CBD could be beneficial for some heart failure patients

Treatment with cannabidiol (CBD) may be beneficial for patients with heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF), according to a new study presented at the Heart Failure Society of America (HFSA) annual meeting in Cleveland.

Researchers with Tecnológico de Monterrey presented the findings on Oct. 7, noting that the subcutaneous administration of a new formulation of CBD was associated with significant improvements in BNP, VAT/SAT ratio and other key cardiac markers.

The research was funded by Cardiol Therapeutics, a Canadian life sciences company focused on developing CBD-based therapies for a variety of cardiovascular conditions. Cardiol Therapeutics  developed CRD-38, the CBD used in this analysis.

“The importance of this study lies in the clinical relevance of the pre-clinical model itself, which was developed to mirror the comorbidities of hypertension, obesity, and metabolic dysfunction common to patients with HFpEF,” Andrew Hamer, MBChB, chief medical officer and head of research and development for Cardiol Therapeutics, said in a prepared statement. “The results presented at the HFSA over the weekend demonstrated multiple cardioprotective effects of subcutaneously administered CBD and provide additional evidence in support of the development of CRD-38, our novel subcutaneous formulation of CBD intended for the treatment of heart failure.”

Hamer also noted that CRD-38 could potentially be released into a patient’s blood over time, “allowing for less frequent administration and improved patient compliance in a chronic disease setting.”

HFSA 2023 was held Oct. 6-9 at the Huntington Convention Center in Cleveland. Click here for additional details.

Michael Walter
Michael Walter, Managing Editor

Michael has more than 19 years of experience as a professional writer and editor. He has written at length about cardiology, radiology, artificial intelligence and other key healthcare topics.

Around the web

One of the most formidable societies of medical professionals in the U.S. is going toe-to-toe with Robert F. Kennedy’s HHS over changing vaccination recommendations. 

Tom Price, MD, former secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS), said one way to address the growing shortage of physicians is to expand medical resident positions, but these are tied to Medicare spending so alternative means may be needed.

"Domestic radiopharmaceutical suppliers, who receive isotopes from abroad, would be impacted by price changes and uncertainty caused by additional tariffs,” SNMMI President Cathy Cutler, PhD, wrote in a letter to the U.S. Department of Commerce this week.