Bacteria resistant to treatment is a global health threat. These superbugs spread quickly in medical settings and are difficult to treat. The bacteria proliferate contagious diseases like staph infection that adapt to medicines, forcing doctors to be constantly seeking new options–like weed.
Antimicrobial properties are always present in laundry lists of potential cannabis effects, but few have explored this potential until now. Andira Pharmaceuticals, a cannabinoid-focused biopharmaceutical company, recently announced the arrival of a topical medication combining the power of marijuana with silver, the current go-to treatment.
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Topical cannabis treatment makes lofty promise
Silvanex™ utilizes silver in a three-part formulation alongside cannabichromene (CBC) and cannabigerol (CBG). The topical product is designed to be used in wound care products, medical catheters, textiles, and consumer health products to reduce infections.
“Silvanex™ is a game-changer for modern infection control,” Andira president and CEO Dr. Dana Lambert said in a press release. “Its dual-action capabilities position it as a broad-spectrum preventative agent, offering much-needed protection against all types of dangerous AMR infections.”
A 2019 report indicated that antimicrobial-resistant infections could be responsible for 10 million deaths by 2050. These superbugs spread most commonly through surgical site infections, with an infection rate as high as one in four patients for certain surgeries. The company is confident that this combination of silver and cannabinoids is 800 percent more effective than conventional pharmaceutical technologies.
The company is developing multiple treatments with this breakthrough–an active drug candidate for surgical site infections and wound dressings. These developments mark a new realm for cannabis pharmaceuticals and treatment for antimicrobial infections.
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Cannabis research continues to develop a mosaic of understanding around its therapeutic possibilities. Silvanex™ is not only a breakthrough for doctors treating threatening infections, but it also serves as a reminder that there is a treasure trove of things to learn about weed.
