Artelo Biosciences (ARTL) Maxim Group’s 2024 Healthcare Virtual Summit summary

Company overview and scientific focus

• Founded in 2017, the company targets lipid signaling, especially the endocannabinoid system, to address unmet medical needs in cancer supportive care and beyond.

• Lead programs include treatments for cancer-related anorexia/cachexia and chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy.

• The platform has expanded to direct cancer treatment, dermatologic, and CNS conditions.

Lipid signaling and drug development

• Lipids are crucial for cell structure, energy consumption, and intercellular communication.

• Advances in chemistry have enabled targeted modulation of lipid signaling for drug development.

ART-2713 for cancer-related anorexia/cachexia

• Cancer anorexia-cachexia syndrome (CACS) affects up to 80% of late-stage cancer patients, with no FDA-approved or recommended off-label treatments.

• ART-2713 is a small molecule that acts as an appetite 'on switch' by targeting peripheral cannabinoid receptors, stimulating appetite without psychoactive effects.

• Prior AstraZeneca studies showed significant weight gain as a side effect, supporting the drug's mechanism.

• Phase I/II studies in fragile cancer patients have shown a clean safety profile, with no serious toxicities or dose-limiting side effects.

• Phase II endpoints include lean body mass, appetite, weight gain, quality of life, and activity monitoring; enrollment expected to finish by year-end, with data release next summer.