Plandai Biotechnology, Inc. Petitions South Africa Department Of Health For License To Conduct Cannabis Research

SEATTLE, WA--(Marketwired - April 28, 2014) - Plandaí Biotechnology, Inc. (OTCQB: PLPL), a producer of highly bioavailable plant extracts for industries including health, wellness, nutraceutical, and pharmaceutical, today announced it has filed a petition with the Attorney General from the South African Department of Health to obtain a license permitting the company to commence clinical research on the therapeutic and medicinal benefits of cannabis. The petition was made pursuant to Section 22A (9) of the Medicines and Related Substances Act No. 101 of 1965, which provides for pharmaceutical research with cannabis.

Apart from the well-known medical benefits of cannabis, such as reducing nausea, improving appetite and reducing anxiety, cannabinoids have shown promise in multiple studies for treating various cancers, epilepsy, pain relief, and in neurological diseases including Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, dementia and Multiple Sclerosis. Legal limitations, however, have prevented researchers from conducting thorough double-blind clinical trials on these and other potential medical applications of cannabis. By obtaining a research license in South Africa, Plandaí hopes to test its Phytofare Cannabinoid Extract at several qualified university research facilities with the goal of eventually obtaining solid human clinical data and government drug acceptance in the U.S. and elsewhere.

Jamen Shively, Vice President of Marketing for Plandaí, commented, “As a society, we have relied far too long on anecdotal evidence and the few limited trials that have taken place involving medical marijuana. Plandaí is committed to bringing cannabis research to the forefront as a potential treatment or cure for various diseases and conditions. We believe solid research, conducted under full legal authority by top independent facilities, is the key to ending prohibition and allowing patients to benefit from the medical benefits of marijuana without feeling like criminals or addicts.”

Plandaí’s live-plant extraction process recovers phytonutrients from plant material in a mainly nano particle form and rearranges the antioxidants (polyenes) into a format bio-compatible with humans and animals. In addition, through Plandaí’s agreement with North West University, South Africa, the company holds the world license to the Pheroid® patented entrapment system to deliver protected Phytofare™ antioxidants to the white blood cells. The result of these two combined technologies is the ability to finally deliver a clinical, pharmaceutical-grade dose of non-psychoactive cannabinoids to human tissues, thereby unlocking the promise of using natural products to fight many of mankind’s most elusive and deadly diseases.

About Plandaí Biotechnology, Inc.

Plandaí Biotechnology, Inc. and its subsidiaries develop highly bioavailable, phytonutrient rich extracts which are being utilized to deliver a new family of drugs to safely and affordably treat a multitude of diseases and conditions. Plandaí Biotechnology controls every aspect of the process, from growing the raw materials on its farms in South Africa, to producing its patented Phytofare™ extracts in-house, allowing the Company to guarantee the continuity of supply as well as quality control throughout the entire process. Targeted industries for the Company’s products include beverage, cosmeceutical, wellness, nutraceutical, anti-aging, and pharmaceutical. For more information, please visit http://www.plandaibiotech.com.

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