Stero Biotechs begins trial of CBD to reduce steroid use in autoimmune hepatitis

Stero Biotechs received Ethics Committee approval by Israel’s Ministry of Health to begin patient enrollment in a study of cannabidiol to reduce the dose and duration of steroid therapy in patients with liver disease, according to a press release.

The company will enroll 15 patients with autoimmune hepatitis in a phase 2 clinical trial of ST-AH-01 cannabidiol (CBD) formulation at the Rabin Medical Center in Israel.

“Any treatment option that assists us in reducing the dose and duration of steroid treatments is one that would greatly benefit my patients,” Assaf Issachar, MD, from the Department of Medicine D and the Liver Institute at the Rabin Medical Center, said in the release. “I am interested in the results of this study as a first step in realizing the potential of CBD to treat this difficult disease.”

Stero discovered that CBD for patients who receive regular steroid therapy as standard care allowed physicians to lower steroid prescription doses and improve the therapeutic effect of steroids for those who are currently resistant.

The company noted that it plans to continue researching indications for the proprietary formulation in 2019.

Reference: www.sterobiotechs.com