Lexaria Bioscience Corporation (LXRP) is currently focused on the development of strategic partnerships with licensees for its patented technology in exchange for up front and/or staged licensing fees over time. Secondarily and more generally, the company continue to investigate national and international opportunities for development and distribution of the Company’s enhanced functional food and supplement product offerings; to investigate expansions and additions to its intellectual property portfolio; and, to search for additional opportunities in alternative health sectors. This includes the acquisition or development of intellectual property if and when the company believe it advisable to do so. The company announced issuance of its first patent by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) on October 26, 2016 and have received a Notice of Acceptance from the Australian Patent Office with related patent issuance date June 15 2017 No. 2015274698. The company announced on November 2, 2017 a new Notice of Allowance from the USPTO that included the delivery of additional molecules such as psychoactive cannabinoids, vitamins, non-steroidal anti-inflammatories, and nicotine all utilizing its DehydraTECHTM delivery technology. Lexaria Bioscience is seeking additional patent protection for what the company believe to be a unique process for the nutritional delivery of certain molecules such as cannabinoids, Nicotine, Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs (NSAIDs), and Vitamins. To achieve sustainable and profitable growth, its company intends to control the timing and costs of its projects wherever possible.1

During the past years the Company experienced the following significant corporate developments:

On September 8th, 2016, the Company announced signing new definitive technology licensing and private label agreements. Lexaria will earn a pre-defined premium to costs on all raw ingredient sourcing and manufacturing, and will further earn a pre-defined royalty rate on all gross product sales revenues earned by Timeless Herbal Care Limited. The agreement is for an initial term of 5 years. No business activity has occurred as yet under this agreement.

On October 11, 2016, in exchange of business advisory services including marketing strategies and assistance in preparing presentation materials, dissemination of information and other business and capital advisory services, the Company granted 250,000 stock options to a consultant with a strike price of $0.14 per share, and expiry term of two years. The Company also paid a compensation of CAD$5,000 to the consultant. This contract was terminated December 12, 2016.

On October 11, 2016, pursuant to its agreement with Docherty Management Ltd., the Company issued 252,000 restricted common shares and cash compensation of $6,240.

On October 11, 2016, the Company issued 750,000 warrants with an exercise price of $0.14 per share and valid for five years, in return for consulting services provided in August, September, and October.

On October 11, 2016, the Company reached an agreement with a director to settle the outstanding amount pursuant to a advisory agreement with him, through issuance of common shares of the Company. To settle the outstanding amount of $16,000 for four months to October 31, 2016, the Company issued 114,286 shares of its common stock at a value of $0.14 per share.

On October 11, 2016, the Company retained a consultant to provide market maintenance service for the Company in compliance with regulatory guidelines. The consultant trades shares of the Company on the Canadian Securities Exchange for purposes of maintaining a reasonable market and improving the liquidity of Lexaria’s shares.

On October 16, 2016, the Company received $12,500 from exercise of 55,000 stock options.

On October 26, 2016, the Company announced the USPTO issued U.S. Patent No. 9,474,725, Cannabinoid Infused Food and Beverage Compositions and Methods of Use Thereof, pertaining to Lexaria’s method of improving bioavailability and taste of certain cannabinoid lipophilic active agents in food products.

On October 27, 2016, the Company received approval to offer existing warrant holders an incentive to exercise warrants early. For each exercise, in addition to the shares, the warrant holders were offered an additional warrant with identical terms. During the period ended February 28, 2017, a total of 3,245,000 warrants were exercised at a weighted average price of $0.2273 and the Company issued 3,245,000 common shares and 3,245,000 warrants with a weighted average exercise price of $0.2273 to buy one additional common share of the Company, expiring May 14, 2017. Total proceeds raised from such incentive amounted to $737,500.

On November 1, 2016, the Company issued 56,250 shares of its common stock in settlement of $9,000, recognized within accounts payable and accrued liabilities as at August 31, 2016.

On November 1, 2016, the Company received $37,505 from exercise of 165,000 share purchase warrants.

On November 1, 2016, the Company issued 500,000 warrants to a consultant. Each warrant is valid for purchase of one new common share of the Company at a price of $0.31 per share with and expiration date of May 31, 2017.

On November 16, 2016, the Company received $50,003 from exercise of 220,000 share purchase warrants.

On November 21, 2016, the Company received $50,000 from exercise of 220,000 share purchase warrants.

