CeNeRx BioPharma Awarded New Patent for its Innovative Compounds That Selectively Target Peripheral Cannabinoid...( --By Avoiding the CNS These Compounds...)

--By Avoiding the CNS, These Compounds May Be Free of the Side Effects Associated with Traditional Cannabinoid Compounds--

RESEARCH TRIANGLE PARK, N.C., April 1 /PRNewswire/ -- CeNeRx BioPharma, Inc., a clinical stage company developing and commercializing innovative treatments for diseases of the central nervous system (CNS), today announced issuance of a new U.S. patent covering its novel compounds that selectively target peripheral cannabinoid receptors. By avoiding the CNS, these compounds are much less likely to be associated with the side effects that have limited the utility of other cannabinoid drugs.

Developed through its discovery partnership with PharmaNess Neuroscience, CeNeRx has a portfolio of more than a dozen preclinical compounds that selectively target peripheral CB1 and CB2 cannabinoid receptors. The company is initially pursuing cannabinoid agonists for the treatment of pain (peripheral neuropathy), glaucoma and spasticity and has already demonstrated encouraging proof-of-concept results in a number of well-accepted preclinical models.

"Our cannabinoid series of compounds work via a novel, yet well-described mechanism of action, have excellent selectivity and could potentially be applied to important diseases with significant unmet need," said Barry Brand, chief executive officer of CeNeRx. "We therefore are very pleased at the issuance of this broad new U.S. patent. We believe these compounds may have the potential to provide substantial clinical benefit to patients with unmet medical needs, and to do so without the side effects that have limited the utility of cannabinoid drugs in the past."

The CeNeRx compounds were specifically designed so their activity is restricted to the peripheral nervous system, with minimal or no central nervous system activity. CNS side effects associated with traditional cannabinoid agents can be significant. For example, cannabinoid
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