Perhaps the most important research paper in years demonstrating the potential benefit of THC which could have significant public health implications shows that mice were protected from a lethal strain of swine flu (PR8H1N1) virus when treated with THC.

The micrograph on the left shows that the lungs of an untreated mouse are flooded with immune cells (purple dots) which is, in effect, pneumonia. The image on the right represents a mouse infected with the same virus but treated with THC. The authors of the article concluded that there was “modest to no inflammatory cell infiltrate in the submucosa and alveolar airspace”  despite the presence of the virus. Conclusion: THC was protective of the lungs. Immugen is preparing long term studies with non-psychoactive derivatives of THC to prevent the consequences of an influenza infection, i.e. pneumonia.