LAS VEGAS, April 10, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- GB Sciences,
Inc. (OTCQB: GBLX) is planning to file an Exploratory IND and perform a Phase 0 Clinical Trial to gather valuable First-In-Human
data on its proprietary cannabis-based therapies for the treatment of early to moderate Parkinson's disease ("PD"). The GB
Sciences' Exploratory IND program is designed to allow the company to make informed, data-driven choices in selecting and
prioritizing the development of multiple, related drug compositions and formulations. An Exploratory IND requires less
pre-clinical data and offers a more flexible way to get essential information about potential drug development candidates than a
more conventional early phase development program. Performing an FDA-Registered clinical trial, instead of a Nevada-based pilot trial as reported earlier, also translates to quicker entry into international markets
with harmonized regulatory standards.
As previously reported, GB Sciences has pending US and International patent applications covering multiple, related
PD-formulas based on complex mixtures of minor cannabinoids and terpenes from cannabis chemovars. In pre-clinical studies, these
complex cannabis-based formulas both increased dopamine production and demonstrated potential neuroprotective properties. The
disease processes targeted by GB Sciences' therapeutic mixtures are central to the progression of PD, as well as other related
neurological conditions.
"The Exploratory IND/Phase 0 program allows companies to establish a clinical trial protocol to distinguish between
multiple formulations based on various measures, including pharmacological and pharmacodynamic measures that may be predictive of
efficacy, as well as measures that will help us assess the mechanism of action of our drug candidates," explains Dr.
Andrea Small-Howard, Chief Science Officer of GB Sciences. "GB Sciences believes that its
regulatory strategy can deliver enough data to allow us to select one or more optimal candidates for development, and do so more
quickly and more efficiently than if we were to proceed directly to a traditional phased development program."
The company will begin its toxicology studies in the summer of 2018 in preparation for the Exploratory IND, but prior to
receiving feedback from the US FDA to verify that the company's regulatory strategy and Phase 0 clinical trial protocol are
acceptable to the agency. GB Sciences expects to commence its First-in-Human Trial in early 2019, pending FDA acceptance of
their Exploratory IND application and proposed Phase 0 protocol.
GB Sciences is committed to providing evidence-based therapies to patients in markets beyond those reachable in
state-regulated medical marijuana systems. While it may be more difficult to register the First-in-Human trial with the US FDA in
the short term, the longer-term benefits for the patients and GB shareholders should be great.
"GB Sciences has always been committed to providing the highest quality therapies to patients, and working through US FDA
channels will allow us to get these medicines to patients across the US and internationally quicker than just 'staying in our
lane' in the less regulated state-run medical cannabis programs," said John Poss, CEO and
Chairman of GB Sciences, Inc. "At GB, we know that doing the right thing may take a little longer, but the rewards are often
greater."
About GB Sciences, Inc.
GB Sciences, Inc. (OTCQB: GBLX) is a diverse cannabis company, focused on standardized cultivation and production methods; as
well as biopharmaceutical research and development. The Company's goal is creating safe, standardized, pharmaceutical-grade,
cannabinoid therapies that target a variety of medical conditions. To learn more about GB Sciences, Inc., go to: http://gbsciences.com.
Forward-Looking Statements
This press release may contain statements relating to future results or events, which are forward-looking statements.
Words such as "expects", "intends", "plans", "may", "could", "should", "anticipates", "likely", "believes" and words of similar
import may identify forward-looking statements. These statements are not historical facts, but instead represent only the
Company's belief regarding future events, many of which, by their nature, are inherently uncertain and outside of the Company's
control. It is possible that the Company's actual results and financial condition may differ, possibly materially, from the
anticipated results and financial condition indicated in these forward-looking statements. Further, information concerning
the Company and its business, including factors that potentially could materially affect the Company's business and financial and
other results, are contained in the Company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, available at www.sec.gov. All forward-looking statements included in this press release are made
only as of the date of this press release, and we do not undertake any obligation to publicly update or correct any
forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances that subsequently occur or of which we hereafter become aware.
Note: Although the Company's research and development activities are not illegal, the production and sale of cannabis
products violate federal laws as they presently exist.
Contact Information
Corporate:
GB Sciences, Inc., 3550 West Teco Ave., Las Vegas, NV 89118
866-721-0297, or
Tom Arcuragi, EVP, tom@gbsciences.com
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SOURCE GB Sciences, Inc.