FROM THE GROUND UP 5 REASONS

Why Your Next Medication May be Made from Plants

This year, Canadians have been prioritizing their health more than ever before. As we look back on the lessons of 2020 and look toward the new year, we’re thinking about ways to protect and ensure our good health for years to come.

Top of mind for many Canadians are the healthy possibilities to be found in plant-based foods and medicines. Plants have been used as medicines for thousands of years, but a new wave of research and innovation is bringing a modern approach to plant-made therapeutics and looking to complement, and in some cases replace, prescription medicines.

Our team sat down with Brent Zettl, CEO of Saskatoonbased ZYUS Life Sciences and Canadian pioneer in plant-made therapeutics and Dr. Lionel Marks de Chabris, ZYUS Chief Medical Officer, to learn more about the emerging field of phytotherapeutics and understand why your next prescription may be made from plants.

1 A Modern Approach to an Ancient Solution

Many everyday medicines we know and trust, such as aspirin, have ancient origins in natural, plant-made compounds. ZYUS’ leadership in phyto-therapeutics is helping to change the way we look at plants by researching innovative solutions addressing today’s healthcare challenges.

“Science has barely scratched the surface of the potential of cannabinoids,” said Zettl. “They’ve been around for

4000 years and we are just beginning to evaluate the full scope of cannabinoids that exist and what they can do. We believe that research and development into phytotherapeutics, including cannabinoids, has the potential to alleviate human suffering and restore health and well-being to people around the world.”

2 The Emergence of Phyto-therapeutics

“Phyto-therapeutics is a term to describe a class of plantmade therapeutics,” said Zettl. “At ZYUS, we take this to mean pharmaceutical-quality plant-made solutions, that are driven by research, developed through scientific study and rooted in evidence.” From treating pain to supporting patients with brain disorders, phyto-therapeutics offer a new avenue for scientific research and development to help improve patient outcomes in Canada and around the world.

The opioid crisis has highlighted the need for alternative forms of pain management and helped drive forward research and development into other forms of treatment. Phyto-therapeutics, including cannabinoids, could offer an alternative to opioids for patients looking to manage their pain, according to Zettl. “People are sick and tired of being sick and tired. We see the potential of phyto-therapeutics to help transition patients off opioids and improve their quality of life.”

3 Evidence-based Medicine

The next generation of plant-made medications will require careful research and precise product development backed by robust science. “Physicians want a scientific basis for prescribing medications to patients,” Dr. Marks de Chabris said, “and Canada is well positioned to bring the science of plant-made medicines to the world.”

Cannabinoid-based formulations are just a starting point.

Thanks to its legacy as one of the first countries to recognize the therapeutic value of cannabinoids, Canada is positioned to lead the world in developing this new wave of plant-made therapeutics.

“Our research and development teams bring decades of deep expertise to ZYUS. Using the bio-technology platforms we have developed will allow us to create innovative cannabinoid-based

formulations for treating some common and poorly managed disorders. That know-how is now being leveraged to bring forward the next generation of plant-made therapeutics –with cannabinoids and beyond,” said Dr. Marks de Chabris.

At ZYUS, the approach to the development of phyto-therapeutics is highly disciplined. ZYUS scientists bring the same scientific rigor to the development of phyto-therapeutics as is required for any prescription medicine. “Verifying our formulations through exacting clinical trials will propel phyto-therapeutics to the next level,” said Dr. Marks de Chabris. “ZYUS is heavily invested in medical research and intends to advance our clinical trials. We plan to produce evidence-based therapeutics that can establish new treatment guidelines. Our aim is to provide high quality, tested, and standardized formulations of a variety of plant-made therapeutics to meet the growing needs of patients in Canada and around the world.”

4 New Pathways in Medicine

The global medical community is recognizing phytotherapeutics as an alternative or complement to pharmaceutical medicine. As a leader in phyto-therapeutic science and innovation, ZYUS is working closely with researchers, healthcare policy makers and practitioners to define the standards and protocols for the effective use of cannabinoids and plant-made therapeutics.

This year, the global pandemic has made clear the need for as many avenues of research and development as possible and highlighted the importance of scientific innovation. “As researchers and scientists around the world race to develop a safe and effective vaccine, having multiple methods to develop new therapies and scale production of high-quality vaccine components is essential,” said Zettl. ZYUS’ propriety biotechnology platform provides the potential to leverage plants in the global fight against COVID-19 by producing large quantities of vaccine-quality antigens rapidly, effectively and efficiently – just one example of the potential of phyto-therapeutics to help improve quality of life and well-being by opening doors to new research and therapies.

5 Your Health Care Practitioner

Looking to complement or replace your current medicine with a plant-made therapeutic? Your health care practitioner is a crucial partner in your well-being, and incorporating any new treatment, whether plant-made or pharmaceutical, starts with them.

“It’s always worth having an open, non-judgmental conversation with your doctor or nurse practitioner about medical cannabis. They may be able to help you find the best cannabinoid options for your health and wellbeing,” said Dr. Marks de Chabris. He noted that many are quite knowledgeable and up to date, while some may need a little gentle coaching. He suggested that before you go to your appointment, consider what you would like to discuss, what information you would like to bring along and how you would like to start the conversation. “A candid and open dialogue helps them understand you better and support you in your therapeutic journey with cannabinoid medications.”

Canada has a history of leading the world in plant biotechnology. With a modern approach rooted in research and evidence, Canadian leaders like ZYUS are set to rapidly grow our understanding of phyto-therapeutics and the ability of plant-made solutions to improve quality of life.