On November 22, 2016, the Company signed a Memorandum of Understanding with NeutriSci International Inc. (“NeutriSci”) for forming a 50/50 joint venture to develop, produce, and sell a line of healthy edible cannabinoid products using Lexaria’s patented technology and NeutriSci proprietary pterostilbene tablet formula and international distribution network. The joint venture expects to commercialize any newly created cannabinoid edible products through distribution programs and existing strategic partners. Product development is underway and a joint venture subsidiary has been formed.

On November 29, 2016, the Company announced the entry of a letter of intent for the licensing of its proprietary absorption and palatability enhancing technology to Hempco Food and Fiber Inc. (“Hempco”). It was expected that the letter of intent would advance into a definitive agreement, however Hempco has since been majority acquired by another firm and its letter of intent has expired although casual business discussions remain.

On December 1, 2016, the Company amended its agreement with CAB for a revised consulting fee of $12,000 per month. The term of the amended agreement is two years but can be terminated by either party by providing two months notice.

On December 19, 2016, the Company filed to internationally expand its U.S patent number 9474725, granted on October 26, 2016. National filing patent applications in Canada, Australia, Japan, China, India and all 37 countries belonging to the European Patent Convention were filed. All of these filings follow the Company’s initial international Patent Cooperation Treaty patent application.

On December 22, 2016, the Company extended the services of Frontier Merchant Capital Group (“Frontier”) for a period of three months, for a total fee of CAD$25,000. Frontier will assist the Company by increasing market awareness utilizing a number of financial market communication initiatives including media outreach, facilitating in-person introduction for the Company with institutional and retail brokers and investors in cities across Canada and the U.S., and more.

On January 10, 2017, the Company issued 500,000 incentive warrants to an arm’s length party in exchange for corporate development services. The exercise price of the incentive warrants is $0.44, vesting immediately, and expiring on January 9, 2018. The expiry date of these warrants has since been extended by one year, to January 9, 2019.

On January 19, 2017, the Company and NeutriSci International Inc. (“NeutriSci”) announced the successful development and initial trial of the industry’s first zero-sugar cannabinoid / pterostilbene edible tablet utilizing both NeutriSci’s and Lexaria’s proprietary and patented technologies. NeutriSci and Lexaria confirmed that the companies expect to officially bind the JV agreement to market and commercialize a line of edible products. Product development is continuing.

On February 8, 2017, the Company through its wholly owned Canadian subsidiary Lexaria CanPharm Corp., signed and entered a master collaborative research agreement with the National Research Council of Canada (“NRC”) to investigate technical aspects and new opportunities associated with bioavailability enhancement of lipophilic active ingredient compositions. Under the agreement, the Company and the NRC will both provide up to CAD$125,000 in funding for this research, a total investment of up to CAD$250,000. The master research agreement has an 18-month term, during which a number of shorter-term studies will be undertaken. The collaboration will investigate and define the chemical nature of the molecular association that Lexaria`s patented technology is believed to effectuate between lipophilic active agents and fatty acids as solubility and bioavailability enhancing agents. The first phase of research under this agreement was underway as of August 31, 2017.

On February 8, 2017, the Company issued 29,091 shares of its common stock in settlement of $16,000 service fee, previously recognized within accounts payable and accrued liabilities.

On February 27, 2017, the Company received a Notice of Acceptance from the Australian Patent Office that Lexaria’s Australian patent application 2015274698 was accepted with a patent issuance date expected in June, 2017. The Notice of Acceptance covers Lexaria patent application entitled “Food and beverage compositions infused with lipophilic active agents and methods of use thereof”, which has been accepted with the same set of claims previously issued in US Patent No 9,474,725 specific to non-psychoactive cannabinoids. Subsequently the Company received a Certificate of Grant for a Standard Patent No. 2015274698 dated June 15 2017 with a twenty year term.

On March 14, 2017, the Company commenced the formal design phase for studies to be conducted under the master collaborative research agreement with the NRC. A number of studies have been proposed and are currently being evaluated, with the intention to begin work and produce results over multiple intervals in the coming months. As noted above, the first phase of research under this agreement was underway as of August 31, 2017. In aggregate, results from these studies will add to the understanding of the physical and biochemical characteristics imparted on molecules that have been subjected to Lexaria’s technology, with a view to further demonstrating the power of the technology to prospective commercial partners across the various consumer product sectors the Company is targeting.

On March 24, 2017, the Company executed a twelve month marketing and lead generation campaign with Dig Media Inc. Investing News Network for $48,000.

On April 27, 2017, the Company issued 1,075,000 shares of its common stock from the exercise of warrants previously granted for proceeds of $242,047.50. All warrants were exercised by third parties who are neither officers nor directors of the Company.

