Cannabis company starts testing CBD drug for autism in children

SciSparc  (NASDAQ:SPRC), a clinical-stage pharmaceutical company that uses cannabis for various treatment modalities, has started a clinical trial for cannabis-based drug SCI-210 aimed at treating symptoms of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) or autism spectrum disorder in children. The trial, which is currently underway at Soroka Medical Center in Israel, has enrolled and dosed the first five patients.

The study is a double-blind, randomized, and placebo-controlled trial that will include 60 subjects between the ages of 5 and 18 over a period of 20 weeks. The aim is to evaluate the efficacy of SCI-210, a combination of cannabidiol (CBD) and CannAmide, against standard CBD monotherapy in managing ASD symptoms.

CBD does not contain the psychotropic elements found in the cannabis plant.

The trial’s design was developed in consultation with the National Autism Research Center, Israel’s leading autism research institution.

SciSparc’s CEO, Oz Adler, expressed satisfaction with the enrollment pace and anticipates that the trial will contribute new scientific data to aid those affected by ASD. ASD is a neurological and developmental disorder that influences social interaction and communication skills, with symptoms and severity varying widely across the spectrum.

The company’s strategic plan is to first commercialize SCI-210 in the Israeli market, followed by other countries, subject to regulatory approvals.

SciSparc specializes in cannabinoid-based pharmaceuticals and has other drug development programs targeting conditions such as Tourette Syndrome, Alzheimer’s disease, pain, and status epilepticus.

The company is publicly traded in the US on the NASDAQ.

Israel is a world-leader in cannabis research largely thanks to the chemist Raphael Mechoulam who isolated THC and CBD from cannabis decades ago. There is also the work of Israeli-American Alan Shackelford.