Fiscal Year:
2002
Title:
DEVELOPMENT OF A NATURAL CANNABINOID PRODUCT
Agency:
HHS
Contract:
1R43CA092855-01A1
Award Amount:
$234,783.00
Abstract:
DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): Marijuana (Cannabis sativa) and a number
of cannabinoids including its primary psychoactive component, delta9-THC
(delta9-tetrahydrocannabinol), show promise for treating pain and cachexia in
cancer and AIDS patients. The overall goal of this research program is to
develop a natural pharmaceutical grade delta9-THC product for medical use.
While delta9-THC can be synthesized, the process is complex and expensive. It
is our hypothesis that a natural delta9-THC product can be cost-effectively
manufactured by utilizing supercritical fluids and near-critical fluids w/wo
polar cosolvents such as alcohols (SuperFluids TM), and that such a process
could also produce other bioactive cannabinoids and cannabinoid mixtures for
future research and therapeutic use. In Phase I, we plan to establish "best"
conditions for selective SuperFluids extraction and chromatographic
purification (CXP) of delta9-THC from Cannabis sativa. The SuperFluids CXP
process will be evaluated against conventional organic phase processes in terms
of capital and operating costs as well as environmental impact. The results of
our Phase I investigation will be used to perform engineering and economic
analysis to determine the technical, economic and environmental feasibility of
the proposed process. In Phase II, we will scale-up and pilot the process for
producing cannabinoids for commercialization by Molecular Delivery Corporation,
Pleasanton, CA.
Small Business Information at Submission:
APHIOS CORPORATION
APHIOS CORPORATION 3-E GILL ST WOBURN, MA 01801
EIN/Tax ID:
043205324
DUNS:
N/A
Number of Employees:
N/A
Woman-Owned:
No
Minority-Owned:
No
HUBZone-Owned:
No