Presentation at Drug Discovery Re-Invented Conference entitled: THE ARCHITECTURE AND SCIENCE OF VIRTUAL DRUG DISCOVERY IN THE CANNABINOID SPACE

Ascot, UK,  Dr. Kinney will describe for the first time a new family of molecules with improvements over Cannabidiol (“CBD”), a non-psychoactive neuroprotective agent from C. sativa.  IteraMed Consulting has functioned as Kannalife Sciences’ medicinal and scientific leadership during their seed funding stage.   KannaLife’s current lead molecule may be useful in the treatment of Overt Hepatic Encephalopathy, considered a late stage refractory form of HE with a patient population of approximately 200,000, classifying it as an orphan disease.  Hepatic encephalopathy (“HE”) is a serious neurological disorder that can occur in patients with cirrhosis or liver failure.  A family of candidate molecules was identified, which are safer and more effective than cannabidiol in an in vitro assay of neuroprotection.  The assay evaluates the ability of a test agent to protect hippocampal neurons from oxidative stress induced by ammonia and ethanol at clinically relevant concentrations.  In addition to demonstrating improved potency and safety in vitro, the current lead molecule shows significant improvement in oral bioavailability and brain penetration, as compared to cannabidiol.  Cannabidiol has been shown by researchers at Hadassah-Hebrew University Medical School and Hebrew University to be effective in two mouse models of HE (Thioacetamide induced liver damage: Y. Avhraham, et al. Br. J. Pharmacol. 2011, 162, 1650-1658; Bile duct ligation induced liver damage: I. Magen, et al. J. Hepatol. 2009, 51, 528-534) at a dose of 5 mg/kg ip. CBD treated animals exhibited improvements in both liver and brain function compared to untreated control animals. Comparative studies with our lead compound versus CBD are in progress.