• Funding of $1.49 million USD to support the development of KLS-13019 targeting neuroinflammation and mitochondrial dysfunction
• Kannalife has developed a new class of orally bioavailable drugs to address neurodegenerative and inflammatory diseases by targeting mNCX-1, GPR55 and the NLRP3 inflammasome
DOYLESTOWN, PA – June 25, 2024 – Kannalife Sciences, Inc., a pioneering biotech company dedicated to developing small molecule therapeutics targeting inflammation, is pleased to announce it has been awarded funding of $1,493,409 million from The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research (MJFF). This grant will support preclinical research of Kannalife’s lead therapeutic KLS-13019 by investigating its effects on neuroinflammation and mitochondrial dysfunction, which are implicated in Parkinson’s disease (PD).
Parkinson’s disease is the fastest growing neurodegenerative movement disorder affecting up to 2% of those aged 60 years or older.
Douglas Brenneman, PhD, Chief Pharmacologist at Kannalife Sciences and Principal Investigator of the study, expressed gratitude for the Foundation’s support, stating, “We are honored to receive this grant support from The Michael J. Fox Foundation, a leading organization dedicated to accelerating the development of improved therapies for Parkinson’s disease. We are confident that we can make meaningful progress toward this goal and, ultimately, improve the lives of patients living with Parkinson’s.”
Kannalife Sciences, located at the Pennsylvania Biotechnology Center (PABC) in Doylestown, PA, is leveraging its globally patented technology into neuroinflammatory disorders targeting the novel G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR), GPR55 and the NLRP3 inflammasome. Advanced preclinical research and IND enabling studies to date have validated KLS-13019’s effects on biological targets in the mitochondria including mNCX-1, with the aim of addressing unmet needs in inflammatory diseases. KLS-13019’s promising preclinical results in models of neuroinflammation and oxidative stress, portend to be key factors of neurodegeneration in Parkinson’s disease.
Jessica Tome Garcia, PhD, associate director of research programs at MJFF stated, “We look forward to seeing the results of Kannalife Sciences’ innovative work on KLS-13019. This funding highlights the Foundation’s commitment to advancing Parkinson’s therapeutic research by addressing neuroinflammation and mitochondrial dysfunction, two key factors in the disease.”
Dr. Brenneman further stated, “This grant represents a significant milestone in our research efforts. Special thanks to the whole team at Kannalife, especially Dean Petkanas for his persistence and dedication in mobilizing KLS-13019 into a potential therapeutic for the treatment of Parkinson’s Disease. I also want to thank our research partners Prof. Dr. Med. Chi Wang Ip of Universitätsklinikum Würzburg, Tom H. Johnston, PhD of Atuka, Inc. and James P. Koprich, MA, PhD, for taking the time and effort to put an outstanding study protocol together for our research program in PD.”
Through research efforts with MJFF and other partners, the company aims to accelerate the development of KLS-13019 and pave the way for novel therapeutic interventions in Parkinson’s disease and beyond.
KLS-13019 is currently undergoing small pre-clinical model efficacy, chemical scale-up, and toxicology studies supported by an STTR Phase 2 study grant from the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS) of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) under the HEAL Initiative. Successful completion of these IND enabling studies will allow initiation of human clinical studies for the treatment of chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN). This financial support underscores the broad scientific validation of this promising therapeutic agent.
About the Pennsylvania Biotechnology Center (PABC):
The PABC is a nonprofit life sciences incubator-accelerator providing state-of-the-art laboratory and office space to early-stage biotech companies, the Hepatitis B Foundation, and the Blumberg Institute. Managed by the Institute and overseen by a Foundation-appointed board, PABC supports nearly 80 member companies fostering success through biotech advancements and collaborations. Located near Doylestown in the Philadelphia-New Jersey pharma belt, the PABC website offers further information, visit www.pabiotechbc.org.
About Kannalife Sciences
Kannalife Sciences, Inc. is a pioneering biotech company specializing in the development of small molecule synthetic cannabinoid therapeutics targeting inflammation. Headquartered at the Pennsylvania Biotechnology Center of Bucks County in Doylestown, PA, Kannalife Sciences is a wholly owned subsidiary of Neuropathix, Inc. For more information about Kannalife, visit www.kannalife.com and the Company’s Twitter page at @kannalife.
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