Technology Opportunities

HU-436 reduces weight and food consumption in mice

Highlights

• U.S. and European regulatory agencies have removed numerous anti-obesity drugs from the market over the years in response to reported side effects and have grown very reluctant to approve new drugs.
• Washington University endocrinologist David Weigle wrote in The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism that "There is probably no medical condition for which a safe and effective form of pharmacotherapy is more highly desired than obesity. Neither is there a condition for which effective treatment would spare so much suffering for so many individuals. There is abundant evidence from epidemiological and interventional studies to suggest that morbidity from diabetes, cardiovascular disease, cerebrovascular disease, osteoarthritis, sleep apnea, and certain cancers could all be reduced in proportion to a reduction in body fat content."
• New cannabidiol candidate causes significant weight reduction in tested animals without exhibiting toxicity and other side effects.

Our Innovation

HU-436 is a synthetic derivative of cannabidiol (the main non-psychotropic component of Cannabis sativa) that has been shown to effectively reduce the weight of tested animals as well as causing a reduction in food consumption.

Key Features

• Demonstrated to be non-toxic.
• Low dosage sufficient to cause weight loss and reduction in food consumption.
• Does not cause any of the side effects, such as sedation, associated with cannabis-derived drugs.

Development Milestones

Seeking funding and industry cooperation to continue testing for possible side effects or changes in the brain.

The Opportunity

The obesity market is forecast to reach $2 billion by 2017 if pharmaceutical companies can deliver new drugs that are safer and more effective.