On June 1st, 2017, the Company appointed Mr. Allan Spissinger as acting CFO, Corporate Secretary and Treasurer. The Company executed a twelve month consulting contract with M&E Services Ltd., solely owned by Mr. Allan Spissinger with monthly compensation of CAD$8,000. The Company may pay Mr. Spissinger a bonus from time to time, at its sole discretion. Mr. Spissinger was awarded 200,000 incentive stock options exercisable at $0.37 vesting immediately.

On June 19th, 2017, the Company entered into an agreement with a third party researcher for CAD$3,854 per month for a period of twelve months and continuing month to month and may be terminated thereafter with sixty days’ notice.

On June 19th, 2017, the Company executed a contract with Alex Blanchard Capital as manager of investor relations & communications. The agreement is for six months continuing month to month and may be terminated thereafter with one month’s notice for CAD$7,500 per month. Mr. Blanchard was granted 200,000 warrants exercisable at $0.29 and 300,000 stock options exercisable at $0.295 vesting 100,000 options at each of the 1st, 2nd and 3rd anniversaries of the contract provided that the contract is not terminated. As at August 31st, 2017 $37,878 was recognized in consulting for the grant of the warrants.

On June 22nd, 2017, pursuant to its agreement with Docherty Management Ltd. and C.A.B. Financial Services Ltd. the company issued 420,000 restricted common shares and cash compensation of $23,600.

On August 16th, 2017, the Company issued 663,525 shares of its common stock from the exercise of warrants and options previously granted for proceeds of $97,030. All warrants and options were exercised by third parties who are neither officers nor directors of the Company.

On August 16th, 2017, the Company entered into a consulting agreement with a third party issuing 500,000 warrants to buy one common share each at an exercise price of $0.44 and valid for one year. 200,000 warrants vested immediately and a value of $34,344 was recognized in consulting. 150,000 warrants vest December 15th, 2017 and 150,000 warrants vest April 15th 2018.

As at August 31, 2017, certain existing convertible debt was converted into common shares for the amount of $45,000 @ $0.15 for 300,000 common shares plus the accrued interest of $1,125 for 7,500 shares for a total issuance of 307,500 common shares.

On August 31, 2017, the Company issued 32,433 shares of its common stock in settlement of $12,000, previously recognized within accounts payable and accrued liabilities.

The Company experienced the following significant corporate developments subsequent to August 31, 2017

On September 15th, 2017, the Company issued 625,000 shares of its common stock from the exercise of warrants previously granted for proceeds of $93,750. All warrants were exercised by third parties who are neither officers nor directors of the Company.

On October 31st, 2017, the Company announced it received a Notice of Allowance from the United States Patent and Trademark Office (“USPTO”) for the use of its technology as a delivery platform for all cannabinoids including THC; fat soluble vitamins; non steroidal anti-inflammatory pain medications (“NSAIDs”); and nicotine. The patent application number is 15/225,799, “Food and Beverage Compositions Infused With Lipophilic Active Agents and Methods of Use Thereof”.

On November 2nd, 2017, the Company announced it acquired 100% ownership interest in its majority owned subsidiary Poviva Tea, LLC. The Company previously owned a 51% interest in Poviva Tea, LLC and acquired the remaining 49% interest. Compensation was US$70,000, a waiver on certain debts, and a 5%, 20-year royalty on net profits of ViPova TeaTM tea, coffee, and hot chocolate sales. No Lexaria stock or options were issued.

Subsequent to August 31, 2017, the company plans to hold an annual and special meeting of stockholders at the office of its law firm, Macdonald Tuskey located in North Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, to include as part of the proceedings the approval of the plan of conversion whereby its corporate jurisdiction will be changed from the State of Nevada to the Province of British Columbia, Canada by means of a process called a “conversion” and a “continuation”. Important details for stockholders related to the conversion and the associated risks for the company and stockholders are included in the S-4 Registration Statement to be released, as of the writing of this document. There are risks associated with not proceeding with the conversion regarding the increasing complexity of compliance with the regulatory framework and the associated increasing costs, the restrictions on the promotion and sale of its stocks to US investors that limit the potential liquidity of its stock, and an increasingly complex environment that can negatively impact Lexaria even as an ancillary involved company via technology licensing to entities in the state legal cannabidiol and cannabis markets. As at the time of the writing of this document the date of the meeting had not been specified.

