Plandai Biotechnology Management Discusses Progress of Company's
Cannabis Extracts
NEW YORK, NY--(Marketwired - Mar 28, 2014) - Last month Plandaí
Biotechnology, Inc. (OTCQB: PLPL) closed a licensing agreement with
Diego Pellicer, Inc. that will allow the company to use the Diego
Pellicer name for its Phytofare™ cannabis extract in medical and
pharmaceutical marijuana applications. Plandaí will produce
the new Diego Pellicer Gold™ extracts in both capsules and cannabis
oil (for vapor use) in Pheroid™ and non-Pheroid™ versions to appeal
to the broadest range of medicinal consumers.
Stock Market Media Group (SMMG), a full service research and
content development investor relations firm, asked Plandaí's
management about the company's journey to introduce cannabis
extracts to the market.
SMMG: Where is Plandai in the process of adding cannabis
products?
Plandaí: "We are doing several things
simultaneously. First, we're reviewing the various strains of
cannabis and selecting one that we feel will have the best chemical
profile for what we want to accomplish with the extract.
We're also working in Washington to ensure that we have live
plant matter available for testing later in the year. Finally,
we are engineering a CRS hydrodynamic processing and extraction
system and constructing a laboratory in Washington that will make
the initial extract for testing."
SMMG: What has been completed in the process and what is left to
complete?
Plandaí: "The initial steps involved determining if we could
even make a cannabis extract. This involved a review of the
legal environment, the physical properties of the plant, and the
chemical properties of the plant. We then needed to hire a
small team that could 1) Select the correct strain, 2) Establish
cultivation protocols, 3) Reach out to investigational institutions
to begin lining up clinical trials, and 4) Adapt our current
extraction system to be able to process cannabis. All of these
things have happened.
We expect to finalize terms with a cultivation facility in the
coming weeks so that we have suitable established plants in
adequate quantities by this fall to begin making sample
extract. Remember, we must use live plant material and we must
use a specific and reproducible strain. We can't just go into
a shop and buy dry leaf. Working with local growers, we need
to document their cultivation techniques, fertilizer, etc. All
of these things can impact the chemical profile. So, we need
to manage the process to ensure that we have the correct chemical
profile.
Concurrently, we will be building a small-scale lab so that we
can produce our first cannabinoid extract. This will then need
to be tested to get a chemical profile. We then need to test
it for bioavailability and establish dosage parameters. Only
then can we start testing for specific medical properties and
benefits."
SMMG: What role will both the hydrodynamic sheering process and
Pheroid® play in the production of extracts?
Plandaí: "The hydrodynamic sheering process is what breaks down
and separates the plant structures, giving us increased
bioavailability as well as allowing us to maximize the amount of
phytonutrients we extract. All of our products will go through
this process. The specific processing challenges we face with
cannabis are releasing THC and CBD from the viscous cannabis oil
and in the process reducing the articles to a high percentage of
nano from the current ratio of 250-350mg. To achieve this, new
formulated liquids will be used in the processing cycle.
The Pheroid® brings in certain additional properties which,
depending on the individual may be considered advantageous or
disadvantageous.
Essentially, the Pheroid® will entrap the cannabinoids until
they reach the cells. This means that the THC will not metabolize
in the blood stream, thus conceivably eliminating the psychoactive
effects. We believe that we will be able to deliver a
meaningful dosage of cannabinoids without the accompanying
'high.'
This will be ideal for patients with neural disorders and
diseases. Some conditions require or prefer the metabolized
THC and welcome the associated psychoactive effects. Thus, we
expect to develop and test both a Pheroid® and non-Pheroid® version
of the product."
SMMG: Where will these extracts be sold?
Plandaí: "We do not plan on having retail locations or selling
directly to consumers. We are an ingredient manufacturer for
nutraceutical and pharmaceutical applications. We will produce
our extracts and then look to sell them to manufacturers of
finished goods or into medicinal applications."
SMMG: What role, if any, will your South African plantation and
manufacturing facility play in the future of your cannabis
extract?
Plandaí: "Presently, South African law prohibits the cultivation
of cannabis and furthermore it would be impossible to legally
export or import any cannabis-based products or extracts. Our South
Africa estate and factory is set up exclusively for processing our
Phytofare™ Catechin Complex, which is made from green tea, though
eventually we expect to also produce a citrus complex at this same
facility. So, our South Africa operations will not be involved in
any way for the foreseeable future. Until we are through with
our research and animal trials, it is premature to speculate on
when, if, or where we will produce a commercial cannabis extract,
but we will only be involved if we can be assured that we are
complying with all Federal and state laws.
As we recently announced, however, an appeal was made on our
behalf to the South African legislature to grant Plandaí a special
dispensation, or waiver, allowing us to produce and test a
cannabinoid Phytofare™ extract for human clinical trials. In
addition, legislation has recently been introduced in South Africa
to permit medical marijuana research. Should this legislation
pass, or should the government grant us special dispensation, it
could open up the door to advancing medical research on an
accelerated basis. We will know more in the coming months and
will keep our shareholders apprised of any developments on this
front."
About Stock Market Media Group
SMMG is a full service IR firm specializing in Research and
Content Development. It offers a platform for corporate stories to
unfold through the media with Reports, Interviews and Articles.
SMMG is compensated for Plandaí articles, reports and interviews by
a third party who reserves the right to sell securities at any time
before, during, or after the publication of this article. To date,
SMMG has received total compensation of $36,290, for content
related to Plandaí. For more information and to read full
disclaimers and disclosures:
www.stockmarketmediagroup.com/disclaimer.
Contact: Stock Market Media Group Email Contact
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