MGC Pharmaceuticals Ltd. announced that the Slovenian Intellectual Product Office (SIPO) has granted a patent for the Company's Drug Delivery System of self-nanoemulsifying drug delivery system (SNEDDS) in Ionic Complex Concentrate (CannEpil®-IL). The Patent sets out the formulation of the Self-nanoemulsifying Cannabinoids-Ionic Complex concentrate drug delivery system, the method of manufacture, and its capacity for enhancing stability, solubility, and bioavailability of drugs designed for multiple neurological therapeutic applications. The SNEDDS is based on the IV type (oil-free) nanotechnology which guarantees a globular molecule size below 50 nanometres (nm), in order to pass through the Blood Brain Barrier.

For the effective treatment of neurological diseases, molecules must be less than 25nm, therefore the Self-nanoemulsifying Cannabinoids-Ionic Complex concentrate is based on an "Ionic Complex" that greatly increases solubility and bioavailability of the Active Pharmaceutical Ingredient, reducing the diameter of the molecule. The grant of the patent provides MGC Pharma commercial protection over the intellectual property associated withCannEpil®-IL, its unique formulation and manufacturing process for 20 years. TheCannEpil® formulation is designed to treat Drug Resistant Epilepsy with a high CBD, low THC formulation.

The treatment utilisesGraft Polymer's GraftBioTM self-nanoemulsifying drug delivery system. CannEpil® is designed to treat one of the most common serious neurological conditions, Epilepsy, which affects approximately 600,000 people in the UK, and 50 million people worldwide,[1] with approximately 33% of those adults, and 20-25% of those children, suffering from Refractory Epilepsy (or Drug Resistant Epilepsy) which cannot be controlled with traditional anti-seizure medication. The annual cost for patients with epilepsy in the United States is estimated to be approximately 12.5 billion dollars.

In 2019 CannEpil® was made available for distribution and prescription in Ireland under full governmental health insurance coverage, making it the second product available with coverage in the Republic of Ireland as part of Ireland's Medical Cannabis Access Programme. There are over 37,000 people living with Epilepsy in Ireland alone, with CannEpil providing a solution to a significant number of those cases. Between 300 - 400 patients have been prescribedCannEpil® across Australia and the Republic of Ireland monthly over the past two years.

CannEpil® is currently undergoing a randomised controlled trial investigating the effect of high CBD/low THC on driving performance, sedation and mood, in partnership with the Swinburne University of Technology in Australia (SUT). In addition to this, MGC Pharma are awaiting the approval of the import permits for CannEpil® by the Israel Ministry of Health in order to commence the Phase IIb trials for the formulation, as the Company looks to achieve Central Market Authorisation in the next 2-3 years. MGC Pharma has signed an agreement with leading European pharmacy supplier, Sciencus Rare for the distribution of CannEpil® and CogniCann® products (announced 5th April 2022).

With a turnover of £1.9billion, Sciencus Rare is the large distributor of specialised healthcare solutions for patients with long-term conditions, rare and ultra-rare diseases, spanning 50 different products and partnered with 40 pharmaceutical companies to deliver over 1.2 million orders around the world.