TORONTO, CANADA, February 9, 2023 – Awakn Life Sciences Corp. (NEO: AWKN, OTCQB: AWKNF, FSE: 954) (“Awakn”), a biotechnology company developing therapeutics to treat addiction with a near-term focus on Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD), today announced it has initiated a feasibility study of MDMA leveraging Catalent’s proprietary Zydis® ODT fast dissolve technology.
Zydis ODT is a unique, freeze-dried, oral solid dosage form that disperses almost instantly in the mouth, allowing for dosing with no water required. When formulated appropriately, the technology affords the potential for better pre-gastric absorption, a more efficient delivery, rapid onset of effects, an enhanced patient experience and compliance.
The study is focused on establishing the feasibility of using Catalent’s Zydis ODT technology for the formulation and delivery of MDMA. A variety of chemical parameters are presently being evaluated to access preliminary formulations and, if proven to be feasible, a viable production formulation will be developed. The ultimate aims of the study are to optimise the delivery of MDMA to minimise the amount of drug required to deliver efficacy, minimise variability in absorption, and to increase the overall speed of onset.
Due to the faster onset of effects of Zydis ODT technology, there is the possibility to shorten therapy sessions and, through pre-gastric absorption and bypassing of the first-pass metabolism, there is potential to enhance pharmacokinetics.
Shaun McNulty, Awakn’s CSO, commented on the news, “Catalent is a world leader in the field of formulation and their Zydis ODT technology is the gold standard for rapid, safe, and consistent delivery of drugs to patients. The Zydis platform offers the potential to minimise both MDMA dose and the duration of therapy sessions. This study has the potential to demonstrate that Zydis ODT technology can provide an ideal MDMA formulation option both for patients and for health care providers.”
>> Could Incannex be seeking Catalent’s proprietary Zydis® ODT fast dissolve technology?
Features
Disperses almost instantly in the mouth
better pre-gastric absorption
more efficient delivery,
rapid onset of effect
enhanced patient experience
Benefits
Optimise Delivery
Minimise the amount of dosage to deliver efficacy
Minimise variability in absorption
Increase the overall speed of onset >> possibility to shorten therapy sessions
Awakn might be on to something here, the cost of therapy could be reduced substantially if there was
1. Rapid onset of the drug in the patient
2. Reduced dosage without compromising efficacy.
SMART - BOD
GLAH
