Patients were asked to apply two creams, the CBD and a placebo, to two sites and were exposed to UVA. Image credit: Helena Nechaeva / Shutterstock.

MINO Labs’ cannabidiol (CBD) cream CannaXR has shown protective benefits against ultraviolet A (UVA)-induced DNA damage at the cellular level in a clinical trial.

The first-in-human study (NCT05279495) investigated the cream in 20 healthy volunteers. It showed that the CBD-based topical cream reduced UVA damage, preventing nuclear and mitochondrial DNA mutations associated with accelerated skin ageing and skin cancer.

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In the study, investigators noted a 21% reduction in erythema (skin redness) in CannaXR-treated areas after exposure to three times the amount of UVA needed to burn the skin. There was also reduced epidermal skin thickening, a sign of early UV skin damage. Patients also had fewer sunburn cells and reduced OGG1 staining, a biomarker for free radical DNA damage.

On a cellular level, there was a reduction in expected and harmful nuclear DNA base lesions from UVA exposure and significantly fewer mitochondrial DNA mutations, particularly in ND1 and ND4, notably key genes implicated in skin ageing and UV-related cancer risk.

During the study, each participant was told not to change any of their photoprotection practices, including the use of suncream, and not to change the amount of time spent outdoors each day. In the study, participants applied either CannaXR or vehicle control (VC) cream to two separate sites for two weeks. This was followed by UVA exposure to the same sites.

There are different types of skin cancer, with the three major types being basal cell carcinoma (BCC), squamous cell carcinoma (SCC), and melanoma. Melanoma is the most aggressive form and can spread through the skin and to other parts of the body if not detected and treated early. The main risk factor for melanoma is chronic exposure to UV light. Early detection of skin cancer is crucial, as more than 90% of all related cases can be successfully treated if found early.

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According to a 2024 report by GlobalData, the US dominated ongoing and planned trials of skin cancer treatments, hosting 51.2% of them, followed by China with 18.1%.

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