JettSet1 joins Biom Therapeutics on cannabinoid Angelman treatment
Cannabidiol is derived from the marijuana plant, which has shown anti-seizure effects
JettSet1 Enterprises is partnering with preclinical stage biopharmaceutical company Biom Therapeutics to help it develop BIO017, a plant-derived cannabinoid treatment candidate for Angelman syndrome.
JettSet1 has partnerships across various industries, from biotech and film to beverage and real estate. It was founded earlier this year by George Tabi, Erik Hicks, and rapper and business mogul Tramar Dillard, professionally known as Flo Rida.
In 2021, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) granted the therapy orphan drug status, a designation that’s intended to encourage treatments for rare and serious disorders through benefits such as FDA application fee exemptions and seven years of market exclusivity.
The inherited neurological condition Angelman syndrome is caused by the loss or malfunction of the maternal copy of the UBE3A gene in neurons from specific brain regions. While it can manifest in a number of ways, most people with it have epilepsy, which can cause debilitating and often treatment-resistant seizures.
Study shows BIO017 reduces seizure frequency, intensity
Cannabidiol is derived from the marijuana plant, which has demonstrated anti-seizure effects and behavioral benefits in conditions associated with epilepsy. The cannabidiol Epidiolex was federally approved in 2018 for seizures associated with severe epilepsy forms Dravet syndrome and Lennox-Gastaut.
According to Biom, the company has completed preclinical studies on BIO017’s safety and effectiveness in an Angelman mouse model, with at least one showing promising results that indicated acute treatment mitigated the frequency and severity of seizures purposefully triggered by acoustic and hyperthermia stimuli.
Biom said the treatment’s safety data profile in an open-label study with epilepsy was positive.
According to the company, it’s lined up industry support, including from researchers, clinicians, and regulatory specialists, to begin a Phase 3 clinical trial in Angelman.
“It’s also very important to note that Flo Rida’s son has autism, so he has a deep and personal interest in bringing additional educational awareness to such groundbreaking scientific breakthroughs across communities around the world affected by these conditions,” Tabi, MD, said in a press release.
BIO017 is the first cannabinoid-based candidate for Angelman’s to receive FDA orphan drug designation.
About the Author
