FDA Solicits Public Comments on Use of Cannabis-Derived Products in Veterinary Medicine

📍The U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s Center for Veterinary Medicine has released a request for information (RFI) soliciting comments from the public, particularly veterinarians, related to the use of cannabis-derived products (CDP) in animals. The focus of this RFI is on cannabidiol (CBD) products and other products derived from hemp. 

🔹The FDA typically evaluates various aspects related to medical products like Organ-on-a-Chip technology. Here’s a breakdown of what they might be interested in:-

• Product Selection and Usage Trends: understanding which types of organs-on-chips are being developed and used, including their applications across different medical fields.
• Indications: Examining the specific medical conditions or research areas where these technologies are being applied.
• Quality Standards: Ensuring that these products meet rigorous standards for reliability, reproducibility, and accuracy in simulating biological functions.
• Benefits of Use: Assessing the advantages over traditional methods such as animal testing, including potential cost savings, ethical considerations, and the ability to personalize treatments.
• Drug Interactions: Studying how drugs interact with organ-on-a-chip models, which can help predict human responses more accurately than animal models.
• Adverse Events and Safety Concerns: Monitoring reports of any adverse events or safety issues associated with the use of these technologies.
• Toxicological Concerns: Investigating potential toxicological risks associated with chemicals, drugs, or materials tested using organ-on-a-chip models

🔹Information received through this RFI will enhance the FDA’s knowledge of potential safety signals associated with CDPs and improve the FDA’s understanding of veterinarians’ experiences related to the use of CDPs in their animal patients.

The Federal Register notice about the RFI contains instructions for submitting comments. The FDA will fully consider all comments, including comments submitted anonymously. Veterinarians’ responses to the specific questions in the RFI would be particularly helpful to the FDA.