Oregon State University researchers discovered that CBGA and CBDA “attach to the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein, preventing a vital phase in the virus’s process of infection.”
The researchers reported their findings in a research study titled “Cannabinoids Block Cellular Entry of SARS-CoV-2 and the Emerging Variants” which can be seen here.
The paper was published yesterday. According to the study’s lead author, Richard van Breemen, “Any part of the infection and replication cycle is a potential target for antiviral intervention, and the connection of the spike protein’s receptor-binding domain to the human cell surface receptor ACE2 is a critical step in that cycle.”
“Any part of the infection and replication cycle is a potential target for antiviral intervention,” he said.
Cell entrance inhibitors, such as acids derived from hemp, could be employed to prevent SARS-CoV-2 infection as well as to shorten infections by blocking virus particles from infecting human cells,” explains the researcher.
By binding to spike proteins, they prevent those proteins from interacting with the ACE2 enzyme, which is found in high concentrations on the outer membrane of endothelial cells in the lungs and other organ systems.
WARNING FROM THE FDA
It is important to remember that the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has issued scores of warning letters to CBD product manufacturers for making medical claims about their products.
While this is undoubtedly wonderful news for the hemp business, it is also important to realize that The FDA will regard any claims made about a CBGA or CBDA product’s capacity to block COVID-19, even in light of the OSU findings, to be unsubstantiated and will consider the product to be an unapproved medication under federal law.
This is due to the fact that the FDA assesses what a drug is based on the purpose for which it is designed.
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It is possible for marketing statements, even those that just cite a medical study without linking it to a specific product, to result in a product being categorized as a pharmaceutical.
Specifically, in the context of CBD, the FDA has placed a high priority on claims that CBD can be used to treat, prevent, cure, or mitigate COVID-19 symptoms.
Even in light of this excellent data from OSU, it is quite likely that the FDA will adopt the same approach to claims made concerning CBGA and CBDA.