Artelo Biosciences, Inc. (Nasdaq: ARTL), a clinical-stage pharmaceutical company focused on modulating lipid-signaling pathways to develop treatments for people living with cancer, pain, and neurological conditions, today announced that it has selected Worldwide Clinical Trials (“Worldwide”), a global award-winning contract research organization (CRO) therapeutically focused on neuroscience, oncology, rare diseases, and cardiometabolic and inflammatory disease, to support the Company’s planned Phase 1 trial with ART26.12, its Fatty Acid Binding Protein 5 (FABP5) inhibitor in development for the treatment of chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN).
“We look forward to working with Worldwide once we obtain approval from the FDA to advance ART16.12 into Phase 1 clinical development,” commented Gregory D. Gorgas, President and Chief Executive Officer of Artelo Biosciences. “With Worldwide’s extensive experience in the neurology space and successful track record of assisting companies progress through trials, we believe we are well positioned to leverage ART26.12’s positive profile observed in multiple animal models of painful neuropathies to progress to human studies.”
“We are excited to partner with the Artelo Biosciences team on their important advancement with ART26.12,” stated Peter Benton, President and Chief Executive Officer of Worldwide Clinical Trials. “Given the broad potential of lipid-signaling in therapeutics development and more specifically the prospects for ART26.12 as a non-opioid pain drug, we look forward to supporting Artelo in the evaluation of safety with their promising FABP5 inhibitor.”
According to Coherent Market Insights, the global neuropathic pain market is estimated to be valued at $7.6 billion, demonstrating the need for an innovative therapy that has the potential to provide relief for pain patients with few treatment options. Artelo has conducted five pre-clinical studies in painful neuropathies, including diabetic neuropathy and chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy, the latter of which has no FDA-approved treatment. The Company previously reported a positive pre-IND (investigational new drug) meeting with the Food and Drug Administration and anticipates filing the IND for ART26.12 in the first half of this year.
About ART26.12
Fatty Acid Binding Proteins (FABPs) are a family of intracellular proteins that chaperone lipids including endocannabinoids and fatty acids. FABP is overexpressed and associated with abnormal lipid signaling in a number of pathologies. ART26.12, Artelo’s lead FABP inhibitor, is a potent and selective inhibitor of FABP5 being developed as a novel, peripherally acting, non-opioid, non-steroidal analgesic, with an initial clinical study planned for chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN). Beyond ART26.12, Artelo’s extensive library of small molecule inhibitors of FABPs have shown therapeutic promise for the treatment of certain cancers, neuropathic and nociceptive pain, and anxiety disorders.
About Worldwide Clinical Trials
Worldwide Clinical Trials (Worldwide) is a leading full-service global contract research organization (CRO) that works in partnership with biotechnology and pharmaceutical companies to create customized solutions that advance new medications – from discovery to reality. Worldwide’s capabilities include bioanalytical laboratory services, Phase I-IV clinical trials, and post-approval and real-world evidence studies – all powered by an accessible team of clinicians, scientists, and researchers who bring first-hand expertise and a collaborative, personalized approach to each clinical program. Worldwide is therapeutically focused on neuroscience, oncology, rare diseases, and cardiometabolic and inflammatory disease. Its global footprint spans nearly 60 countries with more than 3,400 team members. For more information, visit www.worldwide.com.
