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Cannabis-Inspired Drug Shows Weight Gain in Small Cancer Cachexia Trial

The tablet targets peripheral cannabinoid receptors to stimulate appetite without a high.

Overview

  • ART27.13 helped patients gain an average 6.4% of body weight over 12 weeks versus a 5.4% loss on placebo in a double-blind phase 2 study.
  • The trial enrolled 25 people with advanced cancers across tumor types, and investigators reported no notable side effects or psychoactive effects.
  • Wearable data indicated increased physical activity among treated patients, while activity declined in the placebo group.
  • Artelo Biosciences plans a phase 3 program roughly 12 times larger before seeking MHRA and international regulatory reviews.
  • The company says the drug could reach patients as early as 2028 if larger trials confirm efficacy and safety and regulators approve it.