Food Science and Technology

Lexaria is a Biotechnology and food science company focused on developing and out-licensing its proprietary technology for improved taste, rapidity, and delivery of bioactive compounds in foods and other ingestible products Lexaria is focusing its capital and management time on its pursuit of intellectual property, technology licensing opportunities, an expanding portfolio of patent pending applications, and functional food and supplement formulations.

On November 11, 2014, the Company acquired 51% of PoViva Tea LLC and executed an operating agreement to develop a business of legally producing, manufacturing, importing/exporting, testing, researching and developing, a line of hemp oil with cannabidiol-infused teas, drinks and foods. Lexaria oversees all aspects of the business including, but not limited to, production, product quality, licensing, testing, product legality, accounting, marketing, capital investment, capital raising, sales, branding, advertising and fulfillment. Pursuant to the agreement, there is a Management Committee, whereby there are two representatives from Lexaria and one of the founding members of PoViva. On October 31, 2017, Lexaria purchased all remaining ownership interest to own 100% of Poviva Tea LLC.

The Company introduced an expanding variety of hemp fortified consumer food products throughout 2015 to demonstrate Lexaria’s DehydraTECHTM technology to both consumers and potential licensees. From January 2015 to December 2015, seven (7) flavors of teas; hot chocolate; coffee, and two (2) flavors of protein energy bars were introduced – all utilizing Lexaria’s patented technology DehydraTECHTM for the more efficient delivery of bioactive molecules infused within those food products.

In the production of the products, for each raw material to be used in ViPova™ -branded products, the Company assesses if the product inputs and the completed products comply with all applicable food and drug laws, and that the inputs and the finished products meet all applicable legal and quality standards including and as it relates to hemp oil content; THC content; molds and mildews; heavy metals; and may measure additional components.

The US Federal government, through the US Department of Health and Human Services, owns US Patent #6630507, which among other things, claims that

“Cannabinoids have been found to have antioxidant properties, unrelated to NMDA receptor antagonism. This new found property makes cannabinoids useful in the treatment and prophylaxis of wide variety of oxidation associated diseases, such as ischemic, age-related, inflammatory and autoimmune diseases. The cannabinoids are found to have particular application as neuroprotectants, for example in limiting neurological damage following ischemic insults, such as stroke and trauma, or in the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases, such as Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease and HIV dementia.”

For reference, cannabinoids are compounds that affect cannabinoid receptors located on many human cells. CB1 receptors are widely found within the human brain; and CB2 receptors are found with the human immune system and have been linked to anti-inflammatory and other responses.

Despite independent scientific findings in many locations around the world, some regulatory agencies do not officially recognize that a human endocannabinoid system exists.

Over one hundred different cannabinoids have been isolated from the cannabis plant, most of which do not have psychoactive properties. One that does have psychoactive properties is tetrahydrocannabinol (THC). Endocannabinoids are produced naturally in the human body while phytocannabinoids are produced in several plant species, most abundantly in the Cannabis plant.

Cannabidiol (“CBD”) is one of the major phytocannabinoid forms of cannabinoids and is not psychoactive, often contributing more than 35% of the extracts from the cannabis plant resin. Cannabidiol occurs naturally in other plant species beyond cannabis. For example, the most widely acknowledged alternative source of phytocannabinoid is in the better understood Echinacea species, in widespread use as a dietary supplement. Most phytocannabinoids are virtually insoluble in water but are soluble in lipids and alcohol. The World Anti Doping Agency (“WADA”) has exempted CBD from its 2018 list of banned substances.

The Alternative Health sector is large and growing. A long term Medical Expenditure Panel Survey was conducted from 2002 until 2008 with at least 29,370 subjects asked repeatedly if they had seen any kind of health care practitioner in the previous six months. The survey recorded whether the health care provider was a “complementary and alternative medicine care professional,” including “homeopathic, naturopathic, or herbalist.”

Between 5.3% and 5.8% of the survey group at any one time reported that they had seen a complementary or alternative medicine provider. Based on the US population of ~323,000,000, this suggests between 17.1 million and 18.7 million Americans are seeking an alternative health care professional at any given time.

Meanwhile the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, in an April 2011 NCHS Data Brief, reported that more than 50% of the population uses dietary supplements of one kind or another. Detailed findings from that report included:

Use of dietary supplements is common among the U.S. adult population. Over 40% used supplements in 1988– 1994, and over one-half in 2003–2006.

Multivitamins/multiminerals are the most commonly used dietary supplements, with approximately 40% of men and women reporting use during 2003–2006.

Use of supplemental calcium increased from 28% during 1988–1994 to 61% during 2003–2006 among women aged 60 and over.

