Medical breakthrough, as it is revealed that cannabis can kill superbugs and save 10 million lives a year

An amazing drug could become the first class of antibiotics in 60 years to kill bacteria resistant to diseases such as gonorrhea, meningitis and legionnaires.

Researchers at the University of Queensland’s Institute for Molecular Bioscience have discovered a new use for cannabis in its global fight to stop deadly superbugs.

Laboratory studies have shown that synthetic cannabidiol, the main non-psychoactive component of cannabis better known as CBD, can kill bacteria in diseases such as gonorrhea, a sexually transmitted infection.

The research was hailed as a potential worldwide medical discovery, amid predictions that drug-resistant infections could result in 10 million deaths worldwide each year by 2050, unless an alternative treatment is found.

The research, recently published in Communications Biology, is part of a collaboration between Queensland researchers and Botanix Pharmaceuticals, which led to the first new class of antibiotics for resistant bacteria in 60 years.

“This is the first time that CBD has been shown to kill some types of Gram-negative bacteria. These bacteria have an extra outer membrane, an additional line of defense that makes it harder for antibiotics to penetrate, ‘said director of the Institute for Molecular Bioscience, Mark Blaskovich, in a statement.

The researchers also found that cannabidiol is effective in eliminating the superbug MRSA found in golden staph bacteria.

It can also be used to treat infected diabetic wounds and ulcers.

“Cannabidiol showed a low tendency to cause resistance in bacteria, even when we accelerate potential development by increasing the concentrations of the antibiotic during ‘treatment’, added Dr. Blaskovich.

“We think cannabidiol kills bacteria by bursting its outer cell membranes, but we still don’t know exactly how it does it and we need to do more research.”

Further testing of CBD formulations is underway.

“We think we can design a different version of the CBD that will be able to have some systemic activity,” said Dr. Blaskovich to Courier Mail.

“We want something that doesn’t break down in the body as quickly as CBD. There is definitely potential for CBD to be a prototypical representative of a new class of antibiotics.

Botanix president Vince Ippolito described the Queensland survey as a major breakthrough.

“The published data clearly establishes the potential of synthetic cannabinoids as antimicrobials,” said Ippolito.

‘Our company is now prepared to market viable antimicrobial treatments that we hope will reach more patients in the near future. This is a major breakthrough that the world needs now. ‘

The pharmaceutical company will now progress a topical formulation of CBD in clinical trials.

“Phase 2a clinical results are expected earlier this year and we hope this will pave the way for treatments for gonorrhea, meningitis and legionnaire’s disease,” said Dr. Blaskovich.

“Now that we have established that cannabidiol is effective against these Gram-negative bacteria, we are examining their mode of action, improving their activity and finding other similar molecules to pave the way for a new class of antibiotics.”

Dr. Blaskovich estimates that it will take 10 to 15 years before it becomes an approved antibiotic if the additional tests are successful.