GreenWay's Patented CBD/CBDA Blend Paves Way for New Autoimmune Therapies

By Michael Bennett

MURFREESBORO, Tenn. – January 07, 2026 – GreenWay Herbal Products, LLC, a Tennessee-based botanical research company, has secured a significant U.S. patent that could mark a new frontier in the treatment of inflammation and autoimmune diseases. The patent protects a novel composition combining cannabidiol (CBD) and its acidic precursor, cannabidiolic acid (CBDA), in a precise 1-to-1 ratio, along with methods for its use against a host of debilitating conditions.

The issuance of U.S. Patent No. 12,496,307 on December 16, 2025, is the culmination of nearly a decade of focused research, positioning a plant-derived formula as a potential pharmaceutical-grade therapeutic. Preclinical studies have suggested this specific blend is significantly more effective at suppressing inflammatory responses than CBD alone, opening a pathway for a new class of treatments for diseases like rheumatoid arthritis, Crohn's disease, and multiple sclerosis.

A Scientific Step Forward in Cannabinoid Medicine

At the heart of the patent is the specific, equimolar combination of CBD and CBDA. While CBD has gained widespread recognition for its therapeutic potential, its raw, unheated form, CBDA, has also shown promise in scientific studies. Research underpinning the patent, conducted in collaboration with Middle Tennessee State University (MTSU), revealed that the 1-to-1 blend demonstrated surprisingly potent effects.

The key finding was the composition's ability to suppress “cytokine storms,” a severe immune reaction where the body releases an excess of inflammatory proteins called cytokines too quickly. This hyperinflammation is a hallmark of many autoimmune disorders and can cause significant tissue damage. The preclinical animal models showed GreenWay's formula had “significantly greater activity” in calming this storm compared to isolated CBD.

This synergistic effect, often referred to as the “entourage effect” in cannabis science, suggests that the two compounds working together are more powerful than the sum of their parts. Independent research corroborates the anti-inflammatory potential of both cannabinoids, with some studies noting CBDA's ability to inhibit COX-2 enzymes, similar to nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), but potentially with a more favorable safety profile. The patent specifically lists a wide range of autoimmune diseases—including lupus, celiac disease, and psoriatic disease—as potential targets for this new therapeutic method.

The University Partnership Behind the Patent

This breakthrough did not emerge from a vacuum. It is the direct result of a long-standing academic-industrial partnership between GreenWay and MTSU, rooted in the university's Tennessee Center for Botanical Medicine Research. Since 2016, GreenWay has funded the university's work with a $2.5 million grant to scientifically validate the therapeutic properties of non-psychotropic cannabinoids.

The university's research team conducted the foundational studies that led to the discovery of the 1-to-1 composition's unique efficacy. MTSU initially filed for the patent, which was formally assigned to GreenWay in 2019, underscoring the collaboration's success in translating academic research into protectable intellectual property.

“This patent represents nearly a decade of disciplined investment in cannabinoid science,” said Jeff Heeren, Chief Executive Officer of GreenWay Herbal Products, LLC, in a public statement. “We focused on understanding how cannabinoids behave at the molecular level... The issuance of this patent confirms the scientific differentiation and pharmaceutical potential of our 1-to-1 cannabidiol and cannabidiolic acid formulation.”

Charting a Course Through a Regulated Market

With a validated scientific discovery and a strong patent in hand, GreenWay is signaling a clear ambition to move beyond the crowded wellness market and into the highly regulated world of pharmaceuticals. The company has announced its intention to pursue approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), a rigorous and costly pathway that separates consumer products from prescription medicines.

The journey for a botanical drug is complex. The FDA’s “Botanical Drug Development Guidance” requires extensive proof of a product's safety, efficacy, and manufacturing consistency. The chemical complexity of plant-derived compounds presents a higher bar than for single-molecule synthetic drugs. The benchmark for success in this space is Jazz Pharmaceuticals' Epidiolex, the first and only cannabis-derived drug ever approved by the FDA, which set a precedent for the level of evidence required.

To fortify its position, GreenWay has been building an international intellectual property fortress. Similar patents have already been granted in the United Kingdom, with applications pending in major markets including the European Union, Canada, Israel, and Thailand. This global strategy is designed to protect its innovation and attract strategic partners. The company is actively looking to license its technology to established pharmaceutical and biotechnology firms, leveraging its patent as the scientific and legal foundation for future drug development programs.

A New Player in a Multi-Billion Dollar Arena

GreenWay’s patented formula enters a global cannabis pharmaceuticals market projected to explode in value, with some analysts forecasting it to exceed $100 billion by 2030. While companies like Jazz Pharmaceuticals currently dominate, the field is ripe for new players with scientifically validated and patent-protected innovations.

The company’s formulation is positioned not only as a competitor but as a potential complementary therapy. “We believe this patented formulation has the potential to complement, and in some cases provide an alternative to, existing anti-inflammatory and autoimmune therapies, while maintaining the favorable safety profile associated with cannabinoids when developed responsibly and used under medical supervision,” Heeren added.

This development comes at a pivotal moment for the industry. A recommendation from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to reclassify cannabis from a Schedule I to a Schedule III substance is under consideration. Such a move would significantly reduce the regulatory hurdles for research and development, potentially unleashing a new wave of investment and innovation in cannabinoid-based medicine. GreenWay's journey from a university research grant to a potential FDA-regulated drug reflects the maturation of the entire sector, as evidence-based science increasingly drives the future of botanical therapeutics.