Status of operation; Consumer product development and sales

More than 150 million Americans drink tea every day, amounting to some 79 billion servings of tea in America every year. The company's launch of ViPova™ Tea brand is meant to tap into this existing demand. Part of its corporate strategy is to build national brands through products that large groups of potential customers are already familiar and comfortable with.

PoViva Tea LLC has filed patents pending to bind active hemp oil ingredients with a lipid, potentially allowing for more efficient and comforting delivery of the CBD.

Lexaria began producing cash flows from its products in January 2015; focused on the immediate opportunities in the hemp-oil-sectors that are federally legal. Cannabinoids have been found by many researchers to have antioxidant properties and Lexaria plans to use the DehydraTECHTM patented process to infuse hemp oils into a number of popular food and beverages.

Lexaria has launched a line of premium products, always relying on its DehydraTECHTM patented infusion process, to bring hemp oil into the mainstream. Because hemp oil does not have psychoactive properties the company expect its products to appeal to the widest possible customer base. To date Lexaria Bioscience has focused its sales efforts across the continental USA. Some studies have found that 3% of the Canadian population regularly consumes hemp food products, while 1% of the American population regularly consumes hemp food products. The company believe the consumption of hemp based food products offers exceptional growth possibilities.

According to Nutrition Business Journal, the Organic Food sector was a $246 billion industry in the USA during 2014, while Dietary Supplements was a $34.6 billion industry. According to Arcview, state-legal Cannabis was a $4.7 billion US industry in 2015 and expected to grow to over a $20 billion sector before 2025 but is clearly a much smaller industry sector than the more established food sectors. Lexaria has not yet determined whether its hemp oil-infused products will be accepted into any or all three of these particular sectors.

Lexaria has a main corporate website as well as smaller e-commerce focused websites devoted to consumer products. The majority of product sales have taken place through the e-commerce websites. A contracted national distribution center ensures rapid and accurate fulfillment of all orders. A 1-800 ordering center has also been placed into operation.

Lexaria had previously launched the “Lexaria Energy” brand that is 100% owned by the Company. Under this brand, the Company plans to develop hemp oil-infused food products for people with active lifestyles, such as protein bars, protein shakes and other similar products. On November 3, 2015, Lexaria Energy10 protein bars became available for retail sales with two flavors. The original contract manufacturer of these protein bars was unable to fulfill additional orders and Lexaria Bioscience has not currently been able to locate and contract an alternative location to manufacture this more complicated food product, with the result that the product is temporarily discontinued while the company search for a suitable manufacturing location.

Through the November 2014 acquisition of 51% of Poviva Teas LLC, and October 2017 100% acquisition, Lexaria acquired control of certain patents pending, allowances and grants with the United States Patent Office. Lexaria has worked to broaden the patents and extend their utility to molecules other than those originally named.

On June 11, 2015, Lexaria initiated the simultaneous filing of a U.S. utility patent application and an International patent application under the Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT) procedure, both at the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (“USPTO”). These applications follow the Company’s 2014 and 2015 family of provisional patent application filings in the U.S. and serve two additional broad purposes:

  1. Lexaria is seeking protection of its intellectual property under international treaties. To this end Lexaria has filed for PCT patent application protection. There are 148 countries that are signatories to the Patent Cooperation Treaty, including such major markets as Canada, China, India, much of Europe and the Middle East, the United Kingdom and Japan among others.
  2. Lexaria believes its lipid infusion technology has applications beyond the delivery of just cannabinoids. Based on further formulation testing, Lexaria has included additional lipophilic molecules that may be delivered via food and beverage formats utilizing its technology, widely encompassing three major new market opportunities for the Company: Nicotine; Nonsteroidal Anti-Inflammatories (NSAIDs); and Vitamins.

In December 2015, the Company filed two further provisional patent applications in the U.S. These new applications served to further broaden the variety and applicability of base compounds that can be used when formulating the Company’s lipid based technology. The first of these applications identify compounds like edible starches (e.g., tapioca starch) that are commonly used in food products today and could, therefore, serve as a base for formulating and incorporating the Company’s Technology into a wide variety of every day food products. The second of these applications identify emulsifier compounds like gum Arabic that are commonly used in beverage products today in order to facilitate similar flexibility for formulating the Company’s Technology in every day, shelf-stable beverages.

On October 26, 2016, the USPTO issued U.S Patent No. 9474725, Cannabinoid Infused Food and Beverage Compositions and Methods of Use Thereof, pertaining to its method of improving bioavailability and taste of certain cannabinoid lipophilic active agents in food products. This is the Company’s first patent granted and has a publish date of October 27, 2016 (June 10 2017 in Australia No. 2015274698) and protects its technology for twenty years.

