Pharmos Reports Progress in CB2-selective Program at
Society for Neuroscience Annual Meeting
Iselin NJ, November 12, 2003
– Pharmos Corporation (Nasdaq: PARS) announced today
that compounds from its CB2 receptor agonist (“CB2-selective”)
program demonstrated efficacy in several preclinical pain
models. Pharmos is presenting the data this week at the
Society for Neuroscience (SFN) 33rd Annual Meeting in
New Orleans, Louisiana.
Structural modifications in Pharmos’
previously reported CB2-selective compounds have generated
a unique family of CB2 agonists that appear to maintain
significant analgesic/anti-inflammatory activity in several
animal inflammation and pain models. Pharmos’ CB2-selective
compounds are distinguished by the absence of undesirable
cannabis side effects, such as behavioral effects and
hypotension, allowing for their development as potent
analgesic/anti-inflammatory compounds with improved therapeutic
profiles. The compounds were tested in the tail flick
model for noxious pain, the carrageenan-induced paw edema
model for inflammatory pain and the acetic acid-induced
visceral pain model. Test results showed that the compounds
have significant analgesic effects that are as powerful
as morphine in reducing pain and more potent than commonly
used non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and COX2 inhibitors.
The compounds may be potent therapeutics for the treatment
of noxious and inflammatory pain and also in diseases
such as multiple sclerosis. A lead compound with good
oral bioavailability was selected for further development.
“The renewed interest in cannabis
biology and its medical potential highlights the value
of synthetic CB2-selective compounds in development by
Pharmos in contrast to natural cannabis preparations,”
said Dr. Haim Aviv, Chairman and CEO.
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 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.
The SFN is a nonprofit membership organization
of basic scientists and physicians who study the brain
and nervous system. Last year, more than 25,000 attended
the SFN 32nd Annual Meeting. For more information on the
SFN 33rd Annual Meeting, go to http://web.sfn.org/ACSplash.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. Other dextrocannabinoid
compounds and CB2 receptor agonist compounds from Pharmos'
proprietary synthetic cannabinoid library are being studied
in pre-clinical programs targeting a variety of other
disorders.
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.
Contacts:
Gale T. Smith – U.S.
732.452.9556
Gale.Smith@pharmos-us.com
Irit Kopelov – Israel
08-940-9679
iritk@pharmos.com
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