Oral ART26.12 Reduces Spinal Cord Injury Neuropathic Pain in Mouse Study
ARTL•Artelo’s proprietary FABP5 inhibitor ART26.12 alleviated spinal cord injury-induced neuropathic pain in mice, significantly reducing mechanical hypersensitivity, spontaneous pain behaviors and nociceptor hyperexcitability after oral dosing. The preclinical study presented at the International Cannabinoid Research Society Symposium supports ART26.12’s potential as a first-in-class, non-opioid therapy currently in Phase 1.
1. Preclinical Study Data
In a validated mouse model of spinal cord injury at Stony Brook University, oral administration of ART26.12 produced significant reductions in mechanical hypersensitivity and spontaneous pain behaviors. The study, presented at the International Cannabinoid Research Society Symposium, evaluated neuropathic pain outcomes over multiple dosing sessions, demonstrating reproducible analgesic effects without observed adverse events.
2. Mechanism and Outcomes
ART26.12 functions as a selective inhibitor of fatty acid binding protein 5 (FABP5), a key lipid-signaling chaperone implicated in neuropathic pain pathways. In treated mice, selective FABP5 blockade suppressed nociceptor hyperexcitability and lowered pain-related behaviors, suggesting modulation of peripheral lipid signaling can address chronic nerve pain mechanisms that resist current therapies.
3. Clinical Development Status
ART26.12 is now advancing through Phase 1 clinical trials with a favorable safety profile and predictable pharmacokinetics observed in healthy volunteers. These preclinical results bolster the case for first-in-class, non-opioid analgesic development, positioning ART26.12 for potential rapid progression into Phase 2 studies targeting chemotherapy-induced and spinal cord injury-associated neuropathic pain.