The Company does not know and cannot know whether these strategies will be successful, or if successful, how long it will take to gain consumer acceptance and customer loyalty. It can be a challenge to be successful by introducing new consumer products to a competitive retail marketplace, and the company can offer no assurances that its products will be a commercial success.

International patent protection

When Lexaria first began examining the legal medical cannabis market in 2013, the Company believed it could make an impact in perhaps both the Canadian and U.S. marketplaces. The company's pursuit and development of technology has expanded its potential area of impact, both geographically and by sector. Because of the applicability of its technology to markets outside of the legal cannabis sector, Lexaria Bioscience has taken the necessary steps to protect that intellectual property within larger global markets, regardless of whether they lie within the medical cannabis sector or in other unrelated sectors.

Additional molecules

NICOTINE. More than 99% of all nicotine that is consumed worldwide is delivered through smoking cigarettes. Approximately 6,000,000 deaths per year, worldwide, are attributed primarily to the delivery of nicotine through the act of smoking according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, which also estimates that over $170 billion per year is spent just in the USA on direct medical care costs for adult smokers. 69% of U.S. adult smokers want to quit smoking and 43% of US adult smokers have attempted to quit in any twelve-month period.

Worldwide, retail cigarette sales were worth $722 billion in 2013, with over 5.7 trillion cigarettes sold to more than 1 billion smokers.

RELEVANCE: Lexaria postulates that delivery of nicotine to satisfy current demand, utilizing its patent pending lipid-delivery technology in common food groups, could shift demand from smoking cigarettes to alternative nicotine-based food products. Since most of the adverse health outcomes of nicotine consumption are associated with the delivery method and only to a lesser degree to the actual ingestion of nicotine, there could be a vast positive community health outcome through the reduction in smoking cigarettes. Additional research and regulatory compliant investigations would need to be conducted before otherwise healthy foods such as tea, coffee or energy bar snacks containing nicotine could be introduced. Nicotine is a named molecule in the latest Lexaria patent applications.

NSAID. Non-steroidal Anti-inflammatories are the second-largest category of pain management treatment options in the world. The global pain management market was estimated at $22 billion in 2011, with $5.4 billion of this market being served by NSAID’s. The U.S. makes up over one-half of the global market. The opioids market (such as morphine) form the largest single pain management sector but are known to be associated with serious dependence and tolerance issues.

Some of the most commonly known NSAIDs are ASA (Aspirin), Ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin), and Acetaminophen (Tylenol). (Acetaminophen is not accepted by all persons to be an NSAID.) Although NSAIDs are generally a safe and effective treatment method for pain, they have been associated with a number of gastrointestinal problems including dyspepsia and gastric bleeding.

RELEVANCE: Lexaria postulates that delivery of NSAIDs through a lipid-based mechanism could provide the beneficial properties of pain relief with lessened negative gastrointestinal effects, and also potentially deliver lower dosages of active ingredients with similar pain management outcomes as current pill forms at higher dosages. ASA, Piroxicam, Diclofenac, Indomethacin, Ibuprofen, and Acetaminophen are all named molecules in the latest Lexaria patent applications.

VITAMINS. The global vitamin and supplement market is worth $68 billion according to Euromonitor. The category is both broad and deep, comprised of many popular and some lesser known substances. Vitamins in general are thought to be an $8.5 billion annual market in the U.S. The U.S. is the largest single national market in the world, and China and Japan are the 2nd and 3rd largest vitamin markets.

Vitamin E is fat soluble and can be incorporated into cell membranes which can protect them from oxidative damage. Global consumption of natural source vitamin E was 10,900 metric tons in 2013 worth $611.9 million.

RELEVANCE: Lexaria postulates that delivery of fat soluble vitamins through its patent-pending lipid-based delivery mechanism may result in less waste and lower dosages required than most current pill forms. As well, ingestion of pills is an unpleasant experience for many people so it is possible that vitamin delivery through common food groups could vastly expand market demand for this sector. Vitamin E is a named molecule in the latest Lexaria patent applications.

On August 11, 2015, Lexaria signed a license agreement with PoViva Tea LLC for $10,000, granting Lexaria a 35-year non exclusive worldwide license to unencumbered use of PoViva Tea LLC’s IP Rights, including rights of resale. This license agreement ensures Lexaria has full access to the underlying patent pending infusion technology.

