First of its Kind Study Published in
Peer-Reviewed Journal, “Cannabis and Cannabinoid
Research”
Aleafia Health Inc. (TSXV: ALEF, OTC: ALEAF, FRA: ARAH)
(“
Aleafia Health” or the
“
Company”), announces today what it believes to be
the first study reporting reduced benzodiazepine use among patients
initiated and monitored on medical cannabis. Benzodiazepines, a
class of psychoactive drugs, include the most common sedatives and
anti-anxiety medications.
The retrospective study, published in Cannabis and Cannabinoid
Research, a peer-reviewed journal, is entitled “Reduction of
Benzodiazepine Use in Patients Prescribed Medical Cannabis.” It
found that 45.2 per cent of patients regularly consuming
benzodiazepines had stopped taking the medication within
approximately six months of beginning medical cannabis. These
patients, following prescription cannabis use, also reported
decreased daily distress due to medical conditions.
The cohort featured 146 patients who received physician-led
treatment in Aleafia Health’s wholly owned Canabo Medical Clinics
(“Canabo”). Aleafia believes it maintains the
world’s largest medical cannabis patient dataset and is deploying
the data for unique insights in medical cannabis treatment and
product development best practices.
The Canadian Centre on Substance Abuse and Addiction (CCSAA)
warns that benzodiazepines may lead to serious long-term
complications, including dependence, overdose and death. According
to a CCSAA study, 10 per cent of the Canadian population takes
prescription sedatives. And a study published in The British
Medical Journal found that benzodiazepines consumption
significantly increased the risk of opioid overdose.
“The study results are encouraging, and this work is concurrent
with growing public interest in a rapidly developing Canadian
cannabis market,” said lead author Chad Purcell. “We are advising
the public to observe caution. The results do not suggest that
cannabis should be used an alternative to conventional therapies.
Our purpose is inspiring others to advance current cannabis
understanding as we collect stronger efficacy and safety data that
will lead to responsible policy and recommended practices for
use.”
“Due to regulatory hurdles and lingering stigma, there remains a
shortage of medical cannabis research. At Aleafia, we will continue
to leverage our IP and leading cannabis data to further advance
patient care through advanced treatment methods and specialized
product development,” said Aleafia Health Chief Medical Officer Dr.
Michael Verbora. “This study’s results will not be surprising to
many patients who have transitioned from prescription pain killers
and sedatives with the help of physician-led medical cannabis
therapy. I thank the study authors for this significant
contribution to evidence-based medicine.”
Learn more at www.AleafiaInc.com/Invest.
For Investor & Media Relations, please
contact:
Nicholas Bergamini, VP, Public
Affairs416-860-5665IR@AleafiaInc.com
About the Authors:
Chad Purcell BSc (Pharm)
Chad Purcell will receive an MD degree from Dalhousie University
in 2019 from which he also earned a BSc with honours in
pharmacology and, subsequently, a BSc in pharmacy. He has published
in several areas of pharmaceutical research including
pharmacokinetics, pharmacy practice and most recently, medical
cannabis.
Dr. Andrew Davis
Dr. Andrew Davis received a Ph.D. and M.A. in Economics from the
University of Rochester, where he also held both a Sproull and
Lionel McKenzie Fellowships. He also earned a B.Sc. from Memorial
University of Newfoundland. Dr. Davis has regularly presented
research at a variety of seminars and conferences including the
Canadian Economics Association, of which he is a member, and is
most recently published in Economic Modelling.
Dr. Nico Moolman, MD
Dr. Nico Moolman is a Clinical Assistant
Professor at the University of Saskatchewan in Saskatoon. He
specializes in Otolaryngology - Head and Neck surgery with a focus
on Sinonasal, as well as Facial Plastic and Reconstructive surgery.
His research has focused on Head and Neck Oncology with
publications in the field.
Dr. Mark Taylor, MD
Dr. Mark Taylor, currently a Professor as well as the Interim
Head of the Division of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery at
Dalhousie University, has 15 years’ experience as a Head and Neck
Surgeon in Halifax. In addition to resident education, his practice
focuses on Head and Neck Oncology, as well as Facial Plastic and
Reconstructive Surgery, in which he is also Board Certified. Dr.
Taylor has over 150 peer- reviewed publications to his credit and
has developed a particular interest in research into cannabinoid
therapy.
About Aleafia Health:
Aleafia, a vertically integrated, national cannabis company,
operates major medical clinic, cannabis cultivation and R&D
facilities. A federally licensed producer and vendor of cannabis,
the company has a planned and fully-funded annual production
capacity of 98,000 kg of dried cannabis flower.
Aleafia operates medical cannabis clinics staffed by physicians
and nurse practitioners, with over 50,000 patients. The company is
highly differentiated, maintaining the largest medical cannabis
dataset in the world.
Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services
Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the Exchange)
accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this
release.
FORWARD LOOKING INFORMATION
This press release contains forward-looking statements and
information that are based on the beliefs of management and reflect
the Company's current expectations. When used in this press
release, the words "estimate", "project", "belief", "anticipate",
"intend", "expect", "plan", "predict", "may" or "should" and the
negative of these words or such variations thereon or comparable
terminology are intended to identify forward-looking statements and
information. The forward-looking statements and information in this
press release includes information relating to the implementation
of Aleafia Health's business plan. Such statements and information
reflect the current view of the Company with respect to risks and
uncertainties that may cause actual results to differ materially
from those contemplated in those forward-looking statements and
information.
By their nature, forward-looking statements involve known and
unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause our
actual results, performance or achievements, or other future
events, to be materially different from any future results,
performance or achievements expressed or implied by such
forward-looking statements. Such factors include, among others, the
following risks: risks associated with the implementation of
Aleafia Health's business plan and matters relating thereto, risks
associated with the cannabis industry, competition, regulatory
change, the need for additional financing, reliance on key
personnel, the potential for conflicts of interest among certain
officers or directors, and the volatility of the Company's common
share price and volume. Forward-looking statements are made based
on management's beliefs, estimates and opinions on the date that
statements are made, and the Company undertakes no obligation to
update forward-looking statements if these beliefs, estimates and
opinions or other circumstances should change. Investors are
cautioned against attributing undue certainty to forward-looking
statements.
A photo accompanying this announcement is available at
http://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/ab9e9601-882f-4da8-84f4-7f0bfc1062c0
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