Aphios Corporation

Δ9-THC and Δ9-THCA Cannabinoids

Aphios manufactures natural pharmaceutical grade Δ9-THC (Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol) and its precursor Δ9-THCA (Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinolic acid) utilizing its patented SuperFluids™ CXP process [US Patent No. 5,750,709]. These natural cannabinoid products, directly isolated from the plant Cannabis sativa, are being developed for treating pain in cancer patients, cachexia or wasting in AIDS patients, nausea and emesis, and relief to Alzheimer’s patients while increasing their appetite.

Delta 9-THC A select number of the 65 cannabinoids, the medically active components of Cannabis, hold the promise of providing new drugs for a variety of treatment purposes, including Δ9-THC. The use of marijuana (Cannabis) for medical treatments has the legal disadvantage that distribution of the plant material to patients violates US Federal law. Smoking Cannabis has the medical disadvantage that the smoke contains many toxic components in common with tobacco smoke, and delivers a highly variable dose of Δ9-THC and other cannabinoids.

While Δ9-THC can be synthesized, the process is complex and expensive. Synthetic Δ9-THC (dronabinol) used to be manufactured by only one company in the United States, Norac, Azusa, CA, which has an exclusive supply agreement with Unimed for use in its Marinol® product, a preparation of synthetic dronabinol dissolved in sesame oil. Marinol® is approved by the US FDA as an appetite stimulant for HIV/AIDS patients and as an anti-emetic to stem the nausea and vomiting associated with cancer chemotherapy. Oral administration of Marinol® causes slow, variable Δ9-THC uptake, while the oil-based capsule can be difficult to digest, especially in patients suffering nausea from chemotherapy. Dronabinol, now generic, is manufactured by several companies including AMRI Rensselaer, Inc., Rhodes Technologies, Mallinckrodt, Inc., and Austin Pharma, LLC.

Our engineers and scientists have developed a cost-effective process to rapidly manufacture pharmaceutical-grade Δ9-THC and and Δ9-THCA cannabinoid fractions by utilizing Aphios’ patented SuperFluids™ CXF and CXP technologies. Δ9-THCA is more stable than Δ9-THC but not active. This acid precursor stoichometrically converts to Δ9-THC when heated to 100°C or higher. Δ9-THCA is thus an ideal prodrug for enhanced drug delivery devices.

Aphios is seeking collaborative partners to: (1) develop an orally available natural Δ9-THC for cancer pain and AIDS cachexia; and (2) develop Δ9-THCA as a pro-drug for cancer, AIDS and Alzheimer’s patients.