Artelo Biosciences Inc

Artelo Biosciences has enrolled the first patient in the Phase 2 DREAM study evaluating its drug candidate ART27.13 in patients with glaucoma or ocular hypertension. The investigator-led trial, funded by Glaucoma UK and the HSC R&D Division, will assess whether orally administered ART27.13 can reduce intraocular pressure and evaluate its tolerability. ART27.13 is a peripherally selective synthetic cannabinoid receptor agonist designed to activate cannabinoid receptors in ocular tissues while limiting central nervous system exposure, potentially avoiding psychotropic side effects. Initial results are expected in the fourth quarter of 2026. The candidate is also being studied in the Phase 2 CAReS trial for cancer-related anorexia and weight loss, where interim data showed a 6% average weight gain over 12 weeks in patients receiving the highest dose versus a 5% loss in the placebo group.

A new review published in the British Journal of Clinical Pharmacology finds that widely sold non-prescription CBD products at typical doses fail to provide adequate exposure for a positive biological effect. The analysis of over 50 studies showed that low-dose CBD, defined as 2.5 milligrams per kilogram or less or 175 milligrams per day or less, had little to no evidence of therapeutic value, with peak plasma exposure and total drug exposure 5 to 100 times lower than approved therapeutic doses for epilepsy. The review also identified significant drug-drug interactions with medications including amitriptyline and hydromorphone, raising safety concerns. Artelo Biosciences says its proprietary CBD cocrystal composition ART12.11 aims to address this challenge by increasing bioavailability compared with CBD alone, and the company plans to advance it into clinical development.

Artelo Biosciences announced new nonclinical data demonstrating that its FABP5 inhibitor ART26.12 significantly reduced osteoarthritis-associated pain behaviors in a preclinical study, with efficacy comparable to naproxen but with significantly less stomach tissue damage. The study, presented by Professor Martin Kaczocha at the International Cannabinoid Research Society 2026 Annual Symposium, showed that oral ART26.12 reduced pain after both acute and chronic dosing over four weeks. Animals treated with ART26.12 exhibited significantly less non-glandular hyperkeratosis, an early indicator of gastric ulcers, compared to those receiving naproxen. The findings support ART26.12 as a potential first-in-class, non-opioid analgesic with an improved gastrointestinal safety profile, and the company is preparing to start a clinical multiple ascending dose study in healthy volunteers in the fourth quarter of this year.

Artelo Biosciences announced positive results from nonclinical studies showing its drug candidate ART27.13 reduced neuropathic pain behaviors in a model of paclitaxel-induced peripheral neuropathy. The findings suggest broader utility in cancer supportive care beyond the drug's current focus on cancer-related anorexia cachexia syndrome, or CACS. Interim results from the ongoing Phase 2 CAReS trial, also presented at the ICRS symposium, demonstrated improvements in body weight, lean body mass, and activity levels. ART27.13 is a peripherally restricted cannabinoid receptor agonist originally developed by AstraZeneca, and there are currently no FDA-approved treatments for CACS.