Development of a pharmacogenetic panel for the therapeutic use of cannabinoids

• Grant number: 23/08448-2
• Support Opportunities: Research Grants - Innovative Research in Small Business - PIPE
• Start date: October 01, 2023
• End date: June 30, 2024
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Genetics - Human and Medical Genetics
• Principal Investigator: Fernanda Antunes Alves da Costa
• Grantee: Fernanda Antunes Alves da Costa
• Company: Genotyping Laboratório de Biotecnologia Ltda (Genotyping)
• CNAE: Atividades de serviços de complementação diagnóstica e terapêutica
• Associated researchers: Daíse Moreno Sás ; Debora Colombi ; Isabella Ariadne Ferrari Bernardes
• Associated scholarship(s): 23/18045-2 - Genotyping of genetic variants associated with risks and potential dose-specific efficacy for therapeutic use of cannabinoids, BP.TT; 23/16804-3 - Amplification of polymorphisms related to risks and potential efficacy of the therapeutic use of cannabinoids., BP.TT

Abstract

Molecular genetics has technologically evolved and expanded its knowledge about genes, gene variants and their most important clinical associations for human health and well-being. Today, it is possible to find an ever-increasing catalog of genes and marker polymorphisms for specific diseases and for diverse human characteristics. As for the use of therapeutic substances, such as derivatives of Cannabis sativa (phytocannabinoids), it is common to find polymorphisms associated with metabolic differentiations, predispositions to the development of dependencies and neurological disorders such as psychoses and neurocognitive deficiencies. In this perspective, Genotyping, a company specialized in genetic tests, intends to expand its diagnostic analysis, proposing the development of a panel for the genotyping of genetic variants, associated with individual metabolism rates, predisposition to dependence and the development of psychoses and risks to cognitive disorders and memory with the therapeutic use of delta9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and cannabidiol (CBD). THC and CBD are the main phytocannabinoids used for therapeutic purposes and have proven effects, however, CBD is considered safer for long-term treatments. Thus, the main objective of this project is to develop a test to identify risks and dosages related to therapies using phytocannabinoids. For this, synthetic DNA samples and/or control DNAs for different genotypes of 11 polymorphic variants will be purchased commercially and used in genotyping reactions. The analysis of the results will indicate the potential commercialization of a pharmacogenetic panel, aimed at the use of cannabinoids (THC and CBD), a service not yet available in the national market, and will allow an evaluation of a more viable methodology, in terms of cost benefit for the company, ensuring lower values and competitiveness in the market. (AU)