GB Sciences Inc (GBLX)

[Supermeatball]

GB Sciences "expand into a multi-state footprint with licenses in California, Texas, and perhaps Louisiana and Florida."

The cannabis industry is expected to surpass $50 billion by 2026, according to Cowen & Co., driven by medical and recreational legalization efforts. There are many companies operating in the space – ranging from cultivators to biopharmaceutical companies – but investors should consider seeking out those with advanced operations and a diversified footprint in order to mitigate risk and ensure optimal long-term risk-adjusted returns.

In this article, we will take a look at GB Sciences Inc. (OTCQB: GBLX) and its progress in developing its intellectual property portfolio and paving the way toward success.

Developing an IP Portfolio

GB Sciences has been diligently building an extensive portfolio of intellectual property (“IP”) as a starting point for its clinical programs since mid-last year. In July 2016, the company formed Growblox Life Sciences LLC as a wholly-owned subsidiary to pursue development of IP related to unique cannabis-based medical compounds in conjunction with Fenwick & West, a Silicon Valley-based law firm focused on life sciences and high tech companies.

Growblox Sciences began by acquiring IP from Makai Biotechnology LLC back in December covering therapeutic methods for the treatment of cardiac hypertrophy and associated pathologies through regulation of the cannabinoid receptor TRPV1. The move was significant given that cardiovascular diseases account for more than 17.3 million deaths per year, which has spurred a growing need for new drugs that reverse cardiac hypertrophy and failure.

In February, the company filed a second series of patent applications covering cannabinoid-containing complex mixtures (“CCCM”) capable of preventing and treating a spectrum of inflammatory disorders. The application specifically focuses on using CCCMs to disrupt the signaling pathways in certain immune cells that lead to the initiation and maintenance of inflammatory responses in the human body.

The company’s Chief Science Officer, Dr. Andrea Small-Howard, has 15 years of experience studying cannabinoids and the endocannabinoid system, immunology, and cancer treatments, as well as executive experience in the biopharmaceutical industry where she supervised R&D, manufacturing, and quality control. She’s supported by three universities and a contract research organization (CRO) with experience conducting clinical trials.

Becoming a Licensed Cultivator

GB Sciences recently began cultivating medical marijuana in Nevada and will harvest it plants in April. The Company currently is pursuing additional licenses in California, Texas, and Louisiana– as a means to finance its biopharmaceutical programs to provide easy access to source materials needed to conduct clinical trials. The company anticipates achieving a $12 million annual revenue run rate with its first facility and expanding into California over the next 12-month period to enhance its output and create new opportunities.

In January, the company announced the receipt of a State Registration Certificate for its 28,000 square foot cannabis cultivation facility located in Las Vegas, Nevada. The facility will be initially equipped with 200 grow lights supporting approximately 800 cannabis plants with an initial production of 115 pounds of cannabis per month. At capacity, the facility will have 500 grow lights which is expected to generate over $12million per year in revenue.

Unlike other producers, the company standardizes its cannabis-based products through tissue-replication technology to reduce genetic drift and ensure controlled growing conditions in sterile cleanrooms. This science-based approach is coupled with strict process controls to achieve cGMP and ISO 9001:2015 compliance. These levels of safety and consistency will provide a key competitive advantage while supporting its R&D efforts.

The company hopes to eventually expand into a multi-state footprint with licenses in California, Texas, and perhaps Louisiana and Florida. This footprint will enable it to develop a nationwide brand with a consistent product and user experience. At the same time, the efforts will finance increasingly expensive clinical trials as the company advances into new FDA clinical trial stages that require larger patient populations and more advanced trials.

Not all of its compounds will be selected for FDA trials. Many will be available in dispensaries in the near future. The Company recently hired a Clinical Research Organization to assist in evaluating which of its patented compounds should be directed to either a Clinical Trial or immediate sale in dispensaries and/or licensed to cannabis companies in other states.

Looking Ahead

The cannabis industry could reach $50 billion in size by 2026, according to Cowen & Co., and GB Sciences Inc. (OTCQB: GBLX) is uniquely positioned to capitalize on the market with its revenue-generating cultivation operations and its long-term biopharmaceutical play. Investors may want to take a closer look at the stock given the many upcoming catalysts and the reasonable market capitalization of just over $30 million.

For more information, visit the company’s website or CannabisFN’s company profile.

http://www.cannabisfn.com/gb-sciences-moves-closer-clinical-trials/