)
Listed medicinal cannabis company Zelda Therapeutics (ASX: ZLD) has made progress in a number of key research programs during the March 2018 financial quarter.
Zelda recently received approval for a major study into the pharmacology of cannabinoids in the treatment of paediatric autism patients.
The study is set to be conducted at the USA-based Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, and Zelda says it is a key milestone in ongoing medical cannabis research in a clinical environment.
The group has also expanded its pre-clinical pancreatic cancer research programme with Curtin University.
The study focuses on live animal studies to investigate the effect of a range of the group's formulations in combination with existing chemotherapy agents.
Zelda says animal research is a major precursor to future human clinical trials.
During the last quarter, the group announced the initiation of a new pre-clinical research programme exploiting the potential for certain cannabinoids formulations to reduce the impact of diabetes-associated cognitive decline.
This study is also being conducted in partnership with Curtin University.
Zelda says it has made "excellent" progress on its clinical trial that is investigating the effect of medicinal marijuana on people with chronic insomnia symptoms.
Outside of the research and development sphere, Zelda has been approved for trading on the OTCQB Venture Market in the USA under the symbol ZLDAF.
The OTCQB is a US-based trading platform for early-stage and developing USA and international companies.
Through this new market, the group aims to grow its access to the US investment community.
Executive chairman Harry Karelis said he was pleased with Zelda's performance in the March quarter.
"We have made an excellent start to 2018 with significant progress on multiple research fronts autism, pancreatic cancer, insomnia and now cognitive decline," says Karelis.
"We firmly believe our approach is the correct strategy in an environment where regulators continue to tighten their oversight on groups making unsubstantiated claims for cannabinoid products."
Shares in Zelda Therapeutics closed at $0.12 per share on 27 April 2018.
Never miss a news update, subscribe here. Follow us on Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram and Twitter.
Business News Australia
)
