Harvest One Cannabis Inc. - Favourable Results from Phase 2 Clinical Trials using Satipharm Capsules

TSXV – HVT                                                                                               

VANCOUVER, Feb. 1, 2018 /CNW/ - Harvest One Cannabis Inc. (TSXV:HVT; HVST) ("Harvest One" or the "Company") through its wholly-owned subsidiary Satipharm AG ("Satipharm") is pleased to announce its proprietary capsules were used in a Phase 2 Clinical Trials undertaken by Israeli-based PhytoTech Therapeutics Ltd ("PTL") a wholly owned subsidiary of MMJ PhytoTech limited ("MMJ"). The Phase 2 trial is an open-label, single-centre clinical study to evaluate the safety, tolerability and efficacy of oral administration of Satipharm CBD capsules as an adjunctive treatment. Results from the first 10 patients who participated in the Phase 2 clinical trials are now available.

Highlights:

• PTL's Phase 2 open label clinical trial is aimed at measuring safety and efficacy of Satipharm CBD capsules for reducing seizure frequency in children with refractory, or treatment-resistant, epilepsy.
• Satipharm CBD capsules are a proprietary oral formulation developed using the Gelpell-CBD™ product technology.
• Satipharm CBD capsules reduced monthly seizure frequency in the treatment-resistant children when added to current medications. The treatment was generally well tolerated, with a safety profile consistent with prior experience.
• Promising evidence of efficacy has been reported. In 6 patients a reduction of 59-91% in mean monthly seizure frequency was observed following 12 weeks of treatment.
• The median reduction was -79.5% in the 12-week treatment period compared to the 4-week observation period.

Importantly, the initial results received to date indicate that Satipharm's capsules significantly reduce monthly seizure frequency when added to current medications, with strong evidence of efficacy reported.

PTL's near-term focus is on recruiting the final patients required for the Phase 2 trial, in the next few weeks, with the study expected to be completed by mid-2018. The full results for the entire patient cohort would then be published shortly thereafter.

Phase 2 Clinical Trial Background

The Phase 2 trial is an open-label, single-center clinical study, designed to evaluate the safety, tolerability and efficacy of the Satipharm CBD capsules as an adjunctive treatment to 15 children with treatment-resistant epilepsy, aged 2-15 years.

The study comprised of 3 periods: observation (4 weeks), dose-titration and treatment (12 weeks), and follow-up (2 weeks). Patients were eligible to participate in the study if they had tried at least four prior anti-epileptic drugs (AEDs), including one trial of a combination of two AEDs, without successful seizure control. Daily doses were limited to 25mg/kg or 450 mg, whichever is lower.

Eight patients completed the study, while two patients were discontinued due to worsening seizures. Following 12 weeks of treatment, 6 of the 8 patients were rated as "very much improved/improved" in overall condition on the Caregiver Global Impression of Improvement scale and 7/8 patients were rated as "very much reduced/reduced" on Caregiver Global Impression of Seizures Severity scale. In these patients the mean monthly seizure frequency reduction was 59-91% after the 12-week treatment period, compared to the 4-week observation period.

One patient had a small response (12% reduction in seizures). For one patient, the critical data is missing from the later part of the diary (last 5 weeks) as it was destroyed in a fire, therefore, the daily seizure count is missing. The median reduction was -79.5% in the 12-week treatment period compared to the 4-week observation period.

Treatment with the capsules was generally safe and well tolerated. No serious adverse events were observed. A total of 20 treatment related adverse events (1.5% of total administrations) were reported, from 1.5% of administrations (20 out of total of 1329 administrations). Most adverse events were mild, a few were moderate, and all transient.

Satipharm CBD Capsules Background

Satipharm CBD capsules utilise a proprietary formulation developed using the Gelpell-CBD™ product technology. These capsules are produced under an exclusive contract manufacturing arrangement with Gelpell AG. The capsules contain organically derived, highly purified cannabidiol, (CBD), a non-psychoactive cannabinoid. The capsules are currently available in dosage units of 10, 50 and 100 mg CBD in Europe and Australia.

Refractory Epilepsy in Children Background

Severe childhood epilepsies are characterised by frequent seizures, neurodevelopmental delays and impaired quality of life. Approximately one third of patients with epilepsy are resistant to treatment, meaning they do not respond to drug therapy and continue to experience seizures. This can be the result of the drug therapy failing to control the seizures, or patients not being able to tolerate the related side effects. A number of currently available epilepsy drugs have been found to have significant side effects including the impairment of a patient's motor skills and cognitive abilities.

The incidence of refractory epilepsy remains high despite the influx of many new antiepileptic drugs (AEDs) over the past 10 to 15 years. It is estimated that approximately 100,000 children in North America suffer from treatment resistant epilepsy, causing uncontrollable seizures. 

Harvest Ones's CEO and Managing Director, Andreas Gedeon, commented:

"Notwithstanding the small number of patients treated to date, these results compare very favourably to other similar studies of cannabidiol, including those published by GW Pharmaceuticals.

"Importantly, these stark reductions in the number of seizures, in these very difficult to treat patients, have the potential to be a life-altering event for these patients and their families.

"The completion of this Phase 2 clinical trial, which has been earmarked for the middle of 2018, is a major step towards the commercial development of our Satipharm CBD capsules and we look forward to providing further updates on progress in due course."

Harvest One wishes to caution investors that the study conducted by PTL had a limited sample size and duration. Definitive conclusions with respect to the efficacy of Satipharm CBD capsules cannot be drawn from the results described herein. Statements with regards to the application of Satipharm CBD capsules are based on this preliminary study, and any application or result of use of Satipharm CBD capsules may not be realized, or realized in the manner described herein.

About Harvest One Cannabis Inc. (TSXV: HVT)
Harvest One is a global cannabis company focused on delivering high quality, innovative cannabis products and technology to regulated markets around the world. Our shareholders have significant exposure to the entire cannabis value chain through three business units, with Harvest One serving as the parent company over horticultural arm United Greeneries and medical arm Satipharm AG. Harvest One's businesses are all strategically located in favourable jurisdictions with supportive regulatory frameworks in place. United Greeneries has a Canadian ACMPR cultivation and sales license, making Harvest One a unique global company with the capacity to commercially cultivate and sell medicinal grade cannabis in a federally regulated environment.

Certain statements contained in this press release constitute forward-looking information. These statements relate to future events or future performance. The use of any of the words "could", "intend", "expect", "believe", "will", "projected", "estimated" and similar expressions and statements relating to matters that are not historical facts are intended to identify forward-looking information and are based on the Company's current belief or assumptions as to the outcome and timing of such future events. Actual future results may differ materially. In particular, this release contains forward-looking information with respect to statements regarding the use and application of Satipharm CBD capsules, the completion of further clinical studies relating to Satipharm CBD capsules, the results of future clinical studies, conclusions drawn on the limited study described herein, and the potential application, uses or outcomes arising from use of Satipharm CBD capsules. The forward-looking information contained in this press release is made as of the date hereof and the Company is not obligated to update or revise any forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by applicable securities laws. Because of the risks, uncertainties and assumptions contained herein, investors should not place undue reliance on forward-looking information. The foregoing statements expressly qualify any forward-looking information contained herein.

Neither TSX-V nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX-V) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

SOURCE Harvest One Cannabis Inc.