This Jamaican Scientist’s Marijuana-based Anti-Cancer Drug Has Been Approved by the FDA
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recently granted orphan drug approval for Chrysoeriol, a cannabis-based drug used to treat acute myeloid leukaemia, which was developed by Jamaican scientist Dr. Henry Lowe.
Dr. Lowe founded Medicanja Ltd — described as “Jamaica’s first medical cannabis company” — in 2013. Its distinguished board of directors includes two former prime ministers and a former governor general.
The US Orphan Drug Act gives special status to a drug or biological product to treat a rare disease or condition upon the request of a sponsor. Under the act, Dr Lowe will qualify for some development incentives, including tax credits for some clinical testing.
After presenting his research findings at the 2017 Global Health Catalyst Summit at Harvard Medical School in April 2017, Dr. Lowe made the announcement at a July 12 press conference at his wellness resort in Kingston, which both Prime Minister Andrew Holness and Science and Technology Minister Dr. Andrew Wheatley attended.
The prime minister congratulated Dr. Lowe, while injecting a note of caution when he promised that the government will ensure compliance with international standards, “because cannabis and the (medication) that could potentially come from it are still not recognised in many countries, and some countries still consider it illegal”.
Chrysoeriol was developed by Dr. Lowe’s Maryland-based company, Flavocure Biotech LLC; he insists that he will not allow “big pharma” to purchase the drug, which he says would “park” it, despite the $15 million to $50 million (USD) such a sale would potentially earn him.
Rather, he is hoping to make enough money — US $3.5 million to be exact — to continue his research and ready the drug for the retail market in about two to three years’ time. While he is hoping to raise the necessary funding locally, Jamaican banks have not been as supportive as he would have hoped.
Science and Technology Minister Dr. Andrew Wheatley supported Dr. Lowe’s stance, reiterating that it is important for Jamaicans to “own the rights to our research…and not become second-hand users or owners of the products”.
Not all Jamaicans agree, however, agree with this approach. On Facebook, Ronnie Sutherland suggested:
Dr Henry Lowe take the US$50 million and use it to research some other drugs or go enjoy yourself on the beach. Your talent is in research. You do not have the capital or what it takes to bring this drug to market. That’s where the big pharmaceutical companies that you are resisting come in. You seem to want all and may lose all in the process.
For his part, Dr. Lowe took the opportunity to call for more financial support for scientific research in Jamaica, explaining that if the country procured even a fraction of the lucrative global pharmaceutical and nutraceuticals industries, it would help economic growth. Jamaica is currently doing quite well under an International Monetary Fund Precautionary Stand By Arrangement , but still struggles with low growth.
Jamaicans responded positively to the news of one of their own — and a scientist at that — making such an important contribution to cancer treatment:
Public relations guru Jean Lowrie-Chin tweeted:
Big news from our brilliant #Jamaican scientist #DrHenryLowe!! Congratulations!! pic.twitter.com/2eQaeFQFCr
— Jean Lowrie-Chin (@souldancing) July 14, 2017
On the other hand, the news prompted some to return to a widely held belief that Jamaica has not taken sufficient steps to regulate or profit from marijuana (locally known as ganja), whether medicinal or recreational.
Journalist Owen James noted:
It has been a long journey for Dr. Lowe. I vividly recall our interview re the attempts to patent another drug and how it faltered.
— Owen James (@owenjamesja) July 15, 2017
The Dangerous Drugs (Amendment) Act 2015, also referred to as the Ganja Reform Law, created the framework for the decriminalisation of offences under the Act, making possession of less than two ounces of ganja only a ticketable offence and no longer a crime.
The legislation also created the framework for the development of legal medical marijuana, hemp and nutraceutical industries, and for the establishment of the Cannabis Licensing Authority (CLA) to oversee the implementation of regulations for licences, permits and other authorisations for the cultivation, processing, distribution, sale and transportation of ganja.
One Jamaican felt that Dr. Lowe would not be given credit by some politicians, because they don’t want to address the issue:
Looking out for the politicians who going rally round Henry Lowe and him newly approved ganja based drug
— Dr Aujaé K Dixon (@Aujae_Dixon) July 22, 2017
The point of my tweet is that they should all shut up about anything Lowe achieves until they start doing something abt ganja. From PM down
— Dr Aujaé K Dixon (@Aujae_Dixon) July 22, 2017
This, even though there is potentially money to be made from recreational ganja in Jamaica:
We’re already counting down to the next #CanEx#Jamaica#Business#Conference and #Cannabis#Expo! https://t.co/93eh9uCYKBpic.twitter.com/mCSMdDu1kL
— High Vibes Jamaica (@highvibesja) July 15, 2017
One Jamaican thought that the country should get with the times:
https://t.co/1aAV6YyrmW – – – just leaving this here… Wake up
— Delano Seiveright (@DelanoSeiv) July 13, 2017
Others weren’t prepared to wait. Grammy-nominated Jamaican reggae band Raging Fyah, currently on tour in the United Staes, announced its own brand of marijuana, to be sold in Colorado:
Raging Fyah Jamaica’s First Band to Enter Multi-Billion Cannabis Industry with Own Strain… https://t.co/pAYk6QVYSMpic.twitter.com/euwIaOpHoN
— The CaribbeanCurrent (@thecaribcurrent) July 21, 2017
While many Jamaicans remain impatient, the Jamaican government is taking tentative steps towards embracing the potentially profitable nutraceutical business — including a closer look at medicinal marijuana. At the same time, Health Minister Christopher Tufton has just announced that the National Council on Drug Abuse will be launching a full-scale public education programme on the dangers of ganja smoking among adolescents.
