Pharmos begins patient dosing in phase 2a cannabinor pain study

By E. Janene Geiss

Philadelphia, June 29 - Pharmos Corp., which recently agreed to acquire Vela Pharmaceuticals Inc., said Thursday that it has started dosing for its phase 2a clinical study of cannabinor (PRS-211,375), a CB2-selective synthetic cannabinoid drug candidate for the treatment of pain.

Since receiving approval to begin the study in the United Kingdom last week, the first three patients have been treated, according to a company news release.

Pharmos said it expects to complete the trial in the third quarter of 2006.

The single-center, randomized, double-blinded, single-dose intravenous study will include 100 healthy male subjects.

The safety and analgesic efficacy of different cannabinor doses will be compared with a placebo for acute pain following extraction of mandibular third molar teeth.

Data from preclinical testing of cannabinor suggest that the compound holds promise as an analgesic for pain treatment.

Another phase 2a intravenous study is being prepared to test the analgesic efficacy and safety of cannabinor in experimentally induced neuropathic pain, which the company said it expects to begin in the third quarter this year.

Oral cannabinor for chronic pain treatment has entered toxicology studies in animals.

Pharmos said it expects the acquisition of Vela to close in the third quarter 2006. The company said it has retained Burrill & Co. to help structure and potential partnerships for its broadening pipeline.

Based in Ewing, N.J., Vela is a privately held biotechnology company focused on the nervous system.

Pharmos is an Iselin, N.J., biopharmaceutical company focused on neurological and inflammatory disorders.

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