- Pharmaceutical company, Cardiol Therapeutics (TSX:CRDL), has filed a patent application for use the of cannabidiol to improve COVID-19 outcomes
- The patent application includes using CBD to reduce COVID-19 symptoms in patients with pre-existing cardiovascular conditions
- Despite being a primarily respiratory virus, reports suggest that COVID-19 can also cause cardiovascular complications
- Conversely, reports also suggest that people with prior cardiovascular conditions are more likely to develop severe COVID-19 symptoms
- Cardiol Therapeutics is up 2.32 per cent, and is currently trading for C$3.09 per share
Pharmaceutical company, Cardiol Therapeutics (TSX:CRDL), has filed a patent application for the use of cannabidiol to improve COVID-19 outcomes.
The patent application also seeks to cover using CBD to reduce the severity of COVID-19 symptoms in patients with pre-existing cardiovascular conditions.
The notorious coronavirus is primarily a respiratory disease, but has demonstrated the ability to damage other bodily systems.
An increasing number of reports suggest that the virus escalates a patient’s risk of developing cardiovascular complications. This is even if the patient does not have an underlying cardiovascular condition.
Demographics which are more vulnerable to COVID-19 include people who are older, chronically ill, or have pre-existing conditions. These may include diabetes, kidney disease, high blood pressure, heart and lung conditions, and weak immune systems.
Early reports indicate that people with pre-existing cardiovascular conditions are more likely to develop severe COVID-19 symptoms. They may also have a worse prognosis.
A study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association Cardiology showed that 35 per cent of hospitalised COVID-19 patients had underlying cardiovascular disease. In the study, COVID-19 cases with pre-existing CVD and myocardial injury had a much higher mortality rate.
While it is unconfirmed, there is growing evidence that CBD could assist in treating some heart-related issues. These include cardiac and vascular inflammation, oxidative stress and cardiac dysfunction.
Pre-clinical research has shown that Cardiol’s pharmaceutically produced cannabidiol was able to reduce fibrosis and hypertrophy (heart enlargement).
Cardiol’s CEO, David Elsley, commented on the pandemic and its potential treatment.
“COVID-19 patients with a prior history of cardiovascular disease and cardiac injury are at significantly higher risk for mortality. Experimental evidence demonstrating the cardioprotective properties of cannabidiol suggest therapeutic potential in this vulnerable patient population.
“As part of our strategy to develop cannabidiol for patients with heart failure, we look forward to investigating the anti-inflammatory properties of our extra strength CBD formulation in COVID-19 patients with cardiac injury, with the hope of significantly improving patient outcomes,” he said.
Cardiol Therapeutics is up 2.32 per cent, and is trading for C$3.09 per share, as of 2:32pm EDT.