Cannabis stocks have taken off all over the world with the UN recently reclassifying cannabis and the USA on the way to federal decriminalisation. Locally, as Australia’s TGA makes CBD oil available over the counter in 2021, Neurotech International (ASX:NTI) is in a prime position to benefit as they continue to develop their unique cannabis strains.
Focusing on the clinical application of rare cannabis strains, NTI is developing a range of medications to treat neurological disorders. And the past month has been incredibly rewarding for the company, with Stage 1 of product formulation and development studies commencing, eventually moving to clinical trials in early 2021.
Shareholders have also been rewarded, with NTI’s stock price surging more than 145% over the past two months. Positive results are expected to continue as management reports further progress of their in-vitro human brain cell studies using their proprietary DOLCE/NTI leads. These studies indicate they can regulate multiple neuronal pathways – which are directly involved in cell repair and rejuvenation.
Cannabis continues to grow globally
As more and more regulatory bodies around the world continue to show their acceptance of cannabis as a medicine, Neurotech’s recent success in the industry has positioned the company brilliantly to grow into a world-leading organisation.
The cannabis strains which NTI are focusing on include CBDA, CBDP, and CBDB – all which are being assessed for their neuro-protective, neuro-modulatory, and anti-inflammatory properties. These strains provide easier access to commercialisation as well, as they contain THC levels of less than 0.3% (the psycho-active component of cannabis).
Australians consumed more cannabis than ever in 2020, and with the majority now supporting full legalisation of the drug as well as the hundreds of thousands who already source it on the black market to use as a medicine, legal demand can only sky rocket in the coming years.
On the back of positive results from their clinical trials, NTI will vastly benefit from the increased acceptance and demand.
Home devices booming
As well as their cannabis developments, NTI is starting to bring Mente to market – the world’s first clinically proven home therapy to improve relaxation and increase engagement in children with autism.
This technology uses personalised audio feedback with earphones to gently guide the brain into a more relaxed state. Soft and easy to use, the portable headband was developed to help self-regulate attention and mood.
Mente uses a daily 40-minute session unique to each user, aiming to minimise disruption to routines throughout the day, whilst also allowing users to continue regular activities such as reading, drawing, and homework. This makes Mente perfect for using at home or in a more formal educational setting.
Further progress for Neurotech
With Neurotech’s CBDA, CBDP, and CBDB formulations being studied at leading organisations such as Monash University, University of Wollongong, and RMIT University, their proprietary DOLCE/NTI cannabis leads are already proving to be more effective than CBD alone. As leads indicate a significant increased potency in repairing neuronal cells, requiring concentrations up to five times lower than CBD.
Similarly, CBD alone has not shown to produce any significant anti-inflammatory properties in the current studies.
Chairman of Neurotech Brian Leedman commented on the promising results as well as potential applications in other areas:
These preliminary trial results continue to be very encouraging, in particular the unique mode of action of our strains compared to CBD alone. These results indicate that the DOLCE/NTI leads may have a broader application in relation to the management and treatment of a number of neurological disorders.
Even with the high growth of NTI’s share price over the past two months, there is still massive upside potential.
As the transition to clinical trials moves forward in 2021, Neurotech is a prime company in a vastly expanding industry.
