Natural products research and validation company Radicle Science has launched its Radicle ACES (Advancing CBD Education and Science) study, an effort to measure the effectiveness of CBD products by collecting data from users of products from 13 brands.
Using a virtual, direct to consumer (D2C) approach, Radicle ACES is the largest and most comprehensive randomized controlled trial (RCT) of its kind, collecting data on 13 mission-driven U.S. CBD brands: Altwell, Charlotte’s Web, Columbia Care, Healer, Lord Jones, Maven Hemp, MD FARMA, Peels (a citrus-derived brand), Prospect Farms, PURAURA Naturals from Enhanced Botanicals, Rae Wellness, Trokie, and Verséa Wellness.
“A rigorous scientific study of this magnitude has never before been conducted in the CBD market,” said Radicle Science co-founder and Executive Chair Pelin Thorogood. “Radicle ACES is driven by our deep commitment to contribute to the body of evidence to support growing demand from consumers and healthcare providers.”
Thorogood noted that, given the scale, the diversity of the participant population and the wide range of high-quality commercial brands included, Radicle ACES promises to deliver rich, objective health outcome data for a variety of common health conditions, with the potential to offer unprecedented guidance on CBD effectiveness based on demographic or behavioral differences.
Radicle ACES is approved by Institutional Review Board (IRB) approved and will capture CBD effectiveness data directly from nearly 3,000 study participants. During the four-week study, participants will use the Radicle Science platform to track consumption and effectiveness of orally ingested CBD products on well-being, quality of life, pain, sleep disturbance and anxiety.
Radicle ACES will use validated, standardized health indices to gather health outcome data from a diverse population across a variety of ethnicities, age groups, geographies, behavioral habits, and pre-existing health conditions.
“We’re applying science to understand the effectiveness of CBD products used by tens of millions of Americans every day,” said Radicle Science CEO co-founder Jeff Chen. “We’re partnering with 13 leading CBD brands and collaborators across five top-tier research universities to drive accurate, transparent and actionable insights for all stakeholders.”
Thirteen U.S. CBD brands participating in Radicle ACES include ALTWELL, Charlotte’s Web, Columbia Care, Healer, Lord Jones, Maven Hemp, MD FARMA, Peels (a citrus-derived brand), Prospect Farms, PURAURA Naturals from Enhanced Botanicals, Rae Wellness, Trokie, and Verséa Wellness. (Photo: Business Wire)
The real-world evidence collected will inform scientific understanding on dosing, usage patterns, user characteristics, effectiveness across conditions, and predictors and modifiers of treatment response.
Radicle ACES findings will address the top two barriers to CBD usage identified in a 2019 Nielsen study: 1) difficulty gauging effectiveness of specific products, and 2) lack of research data on health benefits.
“The Radicle ACES study aims to answer lingering questions as to who should take cannabidiol, how much and for what conditions, as well as differing dosage patterns,” said Dr. Ethan Russo, a scientific expert for Radicle Science and founder and CEO of CReDO Science. “CBD is much more subtle in its effects and quite benign compared to THC. Patients are unclear on what product to choose and healthcare providers don’t yet have the data to counsel on proper dosage.”
Anonymized aggregate results will be released in October 2021. For more background on Radicle ACES methodology and additional insights from collaborators and experts involved in the study, see these Radicle Resources articles.
Radicle Science is a transformative healthtech B-corp offering the first ever path to natural product validation at scale. Radicle Science disrupts the traditional clinical trial model by combining the reach of a market research company, the scientific rigor of a research university, and the agility of a tech company.
