Study Published in Journal of Neuroinflammation Indicates the Potential of EHP-102, a New Molecular Entity Derived from Cannabigerol, to Provide Anti-Inflammatory and Neuroprotective Properties

SAN DIEGO, CA / ACCESSWIRE / February 6, 2018 / Emerald Health Pharmaceuticals Inc. (EHP), which is developing medicines based on cannabinoid science, announced today that key members of its scientific team demonstrated the potential of EHP-102 (previously known as VCE-003.2), a patented aminoquinone derivative of the non-psychoactive phytocannabinoid, called cannabigerol (CBG), to treat Parkinson's disease. This research was done in collaboration with Professor Javier Fernandez-Ruiz (University Complutense of Madrid, Spain).

These results were published in the Journal of Neuroinflammation in a scientific paper entitled, "Benefits of VCE-003.2, a cannabigerol quinone derivative, against inflammation driven neuronal deterioration in experimental Parkinson's disease: possible involvement of different binding sites at the PPARγ receptor." Co-authors of this paper included Eduardo Muñoz, MD, PhD, EHP's Chief Scientific Officer and Mari-Luz Bellido, PhD, EHP's Vice President of European Operations.

Researchers evaluated the anti-inflammatory and neuroprotective properties of EHP-102 in two animal models of Parkinson's disease, as well as in vitro cellular models. Findings showed that EHP-102 is neuroprotective against inflammation-driven neuronal damage in these models. EHP-102 is a peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-γ (PPARγ) modulator acting on both the canonical and alternative binding sites. These data demonstrate that EHP-102 could potentially be used as a neuroprotective agent in Parkinson's disease due to its multi-target properties specific to the disease.

"More than 10 million people worldwide are living with Parkinson's disease1 and many do not have access to effective therapies to treat symptoms of the disease," said Eduardo Muñoz, PhD, EHP's Chief Scientific Officer and Professor of Immunology at the University of Córdoba. "We believe these findings will help advance preclinical studies and clinical trials of cannabinoid-derived medicines and add to the experimental evidence that shows this pharmaceutical agent may preserve neuronal integrity in Parkinson's disease."

"We congratulate Drs. Muñoz and Bellido for their publication in a prominent scientific journal," said Jim DeMesa, MD, CEO of Emerald Health Pharmaceuticals. "These outstanding scientists have been pioneers in cannabinoid science for over fifteen years and we are proud to be working closely with them as we develop our two novel cannabinoid drugs targeting life-threatening neurodegenerative and auto-immune diseases."

The EHP scientific team has previously shown that many of its patented cannabidiol (CBD) and CBG derivatives are dual PPARγ and cannabinoid receptor type 2 (CB 2 ) ligand activators that also affect other disease modifying targets. EHP is currently developing two drug candidates from its portfolio of cannabinoid analogs, one derived from CBD for multiple sclerosis and scleroderma

(EHP-101), and one derived from CBG for Huntington's disease and Parkinson's disease (EHP-102). Additional data were previously published in two papers in the journal Scientific Reports, a Nature publication. EHP plans to initiate a Phase 1 human clinical study in 2018 on its lead product candidate, EHP-101.

About Emerald Health Pharmaceuticals Inc.

Emerald Health Pharmaceuticals is developing its library of proprietary, synthetic cannabinoid-derivative drug candidates for the treatment of inflammatory, neurodegenerative, autoimmune, fibrotic, and metabolic diseases. The company has two families of new chemical entities, based on CBD and CBG, that it has modified through rational drug design to affect validated receptors pertinent to targeted diseases. Its first drug candidate, EHP-101, is focused on treating multiple sclerosis and scleroderma. Its second, EHP-102, is focused on treating Huntington's disease and Parkinson's disease. The company is advancing preclinical development with the intent to launch a Phase I clinical study in 2018. For more information, visit www.emeraldpharma.life. Emerald Health Pharmaceuticals is part of the Emerald Health group, which comprises multiple companies advancing diverse botanical, nutraceutical and pharmaceutical products that may provide wellness and medical benefits by interacting with the body's important endocannabinoid system.

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Sources

Parkinson’s Foundation. Statistics. http://parkinson.org/Understanding-Parkinsons/Causes-and-Statistics/Statistics. Accessed January 18, 2018.

SOURCE: Emerald Health Pharmaceuticals Inc.