Scientific testing and validation

On August 24, 2015, the Company announced potential industry-changing achievements in enhanced gastro-intestinal absorption of cannabidiol (CBD) utilizing Lexaria’s patented technology. The third-party testing was conducted in two phases of in vitro tests beginning in June and completed in August, 2015.

The independent laboratory results delivered average CBD permeability of 499% of baseline permeability, compared to CBD permeability without Lexaria’s technology. These results exceed Company expectations. This was assessed in a strictly controlled, in vitro experiment using a human intestinal tissue model. Samples of Lexaria’s commercially available CBD-fortified ViPova™ black tea were administered in the model compared with concentration-matched CBD control preparations that lacked Lexaria’s patented formulation and process enhancements. Lexaria believes that its in vitro findings provide compelling evidence of the intestinal absorption enhancing capabilities of its technology, based on which it is exploring opportunities to progress to more advanced, follow-on bioavailability testing in animals.

The tests also showed 325% of baseline gastro-intestinal permeability of CBD comparing Lexaria’s CBD-fortified ViPova™ black tea to a second control of CBD and black tea combined, without Lexaria’s patented formulation enhancements. This confirmed that the specialized processing undertaken by Lexaria during its manufacturing process together with its formulation enhancements, does indeed significantly improve absorption levels.

The bioavailability of CBD (or of THC) varies greatly by delivery method. Smoking typically delivers cannabinoids at an average bioavailability rate of 30% (Huestis (2007) Chem. Biodivers. 4:1770–1804; McGilveray (2005) Pain Res. Manag. 10 Suppl. A:15A – 22A). By comparison, orally consumed cannabis edibles typically deliver cannabinoids at an average bioavailability rate of only 5% (Karschner et al. (2011) Clin. Chem. 57:66–75).

The Company’s present findings suggest that its DehydraTECHTM technology may achieve a 5-fold improvement in cannabinoid absorption in edible form over that which can be achieved without its proprietary process and formulation enhancements. This conceptually supports that Lexaria’s technology represents a significant breakthrough in cannabinoid delivery by approximating the high absorption levels achieved as though through administration by smoking, but without the associated negative effects on human health caused by smoking.

The tests were completed in two phases culminating with testing using simulated intestinal fluid conditions that delivered these findings. These results were stronger than earlier iterations of the tests that did not use a simulated intestinal fluid environment and contributed to Lexaria’s understanding of the mechanisms at work. For these and other reasons, Lexaria believes that bioavailability testing in animals is likely to yield even stronger absorption results in the presence of natural intestinal fluid conditions.

CBD has been repeatedly found to provide beneficial pain relieving, anti-inflammatory, anti-anxiety, neuroprotection, anti-psychotic, and anti-convulsive effects among others. Lexaria’s DehydraTECHTM technology could significantly reduce individual serving requirements for CBD to consumers. This could lead to reduced costs of consumption for consumers and increased profitability for Lexaria.

Lexaria believes that the same technology used to enhance the absorption of CBD in laboratory tests, is applicable to THC, nicotine, NSAIDs and other lipophilic compounds that are widely used today.

During January 2015, Lexaria conducted a study of nitric oxide levels in humans, as a biomarker for absorption of cannabidiol, with the expectation that it would provide additional evidence of the efficient absorption of cannabidiol from Lexaria food products enhanced with hemp oil, by demonstrating the elevation of nitric oxide in the human body in response to product ingestion.

The study data from human subjects demonstrated significant elevation of systemic nitric oxide levels as a surrogate biomarker for cannabidiol (CBD) bioabsorption in response to ingestion of Lexaria's products. This provided clinical support for the CBD bioavailability enhancing properties of Lexaria's patented DehydraTECHTM technology, on the premise that bioavailable CBD is known to elevate levels of the endocannabinoid anandamide in the human body which, in turn, stimulates release of nitric oxide in the vascular system.

In summary, consuming Lexaria and ViPova™ food products resulted in elevated levels of nitric oxide within the body. The results of the study indicated that all Lexaria and ViPova™ food products elicited significant increases in salivary nitric oxide, achieving levels from 110 µM to as high as 220 µM in the test subjects. The beverage products generally had faster initial responses in as little as 15 minutes after product ingestion, whereas the initial responses from the protein-energy bars required 30 minutes. The faster response time with the beverage products was to be expected, given the relative ease of digesting liquids versus solids. All products sustained their maximum levels of nitric oxide detection through to the 60-minute end-points used in the study, indicating a need for additional study to determine the length of time that nitric oxide levels remain elevated following production consumption.

