Librede Receives Phase I SBIR to Develop Yeast-Based Cannabinoid Production And Drug Discovery Platform

SAN DIEGO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Librede, a biotechnology company specializing in yeast-based cannabinoid production, announced that it has received a Small Business Innovative Research (SBIR) grant from the National Center for Complementary & Integrative Health (NCCIH) of the National Institutes of Health (NIH).

“Cannabinoid phyto-chemicals have been shown to have pharmaceutical potential to treat a number of diseases and neurodegenerative diseases in particular, but almost all are produced in low abundance in plants. We aim to increase access to these useful, natural molecules to researchers to develop new therapies.”

The $221,000 Phase I award will be used by Librede to further develop their biosynthetic cannabinoid production technology, which has already been successfully demonstrated with multiple cannabinoids. Cannabinoids are a class of over 100 chemicals produced in the cannabis plant, many of which have been shown to have useful medical properties. Librede’s platform enables efficient, environmentally friendly, and cost-effective production of any cannabinoid, including those that are produced in low abundance in the plant.

“We aim to fully unlock the pharmaceutical potential of the cannabis plant,” said Dr. Anthony Farina, Librede’s Chief Scientific Officer and Principal Investigator on the SBIR grant. “Cannabinoid phyto-chemicals have been shown to have pharmaceutical potential to treat a number of diseases and neurodegenerative diseases in particular, but almost all are produced in low abundance in plants. We aim to increase access to these useful, natural molecules to researchers to develop new therapies.”

When compared to plant-based cannabinoid production, biosynthesis uses less land, water and energy. Librede’s co-founder and CEO, Dr. Jason Poulos, explains: “Cannabinoid production in yeast looks a lot like a micro-brewery. There is very little land, water and power use; no fertilizers or pesticides; and production is done under highly controlled/sterile conditions. This creates a better product in terms of yield, purity and consistency at 10% of the cost. The potential for our technology is enormous.”

Librede is located in San Diego, California. Additional information about the company can be found at their website: www.librede.com.