal and result in significant compromises, including slow onset of action, complex manufacturing, unpleasant taste, and short shelf-life. There have also been safety and environmental concerns associated with the prevalent use of Polyethylene Glycols (PEGs),” Dr. Nouraei said.
Dr. Nouraei, who is also the co-inventor of the O2W technology, went on to say: “We have solved all of these issues with this unique formulation we call O2W, without compromising on speed of onset, potency, shelf-life, safety, and environmental sustainability.”
Co-inventor, U of T Professor and world-renowned expert, Dr. Edgar Acosta, added: “The principle behind O2W is to mimic the way in which the body uses lipids to build small taxis that ferry poorly soluble molecules through tissues. This contrasts with the popular glycol-based formulas that, while suitable for some applications, do not take full advantage of the way in which our bodies have evolved to absorb and use oils and fats.”
Promising Results
The results of a recent single-dose animal pharmacokinetic (PK) study with orally administered O2W-enhanced CBD, completed by Micellae, highlighted a very quick absorption, reaching maximum serum levels within 20-30 minutes, compared to 4 hours for the control group.
Dr. Nouraei added: “We are ecstatic about our study results. The speed of onset is unprecedented and there is also a significant increase in bioavailability. These results also suggest dual-absorption pathways with enhanced lymphatic absorption.”
These promising results and the overarching benefits of O2W technology appear to be ground-breaking and far-reaching.
Driving Innovation for Cannabinoids and Beyond
Using this technology, for example, manufacturers could both improve existing traditional products as well as create innovative new products that, previously, would have been impossible to create. It could also reduce costs for manufacturers because it only has 3-4 ingredients, has a simple manufacturing process, and doesn’t require complex, costly or energy-intensive equipment.
Pharmaceutical CEO and Micellae board member, Edward Gudaitis, said: “This is a game-changer for manufacturers and consumers. Part of what is really exciting is the potential beyond cannabinoids. There are significant implications for pharmaceutical drug delivery and consumer products.”
For more information, visit www.micellae.com
