CV Sciences, a specialist in hemp-derived CBD products has announced that it will be expanding beyond the CBD space with an herbal immunity product, CV Acute, which will be the first of several dietary supplements under an immunity line. This non-CBD product will be available in more sales channels, including major e-commerce retailers, who were not previously accessible with CBD products.
 
CV Acute contains a branded ingredient called V871 SHL, a proprietary formula of herbal products based on the traditional Chinese medicine remedy called Shaung Huang Lian. Shuang Huang Lian was developed as a combination in the 1960s, though the individual herbs within it have been used by traditional medicine practitioners for centuries. V871 SHL contains extracts from the flower of Lonicerae japonicae (Japanese honeysuckle), the root of Scutellariae baicalensis (commonly called the Chinese skullcap), and the fruit of Forsynthia suspensa.
 
A significant number of peer-reviewed clinical trials have yielded evidence that the formulation has efficacy in mitigating symptoms of respiratory disorders, due to antiviral and inflammation-modulating properties it exhibited in animal and in vitro studies. Clinical trials have shown some benefits in human trials examining its ability to significantly reduce the durations of the common cold and bronchitis without any adverse events or toxic reactions.
 
A review published in the International Journal of Biological Sciences examined Shaung Huang Lian, and several other traditional Chinese medicine formulations, in their efficacy in animal, in vitro, and human studies in mitigating a number of respiratory infections. It included one very preliminary study examining the interactions between the formulation and cells infected with COVID-19 in an in vitro environment. The authors reported that the formulation could “potentially inhibit” a range of cytokines and chemokines, though no clinical trials on humans have been published to date. 
 
“While the data is preliminary and should be interpreted conservatively, the strong safety profile of CV Acute indicates that it is a prudent addition to an integrated approach to respiratory and immune challenges,” CV Sciences said.
 
Joseph Dowling, CEO of CV Sciences, said that the company considered adding CBD to its formula, but doing so would hinder the ability of the supplement to reach as many commerce platforms.
 
“Our launch of CV Acute represents a strategic category expansion, and a natural evolution of CV Sciences’ positioning as a leading health and wellness company,” Dowling said. “CV Acute is considered a valuable botanical formula to maintain immune and respiratory health at times when protection is needed the most – including the uncertain times of the 2020/2021 flu season. This is particularly important as many retailers have not been able to offer CBD products, which have demonstrated immune system support. We considered adding CCBD to the formula, however our goal is to make CV Acute broadly available to consumers through all retail channels at an affordable price so they can have easy access to the immune and respiratory health benefits this formula has demonstrated to provide.”