Lexaria Bioscience Corp. announced that dosing has begun in the 12-week animal study WEIGHT-A24-1 to model diabetes treatment and weight loss effects of DehydraTECH-processed glucagon-like peptide 1 drugs and DehydraTECH-processed cannabidiol, alone and in combination in diabetic preconditioned rats. What's New There are several important new areas of investigation to be explored within this broad study.

Are DehydraTECH-processed oral GLP-1 drugs more effective than non DehydraTECH-processed oral GLP-1 drugs in: Reaching brain tissue? Improving weight loss? Improving control of blood sugar?

Combining with CBD for improved results? One arm of this 12-arm study will, for the first time, evaluate DehydraTECH-processed pure semaglutide and compare it to re-formulated Rybelsus processed with DehydraTECH, containing Novo Nordisk's SNAC (salcaprozate sodium) technology. Another arm will, also for the first time, evaluate DehydraTECH-processed liraglutide.

Liraglutide is a GLP-1 drug marketed in injectable form by Novo Nordisk under the brand names Victoza and Saxenda. Animals in each of the first 8 study arms are being dosed with the following: 1 pure liraglutide DehydraTECH composition; 1 pure semaglutide DehydraTECH composition; 2 reformulated Ryblesus DehydraTECH compositions; and 4 different DehydraTECH-CBD compositions Study arms 9 through 12 will begin when the first 8 study arms have completed. Based on the results of the initial 8 study arms, study arms 9 and 10 will each utilize the best-performing DehydraTECH-CBD composition with the DehydraTECH-liraglutide composition, and separately, the best performing DehydraTECH-semaglutide composition.

Study arms 11 and 12 are placebo and positive control arms. About the Study: Each arm of the Study will be dosed for a 12-week period following an acclimation period. During the Study, over 1,500 blood plasma samples will be collected from the total rat population of 72 animals for purposes of detailed pharmacokinetic drug delivery analyses. Body weight and blood glucose readings will be taken prior to Study start and at regular intervals during and at conclusion of the dosing period.

Upon completion of the Study, brain tissue will be analysed to help determine whether DehydraTECH processing results in higher brain absorption than non-DehydraTECH arms, as Lexaria has evidenced numerous times in previous similar animal studies. The Study will also include a comprehensive battery of liver and kidney function testing and blood chemistry analyses. LC-MS/MS and other techniques will be used to analyse samples.

Lexaria will be collecting and reporting interim results prior to the end of the Study.