- Lexaria Bioscience is the global innovator behind the disruptive DehydraTECH(TM) drug delivery technology
- DehydraTECH’s taste-masking capabilities eliminate the need for unwanted sweeteners or chemical masking agents
- The technology also significantly increases the bioavailability of drugs, speeds up the rate of drug onset, and boosts brain absorption
- DehydraTECH presents numerous opportunities and has been evaluated in R&D programs featuring DehydraTECH-processed nicotine, antivirals, and cannabidiol
Oral delivery is the easiest and most convenient way to administer medications, yet it is prevalently associated with patient noncompliance owing to many drugs’ bitter taste. The problem appears widespread and necessitating remedial bitterness-masking interventions. But as recently as 2013 (relative to the mid-19th century origin of the modern pharmaceutical industry), the taste-masking of oral solid dosage forms was still a major challenge that needed to be addressed by formulation or pharmaceutical scientists (https://ibn.fm/7wmaW).
The most commonly used taste-masking methods at that time were film coating and the use of sweeteners, sugars, or flavors, but the latter is considered ineffective due to its inability to adequately mask the bitter taste. Still, less conventional methods such as microencapsulation, spray drying, supercritical fluids, and more had already been reported as successful taste-masking techniques.
Since then, Lexaria Bioscience (NASDAQ: LEXX), a global innovator whose patented DehydraTECH(TM) drug delivery technology could potentially improve oral administration of Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients (“APIs”), has led the pharmaceutical industry in advancing novel taste-masking techniques.
With part of its R&D having progressed from animal studies to human clinical studies, the company has so far established that DehydraTECH masks unwanted taste, thereby eliminating the need for sugar-filled edibles; improves the speed of drug onset; increases the effectiveness of drug delivery into the bloodstream (bioavailability); and boosts brain absorption (https://ibn.fm/la1J9).
DehydraTECH’s taste-masking capabilities result from the use of fatty acids. The technology combines the API with fatty acids, such as long-chain fatty acid (“LCFA”), before applying the resultant compound to food/carrier particles (substrate material), performing dehydration synthesis procedure, and, finally, rendering it as powder or liquid for use in desired final form factor. Importantly, according to an evaluation LEXX conducted in collaboration with National Research Council, the largest R&D organization in Canada, DehydraTECH does not alter the chemical structure of the API.
The fatty acids offer dual benefits. First, they are believed to block and divert bound APIs away from bitter taste receptors, essentially rendering them flavorless, as well as odorless. “DehydraTECH formulations do not require unwanted sweeteners or chemical masking agents for flavor and odor blocking, allowing manufacturers to create low-sugar products with fewer calories, while also avoiding the use of excessive artificial sweeteners,” reads the company’s website (https://ibn.fm/TfY0x).
The LCFA also promotes quick absorption into lymphatics, bypassing the first-pass liver effect, which drastically reduces the bioavailability or overall effectiveness of orally ingested drugs. In this regard and based on findings of clinical testing, DehydraTECH significantly increases bioavailability for fat-soluble drugs.
DehydraTECH has so far been evaluated as part of nicotine, antivirals, and cannabinoids (“CBD”) R&D programs. The nicotine program showed that the drug delivery platform significantly increased the quantity of nicotine delivered. It was also responsible for 295% higher brain levels of nicotine compared to controls.
Additionally, its first 2021 human clinical study under the CBD program, HYPER-H21-1, has evidenced a rapid and sustained decline in blood pressure, with the reduction being more pronounced in the first 10 to 50 minutes of the study. The second 2021 human clinical study, HYPER-H21-2, has demonstrated up to 23% drop in blood pressure with DehydraTECH-CBD compared with placebo. Though Lexaria still awaits additional analyses, its drug delivery technology has proven useful for potentially treating hypertension.
Thirdly, its antiviral program, featuring cell-based and animal studies using Remdesivir and antiviral drugs being investigated for SARS-CoV-2 and HIV/AIDS, has demonstrated enhanced drug delivery.
Since it began developing DehydraTECH in 2014, Lexaria has significantly strengthened and broadened the technology to an unprecedented degree. Even so, more may still be in the offing for the company currently disrupting the pharmaceutical industry.
For more information, visit the company’s website at www.LexariaBioscience.com.
NOTE TO INVESTORS: The latest news and updates relating to LEXX are available in the company’s newsroom at https://ibn.fm/LEXX
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