Member Posts > Cardiol Therapeutics Publishes Groundbreaking Research on Cannabidiol's Cardioprotective Effects in Heart Failure
Cardiol Therapeutics Inc., a clinical-stage life sciences company specializing in anti-inflammatory and anti-fibrotic therapies for heart diseases, announced the publication of a research article titled "Cannabidiol Prevents Heart Failure Dysfunction and Remodeling Through Preservation of Mitochondrial Function and Calcium Handling" in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology: Basic to Translational Science (JACBTS) on February 20, 2025.
This research, conducted by scientists from Tecnológico de Monterrey in collaboration with the DeBakey Heart and Vascular Center in Houston, Texas, supports the development of Cardiol's proprietary subcutaneous formulation of cannabidiol, CRD-38, aimed at treating heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF). HFpEF is a prevalent form of heart failure that remains a leading cause of hospitalization worldwide and is associated with a five-year mortality rate exceeding 75% in hospitalized patients.
Key Findings from the Research:
1. In Vivo Model of Angiotensin II-Induced Heart Failure:
o Subcutaneous administration of cannabidiol attenuated cardiac fibrosis, hypertrophy, and inflammation.
o Improved ejection fraction and cardiac output were observed.
2. Ex Vivo Analysis of Ventricular Myocytes:
o Cannabidiol preserved mitochondrial function and redox balance.
o Enhanced cell shortening and calcium handling were noted.
3. In Vitro Investigation in Hypertrophic Cardiac Myoblast Cells:
o Cannabidiol exhibited a cardioprotective effect potentially dependent on peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPAR-γ) activation.
o Decreased mitochondrial calcium uniporter hyperactivity and prevention of mitochondrial dysfunction were observed.
Collectively, these findings suggest that cannabidiol, administered subcutaneously, provides cardioprotection in pre-clinical models of heart failure by improving cardiac function and reducing key pathological features such as hypertrophy, remodeling, inflammation, and cell death. This supports the potential of CRD-38 as a novel therapeutic approach for treating heart failure.
Dr. Andrew Hamer, Cardiol Therapeutics' Chief Medical Officer and Head of Research & Development, expressed satisfaction with the publication, highlighting that heart failure progression is characterized by fibrosis, inflammation, and decreased contractile function, partly driven by mitochondrial dysfunction. He noted that the study provides new data suggesting that CRD-38 may sustain cardiomyocytes and preserve mitochondrial function, which are critical for energy production in cardiac cells. Dr. Hamer emphasized the importance of incorporating this information into the CRD-38 development program as they complete the necessary investigational new drug (IND)-enabling work to advance this novel drug candidate into clinical development.
This publication adds to the growing body of evidence supporting the cardioprotective effects of cannabidiol. Previous studies have demonstrated that cannabidiol attenuates myocardial dysfunction, cardiac fibrosis, oxidative/nitrosative stress, inflammation, cell death, and interrelated signaling pathways in models of diabetic cardiomyopathy.
In summary, the research published in JACBTS provides significant insights into the mechanisms by which cannabidiol may exert cardioprotective effects, particularly through the preservation of mitochondrial function and calcium handling. These findings support the further development of CRD-38 as a potential therapeutic option for patients with heart failure, addressing a critical unmet medical need.

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