Pharmos
CB2-selective Agonist Compounds Demonstrate Efficacy in
a Series of Pain Models
Data
Presented at the Annual Meeting of the Society for Neuroscience
Iselin,
NJ, November 4, 2002 – Pharmos Corporation
(Nasdaq: PARS and Nasdaq Europe: PHRM) announced today
its lead CB2 receptor agonist (“CB2-selective”) compounds
demonstrated efficacy in several animal models for pain.
Pharmos is presenting the data this week at the Society
for Neuroscience (SFN) 32nd Annual Meeting
in Orlando, Florida.
In
carrageenan-induced paw edema, a model for inflammatory
pain, the lead compounds (PRS-211,096/359) exhibited a
linear dose-response curve with an efficacy equal to that
of morphine for both tactile and thermal hyperalgesia.
The other preclinical studies were the tail flick test,
in which the lead CB2-selective compound exhibited equal
efficacy to, and duration more than twice that of, morphine,
and an animal model for neuropathic pain (Bennett &
Xie), in which the lead CB2-selective cannabinoid was
effective in tactile hyperalgesia and allodynia and thermal
allodynia.
“Efficacy
in the range of the animal models for pain suggests that
our compounds may offer alternative strategies for managing
a broad range of noxious and neuropathic pain indications,”
said Dr. George Fink, Vice President of Research at Pharmos.
“There is great interest in new effective and safe drugs
to treat pain, which is a large underserved market.”
Pharmos’
CB2-selective agonists are bicyclic cannabinoids, a family
of compounds within Pharmos’ proprietary non-psychotropic
synthetic cannabinoid library. CB2-selective compounds
have a high affinity for the cannabinoid-2 (CB2) receptor,
expressed primarily by inflammatory and immune cells,
and lower affinity for the CB1 receptor, located mainly
in the central nervous system. The CB2-selective cannabinoids
were all tested for known CB1-mediated side effects such
as hypotension, hypothermia, ataxia and impairment of
motor function with good safety margins. Pharmos is also
screening these compounds for activity in other animal
models of inflammation-based and autoimmune diseases.
Pharmos
is also presenting new findings at this year’s SFN Annual
Meeting on tricyclic dextrocannabinoids as neuroprotectants
in brain ischemia animal models (stroke).
The
SFN is a nonprofit membership organization of basic scientists
and physicians who study the brain and nervous system.
Last year, more than 28,000 attended the SFN 31st
Annual Meeting. For more information on the SFN 32nd
Annual Meeting, go to http://apu.sfn.org/AM2002Splash.cfm.
To view meeting abstracts, go to http://sfn.scholarone.com/.
Pharmos
discovers, develops, and commercializes novel therapeutics
to treat a range of indications, in particular neurological
and inflammation-based disorders. The Company’s first
neuroprotective product is dexanabinol, a tricyclic dextrocannabinoid,
currently undergoing clinical testing as a treatment for
TBI and as a preventive agent against post-surgical cognitive
impairment.
Statements
made in this press release related to the business outlook
and future financial performance of the Company, to the
prospective market penetration of its drug products, to
the development and commercialization of the Company’s
pipeline products and to the Company’s expectations in
connection with any future event, condition, performance
or other matter, are forward-looking and are made pursuant
to the safe harbor provisions of the Securities Litigation
Reform Act of 1995. Such statements involve risks and
uncertainties which may cause results to differ materially
from those set forth in these statements. Additional economic,
competitive, governmental, technological, marketing and
other factors identified in Pharmos’ filings with the
Securities and Exchange Commission could affect such results.
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