Legal cannabis snus was just the beginning. Now, Helsingborg-based Voon Innovation wants to fill more pouches with substances other than tobacco or nicotine.
Many associate snus with tobacco and nicotine – both known for their negative health impacts. But a small startup in Helsingborg wants to change that association. They see potential in snus pouches as a delivery medium. The mouth, with all its blood vessels, has a very efficient absorption capability. Therefore, Voon Innovation believes it is appropriate to explore the possibility of transferring medicine through the oral cavity.
The product the company has been developing over the past few years is so-called CBD snus. CBD is a substance extracted from hemp, or cannabis. For example, in the USA, it is marketed as a calming or pain-relieving agent, but many of the claimed effects are not scientifically proven and therefore require more research.
CBD itself does not cause intoxication as it has no hallucinogenic effects and is therefore not classified as a drug, according to the Medical Products Agency.
Alexander Holmkvist is the head of research and development at the company. He also holds a doctorate in medical science. He explains that the company does not just want to work with CBD products but also to research medicines in snus form.
– We only started with CBD. The vision is to enter the medical technology field with snus, he says.
The Voon Innovation facility smells like “bubble-gum.” The different flavours like “pink grapefruit” and “snazzy tangerine” are meant to mask the bitter taste of CBD caused by it being broken down into nanoparticles. Breaking it down to such a small size makes the product effective.
Alexander Holmkvist has previously researched nanomedicine. He explains that a substance in snus form can reach the bloodstream faster through the blood vessels in the mouth if it is broken down into nanoparticles, aligning with the company’s ambitions.
– We aim to have the same delivery time as smoking. That means within a few minutes, it should come out of the pouch and into the blood, he says.
Bioavailability is an element to consider when choosing a delivery method for medicines or other substances, says Alexander Holmkvist. Bioavailability refers to how much of the dose you absorb.
– If you take something directly into the blood, you have 100 percent bioavailability – you get 100 percent of the dose. Smoking a cigarette gives about 30 percent bioavailability. About 40 percent of the content will be exhaled again, and 30 percent will just burn up. If you swallow it, some will be destroyed by stomach acid, and some will get stuck in the liver before reaching the blood, he says.
He explains that the bioavailability in their snus is high.
– With our snus, we have converted it into nanoparticles, and it will be absorbed by the blood vessels directly in the oral cavity. It has much higher bioavailability. So, you get more out of each dose.
For a substance to be absorbed in the mouth, it must be water-soluble. But CBD is an oil-based substance and does not dissolve in water. To change that, Alexander Holmkvist has created an emulsion, a mixture of liquids that do not otherwise dissolve in each other. He does this by breaking down the CBD powder into nano size, resulting in a water-soluble product.
Niklas Olsson is the production technical manager, with a background in the pharmaceutical industry, and claims their product is unique.
– Many of those on the market do not use our technology. They have direct oil in their product, he says.
The company’s vision is for snus to replace other delivery methods in the pharmaceutical industry, such as tablets.
Alexander Holmkvist explains that snus could be an alternative for those who have difficulty swallowing tablets. He sees advantages in it being a more predictable way to take medicine, as factors like metabolism and digestion are highly individual.
How long it will take to see medicines in pouches is hard to say. But the requirements are high, and many stages of clinical studies are needed for a medicine to be approved, so it will likely take time.
– We have come a long way with what we have done so far with CBD and can quite easily replace the active substance. But research and development take a very long time. It must be done very carefully, says Alexander Holmkvist.
FACTS
What is CBD?
- CBD, or cannabidiol, is used in Sweden to treat epilepsy and muscle spasms in multiple sclerosis, often abbreviated MS.
- CBD is extracted from hemp, a type of the plant Cannabis sativa.
- THC, or tetrahydrocannabinol, is another substance extracted from Cannabis sativa. It is classified as a drug and has intoxicating, hallucinogenic effects.
- Legal Cannabis sativa may contain up to 0.2 percent THC. Source: Medical Products Agency
Original Articles:
HD.se
Sydsvenskan Malmö
