Researchers at UCLA have developed prodrugs of peripherally-acting cannabinoid (PRCBs) receptor agonists for chronic pain relief.
BACKGROUND:
Cannabinoids are becoming prevalent in chronic pain treatments even though current marketed cannabinoid compounds may cause psychotropic effects or central nervous system (CNS)-mediated side effects. A potential strategy to reduce cannabinoid these side effects is to prevent activity in the CNS and design therapeutics acting selectively on peripheral cannabinoid receptors. We developed synthetic peripherally-restricted cannabinoids (PRCBs) which effectively relieve chronic pain symptoms in animal models of traumatic peripheral nerve injury, cancer, and chemotherapy-induced neuropathy, without CNS side effects or development of tolerance. Despite their promising efficacy and safety profiles, PRCBs are insoluble in aqueous solutions and have poor bioavailability. The development of aqueous soluble PRCB prodrugs with improved bioavailability with accelerate and facilitate their transition to the clinic.
INNOVATION:
Dr. Igor Spigelman and colleagues at UCLA have developed a synthetic strategy to generate PRCB precursors (prodrugs), which have higher solubility in aqueous solutions. The precursor compounds are converted into PRCBs in vivo, e.g., in the gastrointestinal tract, in the blood stream, and/or in the cytoplasm, and have been shown to relieve chronic pain without causing CNS-mediated side effects.
APPLICATIONS:
• Chronic pain
• Neuropathic pain
• Inflammatory pain
ADVANTAGES:
• Higher solubility and bioavailability
• The drug can be administered as tablet, capsule, skin patch, lotion, and cream
DEVELOPMENT TO-DATE:
These PRCBs have been shown to effectively relieve chronic pain symptoms in animal models of traumatic peripheral nerve injury, cancer, and chemotherapy-induced neuropathy, without CNS side effects or development of tolerance. The novel prodrug strategy is being validated in in vitro models.
Related Papers:
1. Spigelman, I., Seltzman, H. H. & Shiner, C. Peripherally-acting cannabinoid receptor agonists for chronic pain. USA patent 9656981 B2 (2017).
2. Seltzman, H.H., Shiner, C., Hirt, E., Gilliam, A.F., Maitra, R., Snyder, R., Black, S.L., Patel, P.R., Mulpuri, Y., and Spigelman, I. Peripherally selective cannabinoid 1 receptor (CB1) receptor agonists for the treatment of neuropathic pain. Journal of Medicinal Chemistry 59:7525-43, 2016. PMCID: PMC5474949.
3. Zhang, H., Lund, D.M., Ciccone, H.A., Staatz, W.D., Ibrahim, M.M., Largent-Milnes, T.M., Seltzman, H.H., Spigelman, I. and Vanderah, T.W. A peripherally restricted cannabinoid 1 receptor agonist as a novel analgesic in cancer-induced bone pain. Pain, 159:1814-1823, 2018. PMCID: PMC6095738.
4. Mulpuri, Y., Marty, V.N., Munier, J., Mackie. K., Schmidt B.L., Seltzman, H.H. and Spigelman, I. Synthetic peripherally-restricted cannabinoid suppresses chemotherapy-induced neuropathy symptoms by CB1 receptor activation. Neuropharmacology, 139:85-97, 2018. PMCID: PMC6883926.