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Written by Ofer Shoshani

Treat COVID-19 with CBD: A New Israeli Research In Rabin Medical Center

Can you treat COVID-19 with CBD?
Can you reduce mortality rates of COVID-19 in patients with sever cases by using cannabinoids?
A new Israeli clinical trial, approved recently, believes that a possible treatment for COVID-19 could be a blend of CBD and steroids.

Exciting news coming from Israel suggests that you can treat COVID-19 with CBD! According to this research, the possible treatment for COVID-19 patients might be coming from a special blend of CBD and Steroids. Unlike other cannabinoids-based medicine, aimed to treat but not to cure, the current clinical trial, held in the Rabin Medical Center (Beilinson) is using CBD and steroids to reduce mortality rates among the among COVID-19 patients in the worst states of health. If this clinical trial produces positive results, we might see a new wave of global attention toward CBD, cannabis and cannabinoid-based medicine.

A new clinical trial, by the Rabin Medical Center, (RMC), is testing a promising CBD (Cannabidiol) based treatment for patients with severe and critical COVID-19 pulmonary infection. The study, which runs in cooperation of Stero Biotechs, an Israel-based company focused on Cannabidiol (CBD) formulation research and Mor Research applications, the TTO arm of Clalit, the largest state-mandated health service organizations in Israel, is trying to establish whether a new formula, based on CBD (infused in pharma grade olive oil) and steroids can reduce COVID-19’s mortality rates.

The clinical trial already received Helsinki Committee approval and is planned for 20 patient treatment as a Proof of Concept (‘POC’), using Stero’s CBD-based treatment, conducted by Dr. Ilya Kagan from the intensive care department with the support of Dr. Moshe Yeshurun, Director of the Bone Marrow Transplantation Unit, at Rabin Medical Center, Israel.

The study aims to benefit and help COVID-19 patients in severe states with respiratory failure from acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). The treatment cycle will be for 14-28 days with a subsequent follow-up period of the same length. Pending the success of this POC, Stero plans to expand and scale phase 2a multi-center study, with an additional 40 patients, under FDA clinical trial guidelines and regulations.

According to David Bassa, Founder & CEO of Stero Biotechs after six years of researching CBD they already gathered alot of data about CBD’s safety, its effectiveness in treating inflammation and its ability to moderate the immune system when it is becoming over-active.

In addition, the company has already researched the efficacy of CBD for the treatment of acute (Grade 3-4) Graft versus Host Disease (“GvHD”), when combined with steroids. That’s why, after learning from Oxford that steroids are effective in treating COVID-19 they have decided to use their own experience research a blend that uses both CBD and steroids. They believe that a formula that uses both CBD and steroids will be more effective in treating patients in severe states and that by adding CBD they will be enhancing the therapeutic effect of a steroid treatment.

About Stero Biotechs, Ltd.

STERO  Biotechs Ltd., founded in 2017 and headquartered in Israel,  is a clinical-stage company committed to the research and development of novel Cannabidiol (CBD) based treatment solutions that will potentially benefit millions by:
1) Enhancing the therapeutic effect of steroid treatments.
2) Lowering the dosage needed in steroid treatments, thus lowering the treatment’s horrific side effects. 
3) Allowing refractory patients to begin responding to the steroid treatments needed. 

All by using Stero’s CBD-based treatment.

Stero has 2 ongoing phase 2a clinical trials in Crohn’s Disease & in Urticaria (Hives) in Israeli hospitals and is planning to commence more clinical trials in 2020-2021 on various indications.

Stero has established a strong partnership with one of its shareholders- MOR Research Applications, the TTO of CLALIT HEALTH SERVICES. The partnership with MOR allows deep support to Stero’s clinical trials.

About Clalit

CLALIT is the largest HMO in ISRAEL, with:

• Over 4.5M members
• 14  full-scale hospitals
• Over 2000 community clinics
• Over 9000 physicians.