The study assessed six flavors of ViPova™ tea (Yunan Black, Herbal Cherry Black, Earl Grey, Herbal Bengal Chai, Herbal Masala Chai and Decaf English Breakfast), ViPova™ Columbian Supremo Coffee, ViPova™ Hot Chocolate and Lexaria Energy Foods’ Chocolate Berry Date and Cashew Berry Date protein-energy bars.

Six healthy human subjects (3 male and 3 female) between the ages of 22 and 65 years of age were recruited for the study. Subjects were screened for cardiovascular and allergic response to hemp products, were non-smokers and did not have any history of substance or alcohol abuse. One product was studied per day across all six subjects, with each subject consuming a full product serving size. Subjects were required to refrain from eating food or using vape products for at least 12 hours before test article administration on each day of the study. Nitric oxide levels in the test subjects were assessed using a commercially available, colorimetric test kit designed to quantify systemic nitric oxide via a detectable salivary marker. Immediately before test article administration each day, all subjects were required to demonstrate a negative baseline nitric oxide saliva test. Subjects were considered to have a negative test strip reading at a level of 20 µM according to the test strip scale, and positive readings anywhere above this. Subjects performed salivary nitric oxide testing at 15, 30, 45 and 60 minutes’ post-consumption of each product. All subjects remained sedentary from baseline through to the completion of testing for each product.

Product distribution agreements

On January 28, 2016, Lexaria signed a distribution agreement with Telluride Coffee Roasters, LLC. This agreement has since ended and will not be renewed due to inactivity.

Technology out-licensing

On May 14, 2016, the Company entered into a Licensing Agreement allowing the Licensee, for a two-year period, to utilize the Company’s technology to create, test, manufacture, and sell marijuana-infused consumable and/or topical products, in the state of Colorado, with an option of extending the terms of the Licensing Agreement to Washington, Oregon, and California. In addition to the granting of the license, the Company will provide support services to the Licensee in connection with the use of the Company’s technology during the term of the Licensing Agreement. The Licensing Agreement is the first contracted, predictable, and significant revenue stream to be achieved as a direct result of Lexaria’s technological advantage in the marketplace. Under the terms of the Licensing Agreement, the Licensee will pay a minimum of $122,000 in pre-defined staged payments to Lexaria over the initial two-year term. As per the Licensing Agreement, if the Licensee were to introduce certain product lines utilizing Lexaria’s technology in each of the four states contemplated, Lexaria could expect to receive a maximum of $1,064,000 over approximately 3.5 years, and the Licensee would enjoy semi-exclusivity to introduce its products in each of those states. As of August 31 2017 the company had received all of the pre-defined payments to August 31 2017 for a total receipt of $70,000 corresponding to the areas under the license agreement where the licensee has been active to-date.

The continuation of its business interests in these sectors is dependent upon obtaining further financing, a successful programs of development, and, ultimately, achieving a profitable level of operations. The issuance of additional equity securities by it could result in a significant dilution in the equity interests of its current stockholders. Obtaining commercial loans, assuming those loans would be available, will increase its liabilities and future cash commitments.

Lexaria Bioscience is not yet profitable and have not yet demonstrated its ability to generate significant revenues from its business plan. The company will require additional corporate funds if its existing capital is not sufficient to support the Company until potential future profitability is reached. There are no assurances that the company will be able to obtain further funds required for its long-term operations. The company do not expect to require additional operating capital during its fiscal 2018 year. There can be no assurance that additional financing will be available to it when needed or, if available, that it can be obtained on commercially reasonable terms. If Lexaria Bioscience is not able to obtain the additional financing on a timely basis, the company will be unable to conduct its operations as planned, and the company will not be able to meet its other longer-term obligations as they become due. In such event, the company could be forced to scale down or perhaps even cease its operations. There is uncertainty as to whether the company can obtain additional long-term financing if the company do in fact require it.

The company's business plan does not anticipate that the company will hire a large number of employees or that the company will require extensive office space. The company expect to be able to utilize contracted third parties for most of its production and distribution needs, instead focusing on its capital on higher value added aspects of the business such as research and development, and scientific testing. Lexaria Bioscience has no current plans to build its own production facility.

The company's company relies on the business experience of its existing management, on the technical abilities of consulting experts, and on the technical and operational abilities of its operating partner companies to evaluate business opportunities.

References

  1. ^ https://fintel.io/doc/sec-lxrp-lexaria-bioscience-10k-2018-november-14-17963
Tags: US:LXRP
Created by Asif Farooqui on 2019/11/19 05:31
     
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