Drug Development for Female Health
Exploring the huge therapeutic potential of Cannabis-based medicine for women
Medical research on women’s health
Historically, women have been underrepresented in clinical research. In the US only in 1993 the NIH Revitalization Act demanded the inclusion of Women in Clinical Research (NIH Revitalization Act of 1993 Public Law 103-43). Even in preclinical research on animals, female animals are underrepresented (Clayton and Collins, 2014).
In Europe women have been still underrepresented in clinical trials for the approval of drugs between 2011 and 2015, making up only 41% of the participants (Dekker et al. 2021).
In 2021 Mirin published a study in the Journal Womens Health, finding that even research on women’s health is still majorly underfunded in the US. They find that about 3⁄4 of cases, where a disease affects primarily one gender, funding for primarily male disease is overfunded, while female health is underfunded (Mirin, 2021).
The endocannabinoid system and female health
The endocannabinoid system (ECS) plays a critical role in the female reproductive system, influencing various aspects of fertility and reproductive health.
For example it impacts folliculogenesis, oocyte maturation and ovarian endocrine secretion. Furthermore there is a crosstalk between the ECS and the hypothalamic-pituitary-ovarian axis as well as steroid hormone production (Walker et al. 2019).
The role of the ECS in the female reproductive system also becomes clear due to the distinct pattern of alterations in levels of ECS-signaling molecules and enzymes during the ovulatory cycle of women (Battista et al. 2008).
A viable avenue for treating gynecological conditions
The prevalence of endocannabinoid system (ECS) components within the female reproductive system underscores its potential as a viable avenue for treating various gynecological conditions. The direct impact of the ECS on the female reproductive system, coupled with its symptom-relieving benefits, positions cannabinoids as promising therapeutic targets. Presently, a growing number of women are already incorporating cannabinoids into their treatment regimens for various gynecologic conditions, particularly those involving pain (Liang et al., 2022).
While the use of cannabinoids in treating cancer-related symptoms is relatively common, the existing evidence base remains limited. Furthermore, the lack of finalized drugs for numerous gynecologic conditions accentuates the urgency for the development of cannabinoid-based treatment options in this realm.
This need for innovative solutions has motivated Cannaflos to focus on the development of finished drugs specifically tailored for female health. In doing so, Cannaflos aims to address the unmet medical needs in gynecology and contribute to the advancement of cannabinoid-based treatments, offering a potential breakthrough for women’s health conditions.
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clinical research areas
Our diversified research & development strategy
We develop Cannabis-based finished drugs for rare diseases.
We develop Cannabis-based therapy solutions for women.
