Avicanna’s New Oral Delivery Platform Boosts Cannabinoid Absorption in Preclinical Testing

The Toronto-based biopharmaceutical company announced that its Powder Drug Delivery System, branded as PwdRx, delivered much higher and faster cannabinoid absorption in preclinical pharmacokinetic testing compared to standard medium-chain triglyceride oil formulations commonly used in the industry. According to the company, the platform was created to address well-known challenges with cannabinoids such as CBD, CBG, THC, and CBN, which typically have poor water solubility and inconsistent bioavailability. In the new data, Avicanna reports that PwdRx increased bioavailability by 74%, reached peak plasma levels 63% faster, and delivered a 134% higher peak concentration than MCT-based formulations in an in-vitro model. Company officials say the platform also demonstrated a more consistent uptake profile, which could be particularly useful for patients managing chronic pain or inflammatory conditions.

Avicanna says the solid-powder format offers long-term stability and can be incorporated into tablets, capsules, sachets, and pouches. The company adds that the platform can be tuned for different release profiles, allowing developers to create products tailored to patient needs across a range of medical conditions.

Dr. Karolina Urban, the company’s EVP of Medical and Scientific Affairs, said the preclinical findings support the potential clinical value of improving cannabinoid solubility and delivery, adding that the technology will continue advancing through the company’s pharmaceutical pipeline. The provisional patent filing covers composition and potential applications in areas including rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis, neuropathic pain, fibromyalgia, migraine, and multiple sclerosis.

Avicanna’s CEO, Aras Azadian, described the technology as an expansion of the company’s broader work in cannabinoid science and a step toward new pharmaceutical and commercial product opportunities.

Avicanna develops and commercializes cannabinoid-based medical and pharmaceutical products across several business pillars, including its RHO Phyto medical cannabis formulary, the MyMedi.ca medical platform, its pharmaceutical candidates in clinical development, and its active pharmaceutical ingredient division.